Cute & Cuddly Wildlife

All wildlife photographers like capturing images of lions or other large and charismatic animals. As we search for those opportunities we shouldn't pass up any chances that come our way for some of the smaller and cuter wild characters. I was reminded of this in Namibia recently after getting engaging shots of a scrub hare and a mouse (see below). I took the mouse photo at a waterhole where everyone else had their lenses trained on elephants and I was facing the other way shooting the mouse in a tree behind us. Sometimes the Aaawww! factor..... 

Read More

Botswana Video Project

The moving image is not my usual stock in trade.  I have never had much interest in video in the past and wasn't particularly happy with the quality I got from my JVC Everio camcorder when I had it. The new generation of DSLR's though have some serious video capability built in. Even video amateurs like myself can be tempted to have a bash at some 'pro' level video and owning a Canon 5D Mk2 (which..... 

Read More

Expecting The Unexpected

When in Africa it is good to expect the unexpected. Wildlife is unpredicatable at the best of times which makes photographing them something of a challenge. You can bump around in the safari vehicle for hours without seeing anything much. You can wait fruitlessly beside sleeping lions waiting for them to stir from their regal slumber and do.....

Read More

Botswana Birding Experience - The Heronry.

During my trip to Botswana I experienced many different photography environments.  One of these was photographing water birds from boats in the legendary water channels and lakes of the Okavango Delta.  We visited a herony - a place where herons and other waterbirds come year after year to nest and raise young.  The main species present were Maribou storks, yellow-billed storks, cattle egrets and african ibis but there were also smaller and less common birds.  There were a lot of juveniles.....

Read More

Botswana: Egret Strike

ust an amusing series of pics showing an egret striking for a fish.  It missed unfortunately so I can't show you the catch!  Water birds are a common sight in the Okavango Delta particularly in the wetter summer months when water tends to flood larger area's of temporary swampland.

Read More

More Lions

A highlight of any trip to Africa is the chance to see lions up close and personal.  When there is nothing at all between you and a lioness a few meters away you really appreciate their size and strength.  Apart from one disconcerting incident when a lioness bored holes through me with her eyes and followed along behind the vehicle for a few meters they mostly ignored us.  (Apparently, like most animals, they can't distinguish between us and the vehicle). Lions spend a lot of time lazing around in the shade.....

Read More

Photographing African Wild Dogs

African wild dogs are an endangered species that have had their numbers hit hard mainly by habitat loss and conflict with farmers.  They are found in large structured social groups that hunt over large territories so can only survive in large protected area's of africa.  They are extremely successful hunters with one of if not the highest success rates of all africa's large predators. There are still thriving packs to be found in area's that are distant from human habitation such as the Botswana wilderness...

Read More

More Leopard Pics

One of the biggest highlights from my trip to Botswana was the number of leopard sightings we had.  Leopards are normally very reclusive and some travellors have considered themselves fortunate just to get a glimpse of one. Over the whole three weeks I managed to get quality photography time with five different leopards - all of which were on the ground. Since I had.....

Read More

Locations: Okavango Delta From The Air

Traveling around the Okavango Delta there were plenty of opportunities for aerial photography.  The usual means of transport between the different camps or concessions is by light planes that act more or less like a taxi services.  Taking off and landing on dirt strips, take-offs being aborted because of stray elephants, flash storms and.....

Read More

Botswana Trip Report

Fulfilling a life-long dream I was recently fortunate enough to make a trip to Africa.  I participated in a three week photography based tour in Botswana organized by Denis Glennon .  We visited three different lodges in private game concessions in the Okavango delta and a fourth lodge on the edge of.....

Read More