Time to say goodbye to my wonderful safari crew from my last safari. I’m wheels up in 6 days for another fall safari into Tanzania. I am so excited…… Looks like another great bunch of photography enthusiasts are about to start their travels to join me.
On our final days of our safari in and around Mbaligiti, we spent time working on landscapes and composition. As we approached our camp for the last time, the the clouds were building in the distance giving us some wonderful landscape opportunities. In the truck that I was riding in, I demonstrated the importance of having an anchor point in your landscapes. In the two images below, one has a simple tree in the lower corner and the second image, the tree has been removed. Which is more pleasing to you?
Cheers and happy photo’ing.
As mentioned in my previous blog entry, there is seldom a safari in which I don’t see something new. In this case, one of my clients captured five adolescent cheetahs chasing a Silver Backed Jackal.
So here is the set up. On our way to Mbaligiti, we heard of a family of Cheetahs just hanging out, so we decided to divert a bit and have a look. When we arrived, there was mom and five adolescent cubs in the shadow of a tree. A mother being able to raise five cubs to full adolescence is uncommon, so this was a treat in itself. Mom suddenly moved forward in a stalking position until she realized the motion was just a jackal, then she collapsed under a small tree to find shade again. The cubs on the other hand decided to have a go that the jackal and before you knew it all of the cubs joined in and a full out chase was happening right in front of us. Toward the end of the clip you will see another jackal running into the frame, no doubt to save his or her mate from the chase of the Cheetahs. In the end, the Jackals when to the scrub brush and left the Cheetahs with nothing but a dry mouth. Special thanks to Jean Rosenblum for her video.
Cheers and happy photo’ing
22 May
We woke this morning for our last morning on the rim of the crater to find warmer weather than our past two days due to a huge thick cloud bank with the classic African high altitude mist. Shortly after breakfast, we said our goodbyes to our wonderful camp staff and we were off to our next camp in the Serengeti. Stopping at the Ngorongoro Park HQ for fuel and a quick bathroom break, we took the obligatory photograph at the park sign. Next stop was Oldupai Gorge, where we took in a lecture about the famous archeological digs and their findings including Lucie. Our next stop for at the Nobi Hill Gate and our formal entry into the Serengeti National Park. Thinking that this was going to be an uneventful drive to our next camp, I decided not to ready any of my camera equipment. Much to my surprise, I found myself in a dead scramble when 50km past the gate, we ran smack dab into a huge part of the great migration. The herd stretched all the way from Simba Kopjes to the Seronera Area. Leaving the herd after a few wow’s, it was time to continue to camp. We reached our wonderful Rhobanda Camp about 4pm. Following a little bit of a kick back, I used the time to walk everyone through the various sensor cleaning procedures that I have found to be very successful.
With thunder and lightning in the distance, it is early to bed tonight for a much needed recovery sleep. Tomorrow, it is off to photograph more of the migration and to look for cats.
Cheers and happy photo’ing. Blogging live while on safari from the heart of the Serengeti.
23 May
Morning temp: 62F
Today started out very early for most of the team as they went ballooning. While others were ballooning, three of us went on a safari deep into Korongo Lajohn Valley ending up at the Masai Kopjes. As we pushed through the massive herds of wildebeests, it was difficult to get a photograph that would convey the shear mass of the herd. How could you take a single photograph of 1 million wildebeest moving across the Serengeti? I could spend hours and hours working these massive herds. The Kopjes gave us three lionesses and three wonderful leopards. Although the leopards were just out of good photo range, it was wonderful to see them in action. With rains on the horizon and heading directly for us, It is early to bed with a very early rise in the morning as we ready for another great adventure.
Cheers and happy photo’ing. Blogging live from the Serengeti.
21 May 2013
Sunrise 0615 (heavy cloud cover)
Temperature 52F
Crater Camp (Tembo B) Elevation 7494
Crater Floor Elevation 5651
Another early rise this morning as we prepared for our last day in the Ngorongoro Crater. Off the rim top at 0625, we were faced with heavy clouds that had moved in over the night. As we began our descent, the clouds began to part and the heavier clouds began to rise right before our eyes which provided us with some very interesting landscape shooting. I had previously worked with my clients on evaluative metering when the meter is not all that accurate, so this was a perfect application of our previous discussion. Today, was all about photographing the wildebeset rut activities as well as zebra interactions. However, we did see one very interesting animal behavior that has been seldom seen and rarely documented. Early on, we came upon a fresh wildebeest kill by a lone female lion. As she was eating her way through the Gnu, two hyenas appeared and were soon sharing the kill with the lion. Normally, lions will not tolerate hyenas, let alone sharing their kill with other animals. Further perplexing, was the fact that they hyenas were not calling out for their partners to join them on the kill. Usually they would be yelping and making sure that the rest of their pack knew that were was a kill and they should join in the feeding opportunity.
Focusing on the rut for the rest of the day proved to be really interesting and these guys provided us with some hilarious viewing and shooting opportunities. The fighting action between the males happens very quickly and with lots of fake charges. All of this makes for some fast focusing requirements, and in make case, I missed several shots. With the action going on all around us, everyone was participating in spotting the fighting males.
Using a Sony NEX-6, Coogan captured the below images. I really love this camera. Her version of the descent looking out of the truck and into the sun.
On the floor of the crater, she captured the clouds opening up and some lovely god rays with some rim light on the grass.
On the way back to camp, we were treated to a wonderful close up show by a very large bull elephant. More photos of this animal in the next posting. What a great day it was. Tomorrow, we are off to the Serengeti in search of the great migration herd and cats.
Cheers and happy photo’ing. Blogging live from Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Serengeti National Park.
19 May
After collecting the clients from the airport the previous evening, it was time for a leisurely breakfast followed by the safari briefing on how things would work on the trip. Before we knew it, we were off the Gibbs Farm. Traveling though the farmland, we soon found ourselves in the sprawling city of Mto Wa Mbu. As we passed the entrance to Lake Manraya, the extensive flooding damage from heavy rains was evident everywhere as we started our climb up the escarpment of the Rift Valley. Arriving at Gibbs Farm, we were treated to a wonderful organic hot lunch. Gibbs Farm continues to impress me with their continuous improvements; not that they needed any. Following our leisurely lunch, we were off to the Ngorongoro Crater. After a quick stop at the view point for an incredible view of the worlds largest intact caldera, we heading to the local Maasai village. We learned about the Maasai way of life and admired their bead work and a few of us had to shop.
While inside the boma, I worked with several of the clients on selective focusing. I really love photographing the intricate bead work.
Nikon D3X, 7–200mm f/2.6 @ 200mm, ISO 320, f/7.1 at 1/1000 sec
Prior to our departure, I gathered up a couple of the Massai warriors for some portrait work. I set up the the scene and talked the clients through aperture selection and subject placement. As part of the discussion, I present the two photos below. The first image is a typical ¾ head and shoulder shot. As we discussed placing your subject in the environment, Abigal Rosenblum took the instructions to heart and produced the outstanding image below. By using effective subject placement and making use of the background, she created a very nice environmental portrait. Great job Abbi. Off to our camp on the rim of the crater for a great night’s sleep in anticipation of our first full day of wildlife viewing in the Ngorongoro Crater.
Nikon D3x, 70-200mm f/2.8, @ 200mm, ISO 320, f/7.1 at 1/80 sec
Photo by Abigal Rosenblum, Nikon D700
Cheers and happy photo’ing, live blogging from the bush in Tanzania
20 May
Sunrise 0600
Temperature 54F
Early rise this morning as we had breakfast at 0530 in order to be at the gate by 0620 for the magical descent into the Ngorongoro Crater and what a magical treat it was. Heavy clouds had moved in over the night however, they had started clearing by the time we hit the bottom of the crater floor. Today we saw lots of wildebeests exhibiting rutting behavior typical of this time of the year. Although most of this was at a bit of a distance for our photography, it was wonderful to observe. Also at a distance were a number of Rhinos. We also observed and photographed some lions demonstrating their lazy day behavior, just laying around. At the start of the day, I took some landscape shots as well as at the end of the day just before we started up the hill to end our day. Shortly after our wonderful classic Tanzanian meal, the temperature really started to fall as the the clouds left us with clear skies. It will be a nice crisp cool sleep tonight. Today is another full day in the crater. Everyone is jammed with excitement in anticipation of what tomorrow will bring. Off to bed now for some needed sleep.
Cheers and live blogging from Tanzania
During my last safari, we spent some serious time at the Retima Hippo Pool for some killer shots. While most of the photographers were perched along the observation area clicking away, I slipped down and around the end of the pool and took up a position on the upper rocks. While I was shooting other hippos from this lower angle, my eyes kept a keen watch on this particular hippo. It was as if he or she, was boring a hole in my chest with a killer stare.I’m used to lots of hippo action and am well versed in their behavior however, this hippo was different. This guy did not move a muscle as everyone around him displayed lots of commotion. I continued to shoot until all of the action had moved around the corner. I stood up and started backing upward, never taking my eyes off of this fellow. As I neared the top of the rocks, the hippo took a huge lunge forward as if he wanted to come all the way out of the water. Clearly he wanted me to know that he was king of the pool.
Nikon D3X, 200-400 f/4 @400mm, ISO 250, 1/320 sec at f/6.3. This image was take here.
Happy Holidays to all and I wish everyone a joyful and successful 2013.
Cheers and happy photo’ing.
If someone told I had to make a choice about my most favorite place in Tanzania, I would be hard pressed to decided between the Serengeti Plains and the Ngorongoro Crater. The image below was taken shortly after our descent into the floor of the crater. With the sun about to peek over the rim, we pulled the trucks to the side of the road and watched the moon slip behind the opposite rim, while a mysterious layer of fog lay at the base of the west side of the rim. This morning, we were the only vehicles in the crater for the first hour or so and it was like we had the entire park to ourselves – the beauty of an early morning rise. Shortly after the moon fell behind the rim, the sun was up and the beauty of the Crater floor unfolded before our eyes.
Nikon D3S, 70-200mm f/2.8, @ 200mm, ISO 2000, 1/100 sec at f/11. This image was taken here.
Cheers and Happy Photo’ing
