Jennifer Sawicky Photography

August 5, 2015

Lions at Night

During my last trip to South Africa, I was lucky enough to watch lions at night not just once, but on four separate occasions. I have wanted to post these photos for a while; originally I held off as I printed two of them as a gift, and didn’t want to run risk that they would be seen on screen before the prints showed up in person (they looked AMAZING, if I do say so myself). I’ve finally had the chance to work through all the photos I had hoped to edit. A few of them are also on my Smugmug site, links are provided for anyone interested.

I hope you enjoy, and have a wonderful evening.

A lioness passes incredibly close to the front of the landrover. Londolozi Game Reserve, May 2015 — A lioness passes incredibly close to the front of the landrover.
Londolozi Game Reserve, May 2015

Giving us a glimpse of her powerful teeth and jaws. Phinda Game Reserve, April 2015 — Giving us a glimpse of her powerful teeth and jaws.
Phinda Game Reserve, April 2015

What big teeth he has! Chitwa Chitwa, May 2015 — What big teeth he has!
Chitwa Chitwa, May 2015

20150805_Lions at night-8 — Such a beautiful cat. Phinda Game Reserve, April 2015

This lioness was obviously bored of all the attention she was getting. Phoned Game Reserve, April, 2015 — This lioness was obviously bored of all the attention she was getting.
Phinda Game Reserve, April, 2015

20150805_Lions at night-11 — Keeping a watchful eye out. Chitwa Chitwa, May 2015.

CEE’S FUN FOTO CHALLENGE: PEACH OR APRICOT COLORS

Flying over one of the areas of salt production on Namibia's coastline. April 2015. 1/800sec, f10, ISO 320 — Flying over one of the areas of salt production on Namibia’s coastline.
April 2015.
1/800sec, f10, ISO 320

CEE’S FUN FOTO CHALLENGE: PEACH OR APRICOT COLORS

August 4, 2015

Kalahari Sunset

I have been doing my best to spend at least an hour each day going through my photos and finally working on organizing and rating them. It may sound boring to some, but I absolutely love it.

I spent the evening going through photos from the Kalahari Desert, and kept coming back to this sunset photo. The colours make me smile, so I thought I would share.

Have a great evening!

A beautiful sunset over the Kalahari Desert. Taken during a sundowner drinks stop at Kalahari Plains Camp, April 2015. 1/60sec, f4.0, ISO400 — A beautiful sunset over the Kalahari Desert. Taken during a sundowner drinks stop at Kalahari Plains Camp, April 2015.
1/60sec, f4.0, ISO400

August 3, 2015

Martial Eagle

On our second day in Damaraland in Namibia, our guide Chris was doing his best to locate the desert adapted elephants for us to view. We were driving through a dry riverbed, going in a direction that seemed to be completely opposite to where the elephants tracks were headed. Since I couldn’t make heads or tails of the ellie tracks that crossed back and forth, this way and that, I kept my eyes out for birds and other animals.

A short distance from the vehicle, I spotted a martial eagle perched in low branch above the sandy riverbed. Chris quickly stopped the vehicle so I could get a quick shot, assuming as I did that the bird would be gone in a moment. Lucky for me, the eagle was very interested in posing for photos that morning, and sat still while the vehicle moved ahead, and then moved past it, so I could get photos from all angles. I do really seem to have great luck with bird photos when I least expect it (and we did carry on to locate the ellies too).

An incredibly regal looking bird. All photos 1/800sec, f5.6, ISO640 — An incredibly beautiful bird.
All photos 1/800sec, f5.6, ISO640. April, 2015, Wilderness Safari’s Damaraland Camp, Namibia

Checking out what's happening in the riverbed, besides us. — Checking out what’s happening in the riverbed, besides us.

Head rotated backwards, and if you look closely, you'll notice the eyes are half closed. — Head rotated backwards, and if you look closely, you’ll notice the eyes are half closed.

Searching the ground for prey? Or getting bored of all the attention?

I thought he was getting ready to take off at this point, but he settled back into his branch.

August 2, 2015

CEE’S FUN FOTO CHALLENGE: TEAL OR TURQUOISE

When I saw teal or turquoise pop up for the colour challenge, I knew I would post this photo. It’s something I posted before, but the colours work perfectly, and who doesn’t love a baboon gazing at the ocean?

A baboon pauses from his daily activities to have a seat and gaze at the ocean. Cape of Good Hope, South Africa, April 2013 — A baboon pauses from his daily activities to have a rest and gaze at the ocean.
Cape of Good Hope, South Africa, April 2013

CEE’S FUN FOTO CHALLENGE: TEAL OR TURQUOISE

August 2, 2015

Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Older Than 50 Years

I didn’t think I would be entering any photos for this challenge, as I couldn’t think of any subject to photograph. Then, a couple weekends ago, I signed up to go for a hike to Ancient Forest. We had a beautiful day for a hike in the forest, and lucky for me, a member of one of the local hiking groups accompanied the group I was with, to give a talk about the area.

Certainly if you are in the Prince George area it is a beautiful place to visit, and a very unique ecosystem in the region. Some of the cedars in the forest were in excess of 5 metres in diameter and over 2,000 years old.

Standing in the middle of the forest, looking straight up.

The beauty of the sun filtered by tree branches.

Tourism PG

CEE’S BLACK & WHITE PHOTO CHALLENGE: OLDER THAN 50 YEARS

July 18, 2015

Weekly Photo Challenge: Half and Half

This weeks WordPress photo challenge is half and half, and the first thing I thought of was all the sunset photos I took during an Okavango Delta sundowner cruise. We stopped the boat in a tiny bay, and had a beautiful view of this small island with the sun setting behind it.

A beautiful sunset on the Okavango Delta, Baines Camp, Botswana. April 2015. 1/250sec, f8.0, ISO 100 — A beautiful sunset on the Okavango Delta, Baines Camp, Botswana. April 2015.
1/250sec, f8.0, ISO 100

Half and Half

July 15, 2015

Travel Theme: Land Meets Water

I think my favourite place (so far) where I have seen land meet water, is the beautiful Okavango Delta. Experiencing it by helicopter is truly a breathtaking experience. Here is my choice for the photo challenge Travel Theme: Land Meets Water

The glorious Okavango Delta, where the division between land and water changes on a daily basis.

July 14, 2015

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Colour – Bright Green

Here is my photo for Cee’s new Colourful World challenge. The colour of the week is lime or bright green. This little bee eater, perched amongst the bright green leaves of several different types of plants, seems a good fit.

A little bee eater perched in the shade, away from the mid day heat. Baines Camp, Okavango Delta, Botswana. April 2015. — A little bee eater perched in the shade, away from the mid day heat.
Baines Camp, Okavango Delta, Botswana. April 2015.

July 13, 2015

African Harrier Hawk

Partway through our game drive on our last morning at Chitwa Chitwa, I spotted a fairly large bird in some trees a short distance from the vehicle, and our guide Surprise quickly realized that it was a hawk that had been successful hunting. We headed closer but the hawk was definitely not too comfortable with our presence and headed for a new tree as soon as we got too close. After that happened twice, we moved on to allow him (or her) to enjoy breakfast in peace.

It was such a cool sighting and I am very grateful I was able to capture it.

Have a great evening!

An African harrier hawk flies with a green spotted wood snake in its mouth. 1/1000 sec, f8.0, ISO 320 — An African harrier hawk flies with a green spotted wood snake in its mouth.
1/1000 sec, f8.0, ISO 320

He seemed to be settling in to have breakfast, but soon changed his mind and was off again. 1/1000sec, f8.0, ISO 280 — He seemed to be settling in to have breakfast, but soon changed his mind and was off again.
1/1000sec, f8.0, ISO 280

We moved the vehicle and for a few moments, had a closer vantage point.

Off again 1/1000sec, f5.6, ISO 140 — Off again
1/1000sec, f5.6, ISO 140

The poor snake had tied itself into a knot while clutched by the hawk. — The poor snake had tied itself into a knot while being clutched by the hawk.