Animals – Page 64 – Jennifer Sawicky Photography

September 14, 2015

2015-09-14: Monochrome Monday

A parade of oryx cross the Sossusvlei desert. Namibia, April 2015. 1/1250sec, f11, ISO 1600 — A parade of oryx cross the Sossusvlei desert.
Namibia, April 2015.
1/1250sec, f11, ISO 1600

September 9, 2015

2015-09-09: Wordless Wednesday

August 23, 2015

Weekly Challenge: Today Was a Good Day

The first thing I thought of when I saw this weeks photo challenge was seeing all of the big five in a single game drive.

It was our first game drive leaving from Chitwa Chitwa, and the first of the big five we came across were the elephants. We ended up in fairly dense bush amongst a large herd, and I know some of the other people in the vehicle were a little nervous of the proximity! At some points, we were completely surrounded by them (I was thrilled!!!)

A little too close for comfort for some of the people in our vehicle. 1/1000sec, f7.1, ISO 1000, at 98mm. — A little too close for comfort for some of the people in our vehicle.
1/1000sec, f7.1, ISO 1000, at 98mm.

The second we came across was the leopard. She was only steps away after we started moving away from the elephants. We followed her through the trees as well, and spent some time with her as she rested atop a termite mound.

A gorgeous leopard rests atop a termite mound. 1/400sec, f8.0, ISO 5600 — A gorgeous leopard rests atop a termite mound.
1/400sec, f8.0, ISO 5600

We stopped for a sundowner drink and spotted a group of 3 rhino in a mud wallow off in the distance. The light was fading, and the viewing was certainly better without the camera.

A crash of rhino enjoy an early evening mud wallow. 1/100sec, f4.8, ISO 6400 — A crash of rhino enjoy an early evening mud wallow.
1/100sec, f4.8, ISO 6400

Just as we were getting back into the vehicle after our drinks and snacks, Surprise our ranger pointed out a couple buffalo crossing the road off in the distance. The photo is awful, I knew it would be when I snapped it, but I thought I should take it as evidence of seeing 4 of the big 5 in a single drive.

Two buffalo cross the road, long after my camera was able to take a photo without a flash or spotlight!

As we were heading back to camp for dinner, we followed the tracks of some lions, and came upon them resting quite close to the camp. And with that, it was the big 5 all within the space of 3.5 hours! An absolutely amazing time.

A gorgeous lion rest in the early evening darkness. A female was close by as well. 1/160sec, f6.3, ISO 6400 — A gorgeous lion rest in the early evening darkness. A female was close by as well.
1/160sec, f6.3, ISO 6400

Of course, most people know by now that I am thrilled to view anything when on a game drive, from the smallest bird to the tallest giraffe and everything in between. Here are a few other interesting sights from that drive.

A chameleon that our tracker spotted while we headed back to camp. I don't think he was too thrilled with being pointed at, he has a rather sour look on his face. — A chameleon that our tracker spotted while we headed back to camp. I have no idea how they can see them in the pitch black from a moving vehicle, but it seemed to be a skill most of the trackers had! I don’t think the chameleon was too thrilled with being pointed at, he has a rather sour look on his face.

A yellow billed hornbill perched at sunset (or as my Dad calls them, a flying banana).

A pair of white backed vulture perched in the fading light. 1/200sec, f5.6, ISO 1100 — A pair of white backed vulture perched in the fading light.
1/200sec, f5.6, ISO 1100

Have a great day everyone!

Today Was a Good Day

August 20, 2015

CEE’S WHICH WAY CHALLENGE 2015 WEEK #33

Everyone should have figured out by now – I absolutely love photographing African animals!

For the which way challenge this week, a selection of animals blocking the way.

A group of male nyala block the winding way forward. Phinda Private Game Reserve, May 2015. 1/160sec, f8.0, ISO 4500 — A group of male nyala block the winding way forward.
Phinda Private Game Reserve, May 2015.
1/160sec, f8.0, ISO 4500

A mom and three young cheetah cubs block the road (as does a zebra, farther off in the distance). Phinda Private Game, May 2015 1/250sec, f7.1, ISO 1000 — A mom and three young cheetah cubs block the road (as does a zebra, farther off in the distance).
Phinda Private Game, May 2015
1/250sec, f7.1, ISO 1000

A crash of rhino at a bend in the road. Phinda Private Game Reserve, May 2015 1/320sec, f5.6, ISO 640 — A crash of rhino at a bend in the road.
Phinda Private Game Reserve, May 2015
1/320sec, f5.6, ISO 640

CEE’S WHICH WAY CHALLENGE

August 18, 2015

Travel Theme: Mellow

I did a quick scan through my last batch of travel photos to find a few mellow shots to share.

I hope you enjoy!

20150818_Travel Theme- Mellow-3 — A leopard rests peacefully in a tree top near Baines Camp in the Okavango Delta. 1/800sec, f9.0 ISO 640

20150818_Travel Theme- Mellow-4 — A lion cub chills out as dusk descends on Phinda Private Game Reserve. 1/500sec, f5.6, ISO 1600

20150818_Travel Theme- Mellow-5 — A group of cheetah cubs take a rest on the road after a hard days play. 1/320sec, f5.6, ISO 1100

Travel Theme: Mellow

August 13, 2015

World Elephant Day

Anyone that has read more than a few of my blog posts knows that I love elephants. I could spend an entire day happily watching them; scratch that, I’m pretty sure if I saw them every day for the rest of my life, I wouldn’t grow bored of being around them. I find them fascinating, beautiful, amazing and peaceful creatures, and being in their presence, even just for a few moments, is a blessing.

Here’s just one of many, many photos I have, I hope you enjoy.

A breeding herd of elephants stops by the watering hole outside of the Chitwa Chitwa main lodge for an afternoon drink. 1/500sec, f11, ISO 1600 — A breeding herd of elephants stops by the watering hole outside of the Chitwa Chitwa main lodge for an afternoon drink.
1/500sec, f11, ISO 1600

August 13, 2015

CEE’S WHICH WAY CHALLENGE 2015 WEEK #32

A group of zebras cross one of the tracks that criss cross portions of the Okavango Delta. April, 2015 1/800sec, f8.0, ISO 720 — A group of zebras cross one of the tracks that criss cross portions of the Okavango Delta.
April, 2015
1/800sec, f8.0, ISO 720

Zebras crossing the road

CEE’S WHICH WAY CHALLENGE 2015 WEEK #32

August 7, 2015

Travel Theme: Grey

Here are my photo’s for the travel theme- grey.

A pair of grey go away birds perched at the top of a tree, in lovely early morning light. 1/400sec, f7.1, ISO 100 — A pair of grey go away birds perched at the top of a tree, in lovely early morning light.
1/400sec, f7.1, ISO 100

A walk along the dikes on a typical January morning in Pitt Meadows. 1/50sec, f4.0, ISO 720 — A walk along the dikes on a typical January morning in Pitt Meadows.
1/50sec, f4.0, ISO 720

My very favourite type of grey! A group of elephants approach along the road at Phinda Game Reserve (we kept reversing to give them the room they needed). 1/640sec, f8.0, ISO 2800 — My very favourite type of grey! A group of elephants approach along the road at Phinda Game Reserve (we kept reversing to give them the room they needed).
1/640sec, f8.0, ISO 2800

Where’s my backpack?

August 6, 2015

CEE’S BLACK & WHITE PHOTO CHALLENGE: HANDS, FEET OR PAWS

A tiny baby elephant wraps his trunk around his mama's front leg while she has a quick rest at the side of the road (and shows off his little foot in the process). Phinda Private Game Reserve, April 2015 1/640sec, f9, ISO 4000 — A tiny baby elephant wraps his trunk around his mama’s front leg while she has a quick rest at the side of the road (and shows off his little foot in the process).
Phinda Private Game Reserve, April 2015
1/640sec, f9, ISO 4000

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.