2020-02-16: Elephants

One thing I have really been noticing the last couple of weeks is that I am getting to the end of the day, or the end of the week, long before the end of my to-do list.  It’s one of those things that seems to go in waves for me, and I think while I have my coffee tomorrow morning I need to spend a bit of time figuring out how better to spend my time, so I can still fit in the things that bring me joy, like my photography.

While I have had my computer back a week now, late this afternoon was the first time I have had an opportunity to work on any of my photography.  As such, I wanted to spend the little bit of time I had editing something that I really enjoyed; hence elephants as my topic for today.

These images were all from the first game drive of my last trip to South Africa.  The trip started off with an abundance of elephants, and continued on that way the entire time, much to my delight.  What was also really lovely is we ended up at each camp on a vehicle with safari newbies, and seeing their joy, amazement and excitement when seeing all the animals and birds made the experience all that much more enjoyable for me.

Wishing everyone a fantastic week ahead!

DSCF0683

DSCF2550 copy

DSCF2557 copy

 

DSCF2601

DSCF2613

2020-02-10: Monochrome Monday

Happy Monday!  I am super grateful that I was able to get my computer back out of sick bay this weekend, complete with a new SSD drive, so hopefully it’ll be running well for a couple more years (at least).

I got the computer back, but haven’t actually had an opportunity to do anything with it in terms of editing.  Even with the system restore from a backup, there are little quirks that need to be addressed.

So here is a giraffe image I edited a few weeks ago and had ready to go.  These two were part of a group of about 6-8 that were spread out amongst the acacia trees.  We were on our way to check on a lion sighting from the previous day, so we didn’t spend too much time with these guys.  Not that we needed to rush to the lions; they had barely moved since the previous day.

20200210_MM

Wishing everyone a wonderful week!

2020-01-26: Hyenas

Hyenas are an often misunderstood and much maligned creature, seen as a lowly scavenger, robbing the kills of leopards, wild dogs, cheetah and even lions (given the right circumstances).  From all that guides over the years have told me, and my watching many nature documentaries, I know that while they do scavenge a lot, and provide a necessary ecosystem service in that regard, they are also skillful hunters, and have very interesting clan dynamics, led by an alpha female.

Hyenas can be pretty hit and miss on safari though.  Unless there is an active den on the property, guides (that I have been with) don’t generally seek them out or follow their tracks.  It’s more a situation of randomly running across them, and then stopping to watch for a few minutes before moving on.  If there is a den on the property with little ones, it can be a very enjoyable sighting, as the cubs can be quite boisterous and inquisitive.  I still recall my first time in the Okavango Delta, sitting just after sunset at a den and a cub came over and started chewing on the tires of the vehicle, getting into it the way my dog used to take to his squeaky toys as a pup.

No such luck with young cubs this past trip, but here are a few of the images I did capture of hyenas.

Wishing everyone a fantastic week ahead.

20170516-DSC_7391
The only cubs I saw on this past trip; a pair of juveniles with Mom, and another hyena hanging around in the background.
DSCF0397 copy-Edit
This hyenas was sniffing around as there was a kill nearby that had been stashed in a tree by a leopard.
DSCF1029 copy-Edit
This hyena seemed to be having quite a good time in the water; it definitely wasn’t warm enough for it to need to be cooling off.
DSCF2313
A very alert herd of impala, watching the approach of a lone hyena.

DSCF2321

DSCF2318
Oh no, here comes trouble!

 

 

2020-01-20: Monochrome Monday

It was awesome to spend some time with the dogs on an afternoon game drive during my last trip.  I’ve been fortunate to see wild dogs on almost all of my trips to Africa, but I still get really excited when a ranger tells me that dogs have been spotted on the property.

DSCF1258DSCF1264DSCF2948DSCF2955

2020-01-19: Barred Owl

I spotted a barred owl hanging out in the backyard a couple of days ago while I was having lunch.  It spent a bit of time trying to hunt, and the rest trying to nap.  It was -28C, so I took the photos through my window, as it was just too cold for me to get out to take a couple of pictures.  Besides, Murphy’s Law would have kicked in, and by the time I got bundled up enough to head outside and take a few images, the owl would have flown away.

Thankfully things have warmed up a little bit here; still cold, but at least not bitterly cold.  I hope your week ahead is looking up too 🙂

DSCF0076
Trying to catch a few zzz’s

DSCF0091

DSCF0122
Puffed up against the cold.
DSCF0132
Scanning for something to eat.

2020-01-13: Monochrome Monday

Much like yesterday, today also felt like a perfect day to share an elephant image.

This was shot while staying at Lion Sands Tinga Lodge.  We couldn’t go on a game drive without seeing elephants, sometimes an immense number of them, which our guide kept commenting on.  It made me incredibly happy, since they are my favourite animal to spend time with our on safari.

20200113_MM.jpg
An elephant calf makes a quick meal stop in the middle of the road.
error: Content is protected !!