Botswana – Page 8 – Jennifer Sawicky Photography

Starting a Monday off right with an elephant image 🙂 This group of bulls was part of a larger bachelor herd that had moved down to the Boteti River from the Nxai Pan area. They were enjoying being in an area with a lot of water; spending lots of time washing off the white mud from the pans and splashing in the river. Here, a pair of bulls face off while a third heads in to join the fun.

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June 17, 2018

2018-06-17: Monthly Photo Projects – Birds

I had planned on creating a post about hummingbirds this week, but it’s just not going to happen. I have been out taking photos of them as much as possible, but I haven’t had a chance to edit them yet. As it’s Father’s Day today, I want to spend time with Pops rather than at my computer editing images.

Below is a selection of bird images from my travels that I haven’t had a chance to share yet.

Hummingbirds next week – I promise.

20170502-DSC_1707 — A huge gathering of marabou storks and white backed vultures on the banks of the Boteti River in Botswana. May, 2017.

20170510-DSC_3934 — Groups of darters and cormorants in the early morning fog at one of the dams on Phinda Game Reserve. A few hippos in there for good measure 🙂

20170516-DSC_6568 — A pair of tawny eagles spotted in the Okavango Delta. May 2017.

DSC_6849-Edit — My best guess at identification is a banded snake eagle. This bird was up and away very quickly; spotted on a game drive through Amboseli National Park. September, 2016.

DSC_9620-Edit — A Coqui Francolin spotted in the Masai Mara. September, 2016.

June 4, 2018June 3, 2018

2018-06-04: Monochrome Monday

A beautiful zebra for this week’s Monochrome Monday image.

Have a great week!

Look at the beautiful long eyelashes on this zebra! Great for keeping the flies away from her eyes.

June 3, 2018

2018-06-03: Monthly Project – Bird Photography

Part of the reason that I chose bird photography this month was to get out and enjoy the nice weather, as well as get familiar with a new lens I have purchased. So at first glance it may not make any sense that today I’m posting images from my last trip. I have gotten out a bit over the past couple of days and taken some bird images, and I have been really impressed with the lens so far. But I’m already half way through Sunday and I haven’t had a chance to start editing, so rather than miss posting altogether or rushing my editing process, I decided to go for some bird images from my catalogue that I haven’t posted before.

I hope you enjoy my selections for this week, and next week I will be sharing some of our local birds.

Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead.

20170428-DSC_1217 copy — We came across a very large sociable weavers nest while on a game drive through Etosha National Park. There was a lot of activity in and out of the large communal nest, here one of the birds pauses in a more open spot where it is easier to see them.

20170428-DSC_1220 copy — Up against the nest, the weaver is very camouflaged.

20170428-DSC_1215 copy — The nest itself was so large it brought down one of the large branches of the acacia tree.

This crimson breasted shrike played hard to get for a photo; this was the best that I could do while driving through the Makgadikgadi Pans.

A beautiful glossy starling in early morning light.

My personal favourite, the lilac breasted roller.

May 27, 2018

2018-05-27: Painterly Effects Project – Elephants

Anyone that has read this blog more than once or twice is familiar with my love of elephants. So it should come as no surprise that I have created a painterly effects project using elephant images.

I’ve really enjoyed working with elephant images this week, as the large, recognizable shape has allowed me to work with some very abstract settings, without compromising the ability to know what it is you are looking at.

I hope you enjoy my images for the week, and wishing you the best for a positive and happy week ahead.

20170425-DSC_0682 copy — A pair of young elephants greet each other with affection.

20170501-P1020985 copy — A pair of bull elephants test each others strength in the shallows of the river.

20170511-DSC_4473 Pano copy copy — A herd of elephants gathered at a dam. This is an 8 shot stitched panorama.

20170516-DSC_7014 copy — Mother and daughter stealing a drink from a broken pipe.

May 13, 2018May 13, 2018

2018-05-13: Painterly Effects Project

Since today is Mother’s Day, I decided to create painterly edits of some of the mama’s from the bush. I’ve selected images that will make my Mom smile; I hope you enjoy them too.

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May 9, 2018May 8, 2018

2018-05-09: Wordless Wednesday

May 6, 2018

2018-05-06: Topic of the month – Painterly Effects

To some, using software to make a photo look as if it were sketched or painted may seem like an abomination. Photographers often go to great lengths (sometimes at great expense) to create sharp and crisp images that show the viewer exactly what the scene looked like. But what about those times when that beautifully crisp, perfectly exposed image doesn’t convey the feeling of the moment? Or, heaven forbid, what if you goof up on the exposure, or mess up the focus a bit, but the moment was great and you still want to do something with the image? These are just some of the reasons for exploring painterly effects with photography. I’ve edited photos in the past for all those reasons and while I don’t post them too often, I do have a gallery of my favourite Artistic Impressions or Photo Art images.

This week, I was inspired by a vintage style travel poster I have had hanging up for around the last 12 years or so. I see it every time I walk towards my sitting room; this week I was struck by the interest in creating a photo series inspired by it, whereas most of the time I just look at it and think “I really want to go to the Serengeti someday”.

A quick snap of the poster that inspired this week’s editing.

I decided to do a series of Big 5 animals; I can imagine these in a vintage travel brochure advertising visiting the “Dark Continent” to see the wild and ferocious Big 5. I edited all of them using the Topaz Simplify filter through the Topaz Studio program.

I hope you enjoy!

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