nature – Page 82 – Jennifer Sawicky Photography

October 19, 2015

2015-10-18: what I’ve seen this week

I liked the X marks the spot clouds and all the lovely tones in this early morning photo. — I liked the X marks the spot clouds and all the lovely colours in this early morning photo.

I stopped when I heard a "Peep peep peep" from the trees, and then spent the next 10 minutes watching this one move from tree to tree, all the while staying in lovely light for me to snap photos. — I stopped when I heard a “peep peep peep” from the trees, and then spent the next 10 minutes watching this hairy woodpecker move from tree to tree, all the while staying in lovely light for me to snap photos.

The hairy woodpecker posing perfectly for photos. — The hairy woodpecker posing perfectly for a photo.

A group of black billed magpies. This photos isn't sharp the way I would like, and the depth of field is all wrong...but I like it anyways. I love all the different wing shapes, and the birds seemed so joyful flying around the neighbourhood. — A group of black billed magpies. This photos isn’t sharp the way I would like, and the depth of field is all wrong…but I like it anyways. I love all the different wing shapes, and the birds seemed so joyful flying around the neighbourhood.

What appeared to be a dull grey sky day had a few spectacular moments. It's all about timing. — What appeared to be a dull grey sky day had a few spectacular moments. It’s all about timing.

October 15, 2015

2015-10-15: The Daily Post – Happy Place

Happy Place

October 14, 2015

2015-10-14: Wordless Wednesday

October 12, 2015

2015-10-11: What I’ve seen this week

This week has brought some really variable weather, and with that, some dramatic skies. Birds have provided some frustration this week. My elusive local northern flicker made an appearance today, but at such a distance the photo isn’t even worth posting. I saw a new bird this week as well, of course the time I left my camera at home 🙁 I managed a snap with my cell (absolutely not worth posting!) but through the blur, I think I can identify it as a northern shrike, which are winter residents of my area. I also could be 100% wrong on that; I’ve not been lucky enough to see it again and get some decent photos to do a proper ID. I don’t have any great photos to share, but it has been lovely now that most of the leaf cover is gone to watch the chickadees flittering about. They are such sweet birds and really make me smile (I also enjoy calling to them “chick-a-dee-dee-dee” while out walking and having a bit of a conversation… I guess that’s a slight admission of being crazy!

I had one other interesting sighting yesterday; you’ll have to scroll to the end to see. The pictures aren’t the best, but I was walking two little dogs at the time (I’m currently looking after my brother’s mini schnauzer Dylan) and didn’t want to risk wandering any closer; we were already under some rather intense scrutiny.

I hope you enjoy, have a lovely day, and a very Happy Thanksgiving to all my fellow Canadians.

Evergreens silhouetted against a colourful morning sky.

Such beautiful, saturated colours this week.

An awkward shot, as I was aiming above a roof, but the light on the trees was too amazing not to try to capture something.

Stunning skies this week almost every morning.

We spotted a coyote at the end of the road yesterday morning.

The big, bushiest tail I've seen. — The big, bushiest tail I’ve seen.

October 7, 2015

Lions vs a leopard

The experience on my last game drive of my previous holiday is something I have wanted to post about since I got home. I am glad I have finally had a chance to go through the photos, select my favourites, and relive the experience.
We spent the last two nights of our trip at Londolozi, where we had the pleasure of having the team of Dave and Judas guiding us through the bush. For anyone that missed it, I posted a few highlights from this trip previously: http://jennifersawicky.com/2015/06/29/londolozi-highlights/
On our last game drive, we had yet to see a leopard at Londolozi; and being that the property is known for amazing leopard sightings, our ranger was hoping we would see one before we set off for home. We started a leisurely morning drive with a group of three rhinos, and then moved on to a herd of elephants in the most gorgeous morning light. If that was all we saw that morning, I would have come home happy (me and elephants, everyone knows my love of them by now). Dave took a call about a leopard sighting quite some distance away, but a very unique one, a leopard that had been treed by a pride of lions. Dave put us on the sighting wait list, and we continued on with our drive. During a drive through a dry riverbed, we spotted an owl; while the light wasn’t favourable for photographs, I was still thrilled.
Still waiting our turn, we stopped for a coffee and watched a pair of giraffes grazing on acacia leaves. A hare hopped by and paused long enough for me to take a few photos before carrying on its way. Coffee finished, we took the call that our turn was coming up, and we made our way over to the area. As we drove into the area, two impala rams were facing off, rutting season being in full swing, and the noise they were making was absolutely incredible.

When we arrived, a female leopard called Mashaba was high in a tree, with the Tsalala lion pride lazing around near the base.

A full grown leopard in a very scrawny tree!

Her eyes were on either on the lions, or scanning the distance for other threats.

One of the young males of the Tsalala pride.

We weren’t there long though when the lions picked up the sounds of the nearby impala, and one by one, they slowly moved off.

As soon as the last lion was out of sight, Mashaba quickly made her way down the tree and disappeared, so we went to find out what had happened to the lions.

By this point, she had been in the tree for several hours. She must have been tired of that perch.

Watching the lions moving off. — Stopping to scan again.

Double checking that the coast is clear. — Checking again that the coast is clear.

Viewer discretion is advised…

We found the lions a short distance away, and the impala rams were no longer. The pride of seven took down two impala at the same time, and devoured them in less than a quarter hour. I was concentrating more on still shots, but I did take a few video clips, which I have included more for the sound than anything. Mostly the lions fed relatively peacefully, without coming to blows with each other over the choice pieces.

The group made short work of two adult male impala.

Trying to grab a chunk to take away (at least one of the lions moved off with a large chunk of impala to enjoy in peace under the bushes).

Such intensity will eating. — Such intensity while eating.

This was how we left the group; not much left to their meal at this point.

It was a thrilling end to an amazing trip!

October 7, 2015

2015-10-07: Wordless Wednesday

October 5, 2015

2015-10-05: Monochrome Monday

Definitely not the face you want to see staring at you from behind some bushes. A cape buffalo. Okavango Delta, April 2015. 1/400sec, f9.0, ISO 500 — Definitely not the face you want to see staring at you from behind some bushes.
A cape buffalo.
Okavango Delta, April 2015.
1/400sec, f9.0, ISO 500

October 4, 2015

2015-10-04: What I’ve seen this week

I’m going to start with the most recent pictures and work my way backwards. Yesterday, I started the day reading a post on Facebook by Cheryl Richardson that said “Stop trying to make sanity out of an insane situation. If your schedule is crazy busy, you don’t need time management, you need space.” Lately I have definitely been feeling that is something needed in my life; but looking back at the compositions I made yesterday morning, I guess it was also something I also desired in my photos.

After quite a windy day earlier this week, colourful leaves in my neighbourhood are getting few and far between. 1/320sec, f11, ISO320 — After quite a windy day earlier this week, colourful leaves in my neighbourhood are getting few and far between.
1/320sec, f11, ISO320

A few leaves clinging on. 1.320sec, f11, ISO320 — A few leaves clinging on.
1.320sec, f11, ISO320

Naked branches reaching into the blue. 1/320sec, F11, ISO320 — Naked branches reaching into the blue.
1/320sec, F11, ISO320

Half moon and about a half dozen leaves. 1/320sec, f11, ISO320 — Half moon and about a half dozen leaves.
1/320sec, f11, ISO320

Probably my favourite picture of the bunch; I can't put my finger on why :) This is straight out of camera, I didn't even run sharpening on it. 1/320sec, f11, ISO320 — Probably my favourite picture of the bunch; I can’t put my finger on why 🙂
1/320sec, f11, ISO320

Hot and cold. I think this would have been a lot better with my macro lens, but that isn't the best walking around lens, in case an interesting bird decides to fly by. 1/200sec, f5.0, ISO640 — Hot and cold.
I think this would have been a lot better with my macro lens, but that isn’t the best walking around lens, in case an interesting bird decides to fly by.
1/200sec, f5.0, ISO640

This week has been an interesting adjustment photographically, as I have put away my D610 and my Tamron 150mm-600mm, as both need to go in for some work. My first thought when primarily shooting with my D5100 again was how wonderfully light it is! It also doesn’t have the same warm colour cast when using auto white balance that I have found my D610 has. The downfall for taking it out walking early in the morning is it does not have an auto ISO option in manual mode, so there’s one more thing to remember to do. Hopefully this week I can get all the equipment shipped off (and hopefully get everything back working good as new). Here are the photos I selected from the earlier part of the week.