photo challenge – Page 2 – Jennifer Sawicky Photography

January 30, 2018

2018-01-30: WPC – Variations on a Theme

You never know what you are going to find when you are out on safari. It gets said time and time again, along with the concept of heading out without expectations of specific things that you want to see. Just being out in the bush is heaven for me, and anything I see is a bonus, so it is pretty easy to stay in that mindset.

While staying at Londolozi, we were on our morning game drive, and our ranger Dave heard about leopard cubs being spotted fairly close to where we were, so we headed off in that direction. We ended up doing a lot of 4 x 4’ing through the bush, and ended up stopping the vehicle at a rather severe downhill angle, to be able to view the cubs at the bottom of a ravine area. Soon enough, they decided that napping next to Mom was boring, and began playing with each other, running around fallen logs, chasing each other and generally acting like rambunctious little kids. The late morning light may have been a bit harsh, but the moment was absolutely epic to experience.

This week’s photo challenge topic, Variations on a Theme, seemed a great opportunity to share a few shots from this wonderful sighting. I hope you enjoy them; editing them has certainly brought back many happy memories for me.

20180130_WPCVariations on a theme_JSawicky0 — Effortlessly moving amongst the tangled roots and branches of a fallen tree.

20180130_WPCVariations on a theme_JSawicky1 — Stalking and ready to pounce!

20180130_WPCVariations on a theme_JSawicky3 — Heading back down to check on Mom.

20180130_WPCVariations on a theme_JSawicky4 — I think that look says “Don’t you dare!”

I posted a few other photos from this sighting, as well as other images from my last visit to Londolozi. You can find that post here if you missed it before.

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and

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WPC: Variations on a Theme

January 18, 2018

2018-01-18: WPC – Silence

The vastness of the Namibian landscape is what I was drawn to share for the topic of the week, silence. While being out in nature is rarely completely silent, with the rustle of the wind, the chattering of birds, or the sound of distant water just a few of thing things you might hear, it is the lack of man-made noise that makes it so appealing, and so peaceful.

Below are a few images from my time in Namibia.

20170425-P1020564 — A hilltop sunset in the middle of nowhere. The wind was blowing and sandstorms had been whipping through the area, but it was incredibly peaceful.

20170426-P1020631 — The Skeleton Coast. Vast desert and the Atlantic Ocean as far as the eye could see.

20170427-DSC_0994 — I find there is nothing more peaceful and quiet than being outside and watching the stars. I shot this from the deck of my room at Ongava Reserve, but being outside alone, at night, in the bush isn’t the smartest idea, so I only took one quick photo and went back inside to my glass of wine.

Please visit:
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and

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WPC: Silence

January 16, 2018

2018-01-16: WPC – Weathered

The photo challenge topic of the week is weathered, and I have chosen to share some landscape images captured in the Namibian desert. There, it was easy to see the effects of wind and water on the landscape, both from the ground and from the air.

I hope you enjoy my selections.

20170424-DSC_0583 — While driving through the desert, we came to this spot where the wind and water had carved the sand and soft stone into beautiful shapes.

20170424-DSC_0589 — The tallest of these sand sculptures only came up to my knees.

20170424-DSC_0591 — Some day, these too will be gone, reduced to grains of sand blowing in the wind.

20170425-DSC_0612 — Devil’s Thorn growing in the rapidly drying desert.

20170427-P1020867 copy — Mountaintops weathered flat by the wind. Somewhere between Hoanib and Windhoek, April 2017.

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WPC: Weathered

January 9, 2018

2018-01-09: WPC – Growth

The first WordPress photo challenge topic of the year is growth. There are lots of directions that this can be taken, but I’ve decided to use it as an opportunity to show off some of the younger generation of animals that I saw on my last safari. The wild is a dangerous place for youngsters, with so many species having mortality rates above 50%. I hope all of these animals have been able to grow strong and healthy.

20170428-DSC_1271 copy — A rhino cow and calf seen during a late afternoon game drive on the Ongava Reserve near Etosha National Park in Namibia. We were very fortunate to have several rhino sightings during our trip. Namibia, April 2017.

20170514-DSC_5658 — This lion pride was very busy, with 6 small cubs, all of whom were suffering with mange. I am hopeful they all made it through the winter months. South Africa, May 2017.

20170516-DSC_6765 copy — I have few photos of this sighting, as the light was falling rapidly and the cubs were deep in a thicket. But their antics were too adorable not to try and capture. So while their Mom fed on a giraffe kill, these two scampered around, wrestled, and attempted to climb the tree behind them. They even had a few moments of playing with the food. South Africa, May 2017. (1/250sec, f5.6, ISO 25,600)

20170516-DSC_7224 — We came across these elephants just after setting out from camp early one morning. They had discovered an underground water pipe and had pulled it up to get to the water. Elephants of all sizes were enjoying a drink as the sun came up. Being amongst the elephants is definitely one of my favourite things; I could have happily spent the whole day with them. South Africa, May 2017.

20170517-DSC_8421 — Right after leaving the elephants seen above, we saw this. I don’t think it gets any better in terms of an amazing sighting; we were able to track this beautiful leopard all the way to her new den site, and then spend time watching the tiny cubs explore their new home (a hollow log). South Africa, May 2017.

If you would like to see more images and hear more about my time at the camps these images were captured at, feel free to check out: 2017-07-16: Highlights of Little Ongava, 2017-08-15: Ngala Tented Camp and 2017-08-27: Londolozi Game Reserve

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www.jennifersawickyphotography.com for wildlife, landscape and nature inspired artwork.

and

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WPC – Growth

November 7, 2017

2017-11-07: WPC Peek

The photo challenge topic of the week is peek; showing just a glimpse of your subject. It’s a great topic to have while going through safari photos, as sometimes, the best you get on a sighting is a brief glimpse of the animal that you have been tracking.

On this morning, we followed the meandering tracks of a lioness until we came across a very agitated female giraffe. It didn’t take long to find the drag marks into the bushes, and then find the lion with her tiny calf.

20171107_WPC Peek — A desert-adapted lioness with a giraffe calf, seen near the Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp, Namibia. April, 2017.

Please visit:
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and

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WPC: Peek

October 29, 2017

2017-10-29: WPC Rounded

The photo challenge topic of the week is rounded. And while I contemplated creating a post highlighting all the lovely rounded lines on elephants, I decided instead to offer up a bit more variety.

I hope you enjoy my selection of images.

WPC Rounded1 — A view from the top of one of the dunes on the Skeleton Coast. Namibia, April 2017.

WPC Rounded2 — A zebra foal crosses a bend in the road, not too far behind Mom. Ongava Game Reserve, April 2017.

WPC Rounded3 — Trying to capture the sunset from a moving vehicle is not the easiest task, but I loved the way the light was hitting the curves in the road, so I gave it my best shot. South Africa, May 2017.

WPC Rounded4 — A lion pauses at a curve in the road, listening for his brother calling from the distance. Londolozi Game Reserve, May 2017.

WPC Rounded0 — Elephants gather at a bend in the Hoanib River for a drink and a mud bath. Namibia, April 2017.

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WPC: Rounded

October 3, 2017

2017-10-03: WPC Window

Since I started working from home 2 years ago, I have posted quite a few images taken from my office window. There are times when it is difficult not to be distracted by the deer wandering through the yard, the birds congregating at the feeders in the winter, or a rare visit by the fox or bear. The photo challenge for this week is to either feature images that include the framing of a window, or taken from a window.

I hope you enjoy these images taken from my office window.

Deer20171001_WeeklyPhotos_DSCF0036 — I have a ground level window, and one of the deer spotted me with my camera and was very intrigued, and kept coming closer to get a better look.

Deer20171001_WeeklyPhotos_DSCF0033 — Mama with one of the youngsters.

Deer20171001_WeeklyPhotos_DSCF0026 — When it was very hot and dry in the summer, I made sure there was a small dish of water out for any birds or animals that needed a drink. The mama deer makes use of that on a soggy day.

Deer20171001_WeeklyPhotos_DSCF0019 — Coming back for a second look.

Deer20171001_WeeklyPhotos_DSCF0006 — This young deer was very aware of me watching, and very curious.

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and

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WPC: Window

September 10, 2017

2017-09-10: WPC Waiting

The photo challenge theme for this week is waiting… showing the moments before the action. Many of the wild animals that I love to watch so much are incredibly masterful at waiting. Lions lounge around most of the day conserving energy, and then only truly pursue a hunt when the prey is in the correct range. Leopards and cheetah are much the same. Spending time on safari, you must learn to be comfortable with waiting as well. More often than not, you’ll be spending time with animals while they are in their waiting periods; it’s certainly not all action with cheetahs taking down gazelle at full speed like you see on the wildlife documentaries. But even so, there’s no other place I’d rather be 🙂

I hope you enjoy my take on waiting.

20170506-DSC_2659-Edit — One of the wild dog pack members, watching the road and awaiting further instructions from the pack leader. Botswana, April 2017.

20170507-DSC_2992-Edit — A leopard pauses on his afternoon rounds, listening perhaps for the sounds of other leopards nearby, or prey is the distance. He was very deliberate in his patrol, often pausing to listen, then make a slight correction to the direction he was heading. Botswana, April 2017.

20170514-DSC_5511-Edit — A lioness looks off into the distance, towards a herd of impala and zebra. She’s wasn’t making a move at this time, as the herd had spotted her, and pursuit would have been futile. Much better to watch, and wait. South Africa, May 2017.

Please visit:
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WPC: Waiting

July 13, 2017

2017-07-13: WPC Collage

The photo challenge topic for the week is collage, and I was inspired to look through my recent photos to find collages created by mother nature.

I enjoy flying, especially when I have the opportunity to snap a few photos out the windows. The perspective provides a great opportunity to understand the landscape in a completely different way. The vast opens spaces become a collage of different shapes, textures, colours and tones when viewed from the air.

20170713_WPC Collage-2 — On route to the Skeleton Coast from Hoanib Camp. Undulating dunes, small trees, rocky hills and a small lake. I’m sure the water is long gone by now! Namibia, April 2017.

20170713_WPC Collage-3 — The beauty of the Okavango Delta. The landscape is filled with small lakes and rivers, game trails and islands. Botswana, May, 2017.

20170713_WPC Collage — Flying over the Damaraland region on route from Hoanib to Ongava near Etosha. The landscape was varied with rolling hills, rocky outcrops and dry riverbeds. Namibia, April, 2017.

Please visit:
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and

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WPC: Collage

June 1, 2017

2017-06-01: WPC Wanderlust

I’ve only recently returned from a trip to southern Africa, and over the past month, I’ve seen so much it is almost tough to know where to begin. There were blooming deserts and blowing sandstorms.

20170425-DSC_0603-Edit

20170426-P1020744-Edit

There were watery playgrounds for the large and the small.

20170502-DSC_1810-Edit 20170511-DSC_4089-Edit

There were close encounters with wildlife, and close encounters with humans while tracking wildlife.

20170505-DSC_2208-Edit 20170506-DSC_2572-Edit

This and so much in between. So many stories, so many sightings, so many wonderful people and so many memories that will make my heart happy every time I think of them, for years to come.

My wanderlust keeps pulling me back to Africa, and I am hopeful that it won’t be long before I can return again.

There are loads more photos and lots of stories to come from my latest journey – stay posted!

Please visit:

www.jennifersawickyphotography.com for wildlife, landscape and nature inspired artwork.

and

https://shopvida.com/collections/voices/jennifer-sawicky for textiles inspired by my photography.

WPC: Wanderlust