Author: Christian Sperka

Christian Sperka is a wildlife photographer based at Thanda Private Game Reserve, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa. Over the last 11 years, Christian has traveled the world photographing animals in wild game reserves of South Africa and Namibia, the jungles of Costa Rica, in Yellowstone National Park in the USA, as well as zoos in Europe and the United States. His work has been featured in wildlife magazines, in books and in many zoo publications. He actively supports wild cat conservation, working as a partner photographer for Panthera, the world's leading organization devoted to the conservation of all wild cat species (panthera.org). From 2009 to 2012 he has worked as the official photographer and photography teacher at Nashville Zoo at Grassmere, Tennessee, USA (nashvillezoo.org). Christian is also a qualified South African field guide. He now works as specialist photography guide on Thanda Private Game Reserve in Kwazulu Natal, South Africa (thanda.com).
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At the Nashville Zoo …

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Yesterday I gave a presentation about my first year in Africa to the Nashville Zoo staff and docents. It went well. The audience enjoyed the sights from Thanda and my comments :-).

Earlier in the day I had a look at the Clouded Leopard cubs at the zoo. This youngster played with me for a while, somewhat roughly 🙂

My visit to Nashville is almost over and I enjoyed meeting with friends and visiting the zoo. Next week I will travel back to South Africa.

… and thanks to Heather I got a picture with me and the cub!

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… at the Nashville Art Crawl on Saturday …

To all my friends in and around Nashville – It would be great to see you at the Art Crawl!

See Amiee Stubbs’ Facebook message:

Looks like we’re going to have a rainy holiday, so have some fun this weekend at the Art Crawl on Saturday night! Very special guest Christian Sperka Photography will be stopping by from around 4pm-7pm to talk about his work in Africa over the last year!

Plus, while you’re here, vote for UltraViolet Gallery & Amiee Stubbs Photography in the Toast of Music City Awards, and for Amiee Stubbs in the Nashville Paw Magazine Readers’ Choice Awards, and you’ll be entered to win one of three 11×14 prints!

I’ll have new animal photography on exhibit and light refreshments will be served. Extended summer hours from 4pm-9pm. Upstairs in Nashville’s historic Arcade, suite # 59. Hope to see you there!

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Where?

Guess where I am right now?

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In Nashville, Tennessee, USA!

I was invited to a surprise party last weekend and therefore could not say anything online about going to the USA beforehand.

I will be in Nashville until next Sunday (7 July) visiting the Zoo and meeting with a lot of my Nashville friends. In case anyone would like to contact me during this time my USA phone number is 615 305 6015.

PS: The good looking gentleman on the images is me on a jet-ski, having fun on a beautiful small lake near Nashville.

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Morning Walk with Mum!

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Thanda’s three month old Cheetah cubs were on a early morning walk down the road with their mum and the Thanda guests had a good look at them.

When the cubs are this young we do not view them “off-road” so this was a very special treat not only for the guests, but also for all trackers and guides who got to see them that morning.

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Cold Sunrise!

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When I left Thanda at sunrise our two male Cheetah walked directly towards me. In this picture the “visible” Cheetah’s breath is a sign for a cold winter’s morning in Kwazulu Natal.

I spent an enjoyable day at a hide in Mkuze Game Reserve and I will post a few of today’s images in the near future :-).

… and thanks for all the kind birthday wishes!

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A Bloody Portrait!

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Literally! – This is a portrait of a Cape Hunting Dog which was taken when the pack was feeding on a kill. The face of the dog was still wet from the Wildebeest’s blood.

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Giant Pictures

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When one is taking close-up pictures of two male Elephants sparring it feels a bit like taking pictures of two giants. In this case the two young bulls were close enough to merit the use of a wide angle lens which is not used too often for wildlife photography :-).

The Thanda guests on my vehicle and on the vehicle in the picture enjoyed this action-filled sighting.

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