CHRISTIAN SPERKA PHOTOGRAPHY – Page 122 – Christian Sperka Photography

2013-07-27

A very lucky day!

This morning’s game drive on Ithala was excellent.

First I saw a lot of Baboons on a newly burned area …

… the I got some great shots of a Secretary Bird …

… and finally I found a small breeding herd of Elephants near one of the waterholes …

… and as per Ithala rule I kept my distance (over 30 meters from the herd). But one cow did not like me looking at all and chased me down the road. She was quite serious in her attack (ears back, trunk rolled up, so sound and fast takeoff). While driving with my left hand and watching her in the mirror I took a picture with my point and shoot camera out of the window at 40 kph…

An exciting morning at Ithala. I will be back!

2013-07-262013-07-26

A quiet evening drive!

Today’s evening game drive on Ithala was rather quiet. Besides the usual suspects (Zebra, Wildebeest, Kudu and Warthog) I got some funny images of a female Ostrich and when I got back to my room at the camp a Bushbuck was eyeing me for a while before disappearing into the bush.

Now I am off to dinner after a lot of driving 🙂

2013-07-26

New, funny, harassed, well light and rocky!

A good morning drive on Ithala. I encountered …

… a new species (for me :-)): An antelope named Tsessebe, which I have never seen before.

… two Secretary birds with their funny walk across a burned area.

… a Tawny Eagle who was harassed by a Black-shouldered Kite.

… a well light scene at sunrise with Zebra and Wildebeest.

… and an exciting drive on a very rocky 4×4 trail.

Let’s see what the afternoon will bring!

2013-07-25

Ithala

Today I have spent my first day at Ithala Game Reserve in the North of Kwazulu Natal. Ithala is a beautiful mountainous reserve with many interesting tracks. I will spend three days of my off-time here.

Next to regular roads Ithala has some interesting 4×4 trails. Some of them are rather rocky and very challenging (Inclines for first gear low with center and back diff set). My Toyota Fortuner mastered the steepest one very well.

This image was taken after the ascent from top of the mountain …

… Once back in the plains I took this image of a male Giraffe at sunset …

… and just after sunset I encountered this male Ostrich along the road.

I also saw White Rhino, Zebra, Wildebeest, Kudu and many different bird species.

A good first day!

2013-07-102013-07-10

Jellyfish

It was great to be in the USA for a few days. I enjoyed meeting many friends in Nashville, especially at the zoo. Thanks for all the great hospitality. I will try to be back next year 🙂

During the visit I got to visit the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga for the first time. I took this picture (above) of a West Coast Sea Nettle. The Jellyfish exhibit was my favorite part of the aquarium.

Now I am back at Thanda.

PS: I am a lucky man with three homes – one in Europe where my family lives – one in America with all my friends in Nashville – and one in Africa with good friends and all the wilderness which I love!

About Jellyfish:

Jellyfish are typified as free-swimming marine animals consisting of a gelatinous umbrella-shaped bell and trailing tentacles. The bell can pulsate for locomotion, while stinging tentacles can be used to capture prey.

Jellyfish are found in every ocean, from the surface to the deep sea. A few jellyfish inhabit freshwater. Large, often colorful, jellyfish are common in coastal zones worldwide. Jellyfish have roamed the seas for at least 500 million making them the oldest multi-organ animal.

2013-07-06

At the Nashville Zoo …

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!

2013-07-032013-07-03

… 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!

2013-07-01

Where?

Guess where I am right now?

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.

2013-06-21