south africa – Page 138 – Christian Sperka Photography

2015-04-22

Eye Level

It takes a bit of experience to keep shooting pictures when a Black Rhino bull gives you a proper warning charge and comes up within meters of your vehicle. The first few times the adrenalin level is so high that pressing that shutter button is just not an option :-).

Today, one of Thanda’s Black Rhino bulls gave me such a charge, but I was not sitting high up in my game viewer as usual, but I was straight on eye level in my Toyota Fortuner. This picture shows the gentlemen in full charge, only turning away a few meters in front of my car. My 300mm lens was too long to shoot the complete sequence. For the second part of this process I had only his head in my viewfinder!

These type of exciting motion photo shoots are my favorites!

2015-04-19

Five Star Cuisine in the African Bush

I recently did a photo shoot with Thanda’s new Executive Chef, Karla Groenewald.

These are a few of the images I took during the session with her helpers (including my tracker Bheki!).

We had a lot of fun shooting at one of the most beautiful spots on Thanda.

2015-04-09

Just a teaser!

I spent Monday and Tuesday on a friend’s Game Reserve. Look out for the stunning images to come …

2015-04-09

Reflection

An interesting Lion sighting! Thanda’s North Pride having a late evening drink at a small waterhole, only illuminated by the spotlight reflection.

2015-04-06

Stalking!

If the vehicle you are on is used by a male Lion as cover in his stealthy approach to a herd of buffalo, you can be sure you are in for an interesting time.

This beautiful creature was slowly following a herd of buffalo. He approached from the back of my vehicle (first image) and then stopped absolutely still beside me (second image) before he followed his prey carefully into the bush in front of my car.

It was too dark to follow up further, nevertheless it was exciting to be in the middle of a drama, where only one of the actors knew what was happening.

A note for the photographers among you: These pictures were taken at very low-light conditions (Picture 1: ISO 6400, f/2.8, 1/90s, hand-held, 300mm / Picture 2: ISO 6400. f/2.8, 1/45s, hand-held, 115mm, -0.50eV)

2015-04-052015-04-05

Bush Breakfast – with a special guest!

I enjoyed today’s bush breakfast at Pakamisa. Mon Ami, one of Pakamisa’s horses, paid us a visit at the table 🙂 – Picture by Isabella Stepski

Have a look at Pakamisa’s blog about this breakfast – with some of my pictures 🙂 – http://pakamisablog.com/2015/04/05/easter-bush-breakfast/

2015-04-03

Happy Easter!

Frohe Ostern Feliz Pascua Joyeuses Pâques Vrolijk Pasen Buona Pasqua Felix Pascha God påske Wesołych Świąt Happy Easter Glad Påsk Maligayang Pasko ng Pagkabuhay hyvää pääsiäistä 复活节快乐復活節快樂 부활절 축복 받으세요 สุขสันต์วันอีสเตอร์ イースター、おめでとう Phasika elithokozayo Geseënde Paasfees

From me and my 2015 South African Easter Bunny 🙂

It is actually a Scrub Hare 🙂

2015-03-262015-03-26

My Great-Uncle would have been proud!

In the 1950s and 1960s my great-uncle, Werner Knecht, was a well known food photographer in Switzerland. He would have been proud to know that three of my food images were published in a South African magazine called “Urban Life’n Style”.

Have a look at this article about Pakamisa’s Head Chef Thandeka Nxumalo and her recipes at http://issuu.com/urbanlifenstyle/docs/april_2015/68.

Pakamisa is a private game reserve in KwaZulu Natal focusing on horseback safaris. It features a five star lodge with stunning vistas and an excellent cuisine.

2015-03-212015-03-21

Wake up!

This little Lion just woke up from his midday nap and had a bit of a stretch before it started annoying its mother, who was not yet ready to go. I love the look in her eyes: “Ready to go!”

PS: Sorry for blogging so little over the last few weeks, but I was very busy with some local projects on Thanda and had very little time for anything else.

2015-03-022015-03-01

Dancing Elephant ?!

Not really 🙂 This young Thanda Elephant bull was changing direction rather quickly as he was chasing some Cape Buffalo. One of my favorite Elephant shots ever! The Thanda guests enjoyed the very active scene. Elephants chasing Buffalo and Buffalo chasing Elephants.