Just before sunrise I took this image with my iPhone. I think it has a painting-like quality showing my road to work …
Technical data: Apple 14 Pro Max | Ultra Wide Camera 13mm | ISO 1000 | 1/6600sec | f2.2 | ev+0 | Edit: Shadows enhanced
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Black Rhino are usually very shy and do not like to be in the open. Most encounters are a quick look, a fast turn, and a run straight into protective bush.
But last night we had an incredible sighting of this Black Rhino bull calmly drinking at a waterhole and then the crossing the road walking away in a stately pace.
This is my favorite picture from our photo shoot !
Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f4-6.3/24-240mm | ISO 1000 | 1/500sec | f6.7 | ev+0 | 150mm | WB 6500K | AV Mode
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… stood this young Kudu bull. He was stock-still, awaiting my move.
Often, the first reaction of many prey species is not to run when they encounter a predator (or anything else moving about which they are not certain, like me in my Jimny).
Instead, they freeze in place to see if the sighted potential threat continues on a course parallel or away from themselves. If that is the case, they go back to what they were doing before the encounter.
But if the subject of interest (me in this case!) turns towards them or remains still for too long, then they will take evasive action and run away.
This is exactly what happened in this case as I had to continue on the road.
Technical data: Canon R6 with EF lens f2.8/70-200mm | ISO 100 | 1/500sec | f2.8 | ev+0 | 170mm | WB 6500K | AV Mode
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Canon at Eye Level – Black Rhino
I have posted very little since early September, and some of you may have wondered what I have been up to.
I have just returned from a fantastic three week trip with two American guests who are also my friends from my time in the USA. We began our journey in the Drakensberg Mountains, visited the Battlefields, explored the iSimangaliso Wetlands, encountered the Big Five at Thanda, and concluded our travels in Durban at the fabulous Oyster Box Hotel to enjoy city life for a few days.
A few trip stats: 21 days, 7 overnight locations, 19 excursions and activities, and 11 game drives. I will soon be sharing a photo trip report about our adventures.
Upon my return, Thanda Safari and The Royal Thanda Club hosted the most extraordinary five-day event I have ever witnessed in the African bush. It was an extravaganza with over 120 guests from around the world staying in our six new Royal Thanda Club Villas, Villa iZulu, Thanda Safari Lodge, and Thanda Tented Camp. The experience was both exhilarating and exhausting!
This afternoon, for the first time in a while, I had the opportunity to venture out onto the reserve on my own. Just before sunset, I managed to capture this picture of a Black Rhino browsing in a recently burned area. The majestic creature appeared quite relaxed (for a Black Rhino!) and I was able to take a few shots from a distance. After wild cats, this is my favorite mammal species. What an evening!
Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f/11, 800mm | ISO 25600 | 1/500 sec | EV +0 | WB 6500K | AV Mode
#CanonAtEyeLevel
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If you want to read more of my stories and see more of my pictures, you should visit my blog at https://sperka.info/blog/
This young Thanda Safari Lioness was following her mother across a recently burned area. I took this picture last night just as the sun had set. I love the stark contrast between the cat and the background.
Technical data: Canon R6 with EF lens f2.8/70-200mm | ISO 16000 | 1/500sec | f2.8 | ev+0 | 200mm | WB 6500K | AV Mode
#CanonOnEyeLevel
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If you want to read more of my stories and see more of my pictures, you should visit my blog at https://sperka.info/blog/
Today we went on boat trip on Lake St.Lucia (from Makakatana Bay Lodge). Beside the obligatory Hippos we especially enjoyed the many in-flight bird sightings.
Above are just two of the many motion photography opportunities of the day (more below)
The picture on the left shows an Osprey in flight with the remains of a fish in its talons. The picture on the left depicts a African Darter with a freshly speared fish.
Here is the technical data for both shots (for the photographers among you 😊):
Technical data (left): Canon R6 with RF lens f11/800mm | ISO 1600 | 1/2000sec | ev+1.5 | WB 6500K | AV Mode | Continuous shooting | Multi-point focus
Technical data (right): Canon R6 with RF lens f11/800mm | ISO 100 | 1/750sec | ev+0.5 | WB 6500K | AV Mode | Single shot | Centre-point focus
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This Baboon had a bit of a rest as his troop moved on. He was just not quite sure how to get comfortable on the park bench 😊. The picture was taken at Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse in the Drakensberg Mountains.
Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f11/800mm | ISO 16000 | 1/500sec | ev-0.5 | WB 6500K | AV Mode
This young Spotted Hyena dragged a rather large piece of a kill across a tar-road to get it away from its siblings. When it comes to food these youngster get very selfish. Especially the female cubs kill their weaker brothers and sisters if food is scarce.
Technical data: Canon R6 with EF lens L f4.0/500mm | ISO 4000 | 1/500sec | f4 | ev0 | 500mm | WB 6500K | AV Mode | Crop to 60% of original image
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#CanonOnEyeLevel
Also know as Cape Vultures these magnificent birds are often mistaken for White-backed Vultures which look very similar. The Cape Vultures have orange/yellow eyes and are larger than White-backed Vultures, who have very dark eyes.
These is a list of all the Vulture species found in South Africa, in order of weight (heaviest to lightest):
Cape Vulture 8.5kg
Rüppell’s Vulture 7.5kg *
Lappet-faced Vulture 6.7kg * #
Bearded Vulture 5.8kg *
White-backed Vulture 5.5kg #
White-headed Vulture 4.7kg * #
Hooded Vulture 2.1kg * #
Egyptian Vulture 1.9kg *
Palm-nut Vulture 1.7kg *
(* uncommon)
(# seen on Thanda Safari)
All Vulture species are now threatened from extinction (classified between critically endangered and vulnerable) mainly due to poisoning, electrocution, and land-use changes.
Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f11/800mm | ISO 1600 | 1/2000sec | ev-0.5 | WB 6500K | AV Mode | Crop to 25% of original image
This picture was taken at the Falcon Ridge Bird of Prey Centre in the Drakensberg Mountains, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.
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This was the view morning from the Villa iZulu deck towards its waterhole. A herd of Elephants stopped by for a drink before moving on for more grazing and browsing. It was a most beautiful scene enjoyed up close by the guests on two of Thanda Safari’s game viewers.
And it was a perfect beginning to a Thanda Safari wedding day. The celebration started the previous evening with a romantic dinner under the stars. A moving wedding ceremony with 75 guests in the bush on a hilltop was followed by a creative photo shoot for the couple, a superb wedding reception with a multi-course gourmet meal, ended this morning with a bush breakfast on a warm, sunny morning.
I am happy that I was part of the team that made this happen!
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