Graceful Wings

There are few birds in Africa that evoke more in us than the African Fish Eagle. It has been my favourite raptor for years, and their haunting calls along Africa's waterways are an amazing reminder of the privilege we have to be on safari.

One of the best places to see and photograph them is on the Chobe river in Botswana. You can join us on a Wild Eye safari to this amazing oasis of wildlife where we will use a specialised photographic boat fitted with rotating chairs and mounted gimbal heads for your long lens, while based on a luxurious houseboat that can moor deep into the Chobe National Park for special access to key parts of the river in good light when other operators need to move out to make the "gate times". There's one date left in 2013 but 2014 dates are already laid out - I will be leading a trip from 12-16 March 2014. You can book and see all the details and info (plus images of the boat and houseboat) HERE.

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This image was taken from the Wild Eye photographic boat. I just love how the light reflected off the water displays on the bird's open wings.

Techs:
Nikon D3s
Nikkor 500mm f4 VR-II
f8.0  |  1/2000 SS  |  ISO-2500
Exposure Bias +0.7

Have a great day, friends!

Morkel Erasmus

Ungainly Runner

Hello there! It's Monday - so why don't we just gallop into the week ahead full force, even if we might look a bit ungainly after the weekend's activities? This lone giraffe was running past a herd of elephants at a remote waterhole in Etosha late one afternoon. In about 5 weeks I will be heading back there with my family - can't wait! I love using other animals in the background to add context to a scene.

Techs:
Nikon D800
Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 VR-II @ 70mm
f8.0  |  1/800 SS  |  ISO-400

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Chat soon!

Morkel Erasmus

Kalahari Kinky

Wildlife behaviour is a treat to observe and photograph. Yes, there are many many mundane moments where you just have to sit and wait it out. Take sleeping lions, for example...boring...until they suddenly get up and stalk something that ambles by. If you really want to capture some interesting - almost anthropomorphic behaviour - you need to pay attention to the smaller critters of the bush. The primates and the squirrels are good examples.

This photo shows a trio of Ground Squirrels in the Kalahari desert (Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park) engaged in mutual social grooming...at least that's what the textbook tells us is happening...but what's the first thing that comes to mind when you see this frame? LOL

Techs:
Nikon D3s
Nikkor 500mm f4 VR-II
f8.0  |  1/1000 SS  |  ISO-450

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Until next time...keep - uhm - grooming!

Morkel Erasmus

Foxy Face

Southern Africa has a couple of interesting canids to see when you are on safari. Besides plenty of Black-backed Jackals, the rare Side-striped Jackal and the funky-looking Bat-Eared Fox...there's also the Cape Fox (Vulpes Chama). This is our only true fox species, and they are beautiful and great fun to photograph.

Later this year I will be headed back to one of my favourite parks with my family - the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in the Kalahari desert. We will be going right in time to hopefully see many dens of Cape Foxes with the young ones playing about energetically. This particular kit was sitting in a slight drizzle right outside its den, and also right beside the road. I used my telephoto lens and went in for a tight portrait.

Techs:

Nikon D3s

Nikkor 500mm f4 VR-II

1.4x teleconverter

f5.6  |  1/500 SS  |  ISO-1000

Exposure Bias +0.7 

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I hope you enjoyed this one. Have a great week, friends!

Morkel Erasmus