Landscape – Page 27 – Jennifer Sawicky Photography

July 6, 2015

Londolozi is well known for having amazing leopard sightings, and I certainly had one during my stay, but you’ll have to stay tuned to a future post to hear all about it and see the photos, as that encounter definitely deserves to be a post on its own (as does the Pangolin sighting!!!) 🙂
We had an absolutely fabulous time during our two night stay, and a lot of laughs with our ranger Dave and tracker Judas. I’d be back there tomorrow if I could (I think in fact I asked Phil the camp manager more than once if I could hide myself away somewhere just so I could stay longer).
The following are just a few of the moments that made me smile during my time there; I took over 1500 photos during my stay, so you can be certain you’ll see many more in the coming days and weeks.

This very blog was started after my first trip to Londolozi in 2013. In case you missed those first posts, you can find some of them here (or use the search function at the bottom of my home page to find them all!)

My First Leopard Sighting

Leopard Sightings – Even Better the Second Time

Here is a link to my guest blog post from my first trip to Londolozi, in case you missed that:

A Home at Tree Camp

And now for the images – I hope you enjoy!

A small group of wildebeest gather around a tree, on a perfect autumn afternoon. 1/1000sec, f10, ISO360 — A small group of wildebeest gather around a tree, on a perfect autumn afternoon.
1/1000sec, f10, ISO360

A saddle billed stork on one of the sandy banks in the river. 1/1000 sec, f9, ISO 560 — A saddle billed stork on one of the sandy bars in the river.
1/1000 sec, f9, ISO 560

This photo brings me close to tears; I think it shows what I love best about being out in the bush, just bearing witness to the day to day lives of animals. I absolutely love elephants, and capturing this tender moment when the youngster had a chance to suckle was one of the benefits of parking ourselves in the river and hanging out with this small family. 1/1000sec, f8, ISO 360 — This photo brings me close to tears; I think it shows what I love best about being out in the bush, just bearing witness to the day to day lives of animals. I absolutely love elephants, and capturing this tender moment when the youngster had a chance to suckle was one of the benefits of parking ourselves in the river and hanging out with this small family.
1/1000sec, f8, ISO 360

We parked in the river to watch this small family group drinking and crossing the river. What came next??? 1/1000sec, f8.0, ISO 400 — We parked in the river to watch this small family group drinking and crossing the river. What came next???
1/1000sec, f8.0, ISO 400

Well and truly stuck! Our position in the river gave us brilliant viewing and photographic opportunities, but unfortunately left the land rover with tires at least half buried in the sand. Dave was so worried that we would be upset at waiting for rescue and being late for breakfast, but we all had an absolute blast; just another part of the safari adventure! 1/1250sec, f16, ISO900 — We got well and truly stuck!
Our position in the river gave us brilliant viewing and photographic opportunities, but unfortunately left the land rover with tires at least half buried in the sand. Dave was so worried that we would be upset at waiting for rescue and being late for breakfast, but we all had an absolute blast; just another part of the safari adventure!
1/1250sec, f16, ISO900

The tractor arrived to remove our stuck vehicle from the river; I'm not sure if Dave has lived that one down yet. 1/1250sec, f10, ISO500 — The tractor arrived to remove our stuck vehicle from the river; I’m not sure if Dave has lived that one down yet.
1/1250sec, f10, ISO500

The result of having to call for rescue, Dave ended up with the dreaded pink ammo pouch. I think it may be good luck though, as we had some amazing sightings after he took possession of it!

Even after getting dragged out of the river, Dave still stopped in the sand along the river so I could photograph this beautiful white fronted bee-eater. 1/1250 sec, f10, ISO 1000 — Even after getting dragged out of the river, Dave still stopped in the sand along the river so I could photograph this beautiful white fronted bee-eater.
1/1250 sec, f10, ISO 1000

The morning sky was like a painting, and I was happy just to sit and watch that;, stumbling across this herd of elephants made it all the better. 1/640sec, f5, ISO 3600 — The morning sky was like a painting, and I was happy just to sit and watch that; stumbling across this herd of elephants made it all the better.
1/640sec, f5, ISO 3600

My first attempt at photographing lightning; I set up my camera on the tree camp deck under a patio umbrella, and let the camera do it's thing on a timer function while I enjoyed wine and dinner. We were out on drive and returned just before the rain started, but watched the most intense part of the lightning from the vehicle on the way back to camp. I'm pleased with the results for my first attempt; it was basically focusing and aiming at nothing and hoping for the best! 25sec, f11, ISO 800 — My first attempt at photographing lightning; I set up my camera on the tree camp deck under a patio umbrella, and let the camera do it’s thing on a timer function while I enjoyed wine and dinner. We were out on drive and returned just before the rain started, but watched the most intense part of the lightning from the vehicle on the way back to camp. I’m pleased with the results for my first attempt; it was basically focusing and aiming at nothing and hoping for the best!
25sec, f11, ISO 800

A slightly different editing technique, but from the same storm as the other lightning photo (one of only a few periods of rain I had on holiday). 25 sec, f11, ISO800 — A slightly different editing technique, but from the same storm as the other lightning photo (one of only a few periods of rain I had on holiday).
25 sec, f11, ISO800

I asked both my Dave's to find me owls, and they both succeeded :) The light was not in my favour for photographing this southern white faced owl, but I really like this black and white conversion. 1/1250sec, f6.3, ISO 900 — I asked both my Dave’s to find me owls, and they both succeeded 🙂 The light was not in my favour for photographing this southern white faced owl, but I really like this black and white conversion.
1/1250sec, f6.3, ISO 900

A couple of iconic African shapes - elephants and cheetah. 1/250sec, f7.1, ISO 3600 — A couple of iconic African shapes – elephants and cheetah.
1/250sec, f7.1, ISO 3600

April 21, 2015

Damaraland Highlights

Here is a glimpse of some of the beautiful scenery of Damaraland, and my transfer between Sossusvlei and Damaraland.

One of Damaraland's rocky hills. Taken early in the day when the winds are low and the sky is free from dust. — One of Damaraland’s rocky hills. Taken early in the day when the winds are low and the sky is free from dust.

An oryx runs through the desert at sunset. Such pretty light.

A huge group of ostriches were spooked by our approaching vehicle, and ran as fast as they could to the top of the rise.

One of the more recent shipwrecks along the Namibian coast. This one ran aground in the mid 2000's. — One of the more recent shipwrecks along the Namibian coast. This one ran aground in the mid 2000’s.

Some of the amazing rock engravings at Twyfelfontein. They estimate that the San bushman carved these images between 2000-6000 years ago. The sandstone has broken up, and the panels are no longer in the original positions.

One of the desert adapted elephants of Damaraland. I was surprised how high they climbed in the mountains.

April 20, 2015

Sossusvlei Highlights

I know once I am home I will be able to fill several posts with photos from my time at Sossusvlei, but for now, here are a few highlights from my brief stay.

I landed in Namibia hoping I would see Oryx, and within a few minutes, I did :) The lodge had a small watering hole, and I frequent sightings. — I landed in Namibia hoping I would see Oryx, and within a few minutes, I did 🙂 The lodge had a small watering hole, and I frequent sightings.

Some young zebra playing in the desert. These little guys were whipping around, without a care in the world.

An oryx tests the water of the lodge pool.

February 22, 2015

20150221_Sunrise

Two weeks ago, I managed to get loads of editing done, and had a post a day. This past week, each day seemed to slip by at record speed, and I didn’t manage a single post (or even to take or edit a single photo).

Thankfully, this morning I grabbed my camera bag when we headed out for our early morning walk. What a beautiful morning it was! I picked a particular spot at the dikes, both so I could get a few photos of the sky before heading out, and also the hopes of seeing some interesting ducks that I had spotted the evening before. It turns out the ducks are common goldeneyes, and I didn’t manage any decent shots of them, but at least they were good enough to get an ID.

This was my favourite shot from the morning. Enjoy!

A gorgeous morning along the South Alouette River in Pitt Meadows, BC.

January 9, 2015

Beautiful evening

After the pea soup fog the last few days, where I could barely see across the road, it was lovely to see the sky clear today. Even lovelier was the sunset, with the sky like a painting.
Photo taken with my Samsung Note 3.

December 31, 2014

Thank you

As 2014 draws to a close, I wanted to take a moment to say thank you to everyone that takes the time to stop by and view my photos. This blog has introduced me to some amazing photographers and writers, and I am inspired and awed by so much of the work that I see.
I am so grateful for the connections I have been able to make through this site 🙂
I have started working on a second site, for photo sales, Jennifer Sawicky’s Smugmug Site and will be adding to both this blog and the sales site on a regular basis in the coming year. If there are any past photos that you think I should be adding, please let me know.
All the best in the coming year to each and every one of you. We are closing the year out here with beautiful, sunny skies and while my camera has remained at home, I captured a few nice shots on my phone the last couple of days.

October 7, 2014

Foggy Morning

The early morning fog parting to reveal the blue sky beyond. 1/200sec, f8.0, ISO500 — The early morning fog parting to reveal the blue sky beyond.
1/200sec, f8.0, ISO500

September 15, 2014

Pitt Meadows Fire

While heading out for my walk last Sunday morning, I saw a huge column of smoke the minute I left my building. I snapped these photos from out of the passenger side window, as even when pulled well over on the road, I didn’t want to be out of my vehicle and get in the way of emergency services heading to the blaze. It only seemed right to wait to go through the photos until I had heard the news report about what happened. Thankfully, loss of property only.

Emergency vehicle lights and cedar trees ablaze.

For this shot I was about 3 kilometres away; the black smoke dominates the morning skyline.

Looking in the direction away from the smoke, it was a truly gorgeous morning.

By the end of our walk, the winds had changed, moving the smoke over the river.

August 25, 2014

Category: Landscape

Dead Vlei

Londolozi Highlights