Kalahari Sunset

I have been doing my best to spend at least an hour each day going through my photos and finally working on organizing and rating them.  It may sound boring to some, but I absolutely love it.

I spent the evening going through photos from the Kalahari Desert, and kept coming back to this sunset photo.  The colours make me smile, so I thought I would share.

Have a great evening!

A beautiful sunset over the Kalahari Desert.  Taken during a sundowner drinks stop at Kalahari Plains Camp, April 2015. 1/60sec, f4.0, ISO400
A beautiful sunset over the Kalahari Desert. Taken during a sundowner drinks stop at Kalahari Plains Camp, April 2015.
1/60sec, f4.0, ISO400

Martial Eagle

On our second day in Damaraland in Namibia, our guide Chris was doing his best to locate the desert adapted elephants for us to view.  We were driving through a dry riverbed, going in a direction that seemed to be completely opposite to where the elephants tracks were headed.  Since I couldn’t make heads or tails of the ellie tracks that crossed back and forth, this way and that, I kept my eyes out for birds and other animals.

A short distance from the vehicle, I spotted a martial eagle perched in low branch above the sandy riverbed.  Chris quickly stopped the vehicle so I could get a quick shot, assuming as I did that the bird would be gone in a moment.  Lucky for me, the eagle was very interested in posing for photos that morning, and sat still while the vehicle moved ahead, and then moved past it, so I could get photos from all angles.  I do really seem to have great luck with bird photos when I least expect it (and we did carry on to locate the ellies too).

An incredibly regal looking bird. All photos 1/800sec, f5.6, ISO640
An incredibly beautiful bird.
All photos 1/800sec, f5.6, ISO640.  April, 2015, Wilderness Safari’s Damaraland Camp, Namibia
A piercing stare.
A piercing stare.
Checking out what's happening in the riverbed, besides us.
Checking out what’s happening in the riverbed, besides us.
Head rotated backwards, and if you look closely, you'll notice the eyes are half closed.
Head rotated backwards, and if you look closely, you’ll notice the eyes are half closed.
Searching the ground for prey?  Or getting bored of all the attention?
Searching the ground for prey? Or getting bored of all the attention?

20150803_Martial Eagle-7

I thought he was getting ready to take off at this point, but he settled back into his branch.
I thought he was getting ready to take off at this point, but he settled back into his branch.

20150803_Martial Eagle-5

Weekly Photo Challenge: Half and Half

This weeks WordPress photo challenge is half and half, and the first thing I thought of was all the sunset photos I took during an Okavango Delta sundowner cruise.  We stopped the boat in a tiny bay, and had a beautiful view of this small island with the sun setting behind it.

A beautiful sunset on the Okavango Delta, Baines Camp, Botswana.  April 2015. 1/250sec, f8.0, ISO 100
A beautiful sunset on the Okavango Delta, Baines Camp, Botswana. April 2015.
1/250sec, f8.0, ISO 100

Half and Half

Travel Theme: Land Meets Water

I think my favourite place (so far) where I have seen land meet water, is the beautiful Okavango Delta.  Experiencing it by helicopter is truly a breathtaking experience.  Here is my choice for the photo challenge Travel Theme: Land Meets Water

The glorious Okavango Delta, where the division between land and water changes on a daily basis.
The glorious Okavango Delta, where the division between land and water changes on a daily basis.

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Colour – Bright Green

Here is my photo for Cee’s new Colourful World challenge.  The colour of the week is lime or bright green.  This little bee eater, perched amongst the bright green leaves of several different types of plants, seems a good fit.

A little bee eater perched in the shade, away from the mid day heat. Baines Camp, Okavango Delta, Botswana. April 2015.
A little bee eater perched in the shade, away from the mid day heat.
Baines Camp, Okavango Delta, Botswana. April 2015.

African Harrier Hawk

Partway through our game drive on our last morning at Chitwa Chitwa, I spotted a fairly large bird in some trees a short distance from the vehicle, and our guide Surprise quickly realized that it was a hawk that had been successful hunting.  We headed closer but the hawk was definitely not too comfortable with our presence and headed for a new tree as soon as we got too close.  After that happened twice, we moved on to allow him (or her) to enjoy breakfast in peace.

It was such a cool sighting and I am very grateful I was able to capture it.

Have a great evening!

An African harrier hawk flies with a green spotted wood snake in its mouth. 1/1000 sec, f8.0, ISO 320
An African harrier hawk flies with a green spotted wood snake in its mouth.
1/1000 sec, f8.0, ISO 320
Coming in to land
Coming in to land
He seemed to be settling in to have breakfast, but soon changed his mind and was off again. 1/1000sec, f8.0, ISO 280
He seemed to be settling in to have breakfast, but soon changed his mind and was off again.
1/1000sec, f8.0, ISO 280
We moved the vehicle and for a few moments, had a closer vantage point.
We moved the vehicle and for a few moments, had a closer vantage point.
Off again 1/1000sec, f5.6, ISO 140
Off again
1/1000sec, f5.6, ISO 140
The poor snake had tied itself into a knot while clutched by the hawk.
The poor snake had tied itself into a knot while being clutched by the hawk.
One last view before he was off.
One last view before he was off.

Kalahari Desert Star Trail

I’ve not had the opportunity to work on many star trails (only twice before this past trip) and while we had clear skies almost every night, there wasn’t always an opportunity to photograph the stars.  Most places we stayed had covered decks plus tree cover, and at almost every property it was against the rules to leave your room unattended after dark due to things like lions and leopards.  And the few places I did have the chance to work from my room, I didn’t necessarily have the best view of the stars, and it wasn’t advisable to leave the camera outside over night working, so I was limited to my waking hours (and when getting up before 5am, those aren’t too late).  Now add to all those limitations the fact that once I finally had the chance to stack the photos, I realized I got the settings wrong. Heavy sigh. 🙁

But…

I still like this composite.  I obviously set the period between photos far too long, as when you zoom in, you can see black spaces between the stars instead of a perfectly smooth trail.  To me though, when zoomed in it looks like a macro photo of some type of fabric.  I also like the way the curves are different from one side to the other.

This is a technique I definitely need to practice A LOT more, and I am looking forward to learning the proper settings.

A composite that is filled with errors, but I still really like the final result.
A composite that is filled with errors, but I still really like the final result.

Right way up

Don't adjust your computer, this is the right way up! A lovely reflection of river reeds and grasses on an unbelievably still channel in the Okavango Delta.
Don’t adjust your computer, this is the right way up!
A lovely reflection of river reeds and grasses on an unbelievably still channel in the Okavango Delta.
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