A bit of leopard love on this monochrome Monday. I hope everyone has a fantastic week!
2019-04-15: Monochrome Monday
2019-04-08: Monochrome Monday
I’m keeping fingers crossed that I’ll have the opportunity to see lots of big cats while of safari next month. Here are a few images from my previous travels to start the week.
Wishing everyone a fantastic week ahead!
2019-04-01: Monochrome Monday
No jokes, funny business or shenanigans here. Just a trio of zebra images for the 1st monochrome Monday of April.
Wishing everyone a fantastic week ahead!
2019-03-25: Monochrome Monday
I’m keeping with yesterday’s Palm Springs theme, but this time, a black and white interpretation.
I hope everyone’s week has gotten off to a fantastic start!
2019-0318: Monochrome Monday
Racing into another week – I hope it’s a good one!
2019-03-11: Monochrome Monday
Some leopards to start the week! Leopards are definitely my favourite cats to watch (well, at least of the cats I have seen so far… once I have the chance to see tigers and jaguars, I’ll have to revisit this statement!)
The first image was taken in Botswana in the Okavango Delta, in a sighting filled will drama (for the humans involved). Several vehicles from another camp were following this leopard, who was doing what leopards do best, being elusive and sticking to the cover of the bush. There had been a lot of flooding in the area, and a vehicle got stuck while following this cat, and then a second got stuck, trying to help the first. Our awesome ranger saved the day and got the vehicles mobile again, but both stuck vehicles missed out on the few photo opportunities that were available, like this one.
This second image was also from the delta, and I have posted of this sighting many times before so I won’t go on and on. I think though, this shot is how people dream of seeing leopards, but the one above is a far more realistic scenario.
This final image was taken in South Africa; our guide took us to a sighting of a mama leopard and her two cubs in ravine, and we had a brilliant time watching the cubs playing on the fallen trees, scampering through the swamp, and wrestling with each other. The cub pictured here was just about to pounce on its sibling, who was a few feet below on the ground. This was one of those sightings where, as we drove back to camp, our guide told us “we probably should keep this quiet while there are other guests around”.
Just so you know, you can find lots of images like these over in my gallery page!
2019-03-04: Monochrome Monday
This is one of a few images that I took while playing around with an infrared filter that I bought during my trip to California last October. I only spent a brief amount of time reading about shooting with one of these filters before getting out and trying it, and as such, forgot about a few things, such as setting a custom white balance before starting shooting. Even though I didn’t follow through with all the steps that you should be doing, I am still happy with the results; editing just took a bit longer than it would have otherwise.
I am excited for spring to arrive and have the chance to get the filter out and work with it some more. I don’t think infrared images of snowy fields and trees would have much impact!
Wishing everyone a great week ahead.
2019-02-25: Monochrome Monday
The amazing Okavango Delta, from the air, is the image I have selected for my monochrome Monday post this week. It is such an amazing and beautiful location, and one that absolutely needs to be experienced from the land, the air and the water to truly get an appreciation for the magic of the place. Definitely a destination I hope to return to again.
2019-02-18: Monochrome Monday
I have been incredibly fortunate to see wild dogs on all the trips I have taken to southern Africa. My very first trip, when asked what animal I hoped I would see, it was the wild dog. I knew they were rare, endangered, and can be difficult to find, and when our guide Mike found them during our day trip to Chobe Park, I was beyond thrilled. And I have remained thrilled each time I have had the good fortune of spending time with these amazing animals.
All the images below were from my last trip, when we had wild dogs sightings over 3 days in the Okavango Delta.
2019-02-11: Monochrome Monday
This waterhole was in Nxai Pans National Park in Botswana. We stopped there after a trip out to the Baines Baobabs, and watched as a lone bull elephant approached the water. We all thought he was an enormous elephant. A few minutes later, another bull appeared, even larger, and the first elephant made way for the newcomer to choose the spot he wanted at the water. Then the third came along, and both the bulls at the water had to give way to the last that arrived to drink. I love watching these dynamics play out in nature. There was no struggle, no tension, just a simple understanding amongst the group of who got to be in charge.
