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WILDLIFE BLOG
Photo Safari Skills: Backlighting with Flash
It's a common event: a beautiful sight, which just doesn't come out on your camera how it looks to your eyes... There are various reasons for this, but the most common is probably that your camera cannot capture the range of tones (we call it dynamic range) that your eyes can. In other words, while your eyes can see detail in dark shadows and bright areas at the same time, a camera cannot. The camera has [...]
Through the Lens: Elephants under the Fig
There's a time each morning and afternoon when the light is so soft that you can photograph subjects from almost any angle in a flattering way. While exploring the southern end of Nsefu Sector recently, we entered this period of the afternoon and spotted an opportunity developing that seemed too good to miss. Elephants were crossing an area of scrub and heading towards a beautiful fig tree at the edge of a lagoon. Hoping that they [...]
Through the Lens: Impalas under the Ebonies
In an earlier post, I mentioned that this impalas image was my favourite from a safari in Nsefu last week. I love the arrangement of the antelopes, and the light falling across them. But there was also an element of satisfaction when the shot worked, as the bright contrasting light meant it was a tricky exposure. Let me explain by taking a look at the original shot: Here's the original shot, straight out of the [...]
Through the Lens: Scenes of Nsefu
The landscapes that we enjoy on a safari in the Luangwa are mind-blowing. While we always enjoy them, there is somehow little time to photograph them as we move between exciting wildlife sightings. It was therefore a treat to take a landscape photographer on safari who placed as much value on great scenery photography as he did on the wildlife side of things! Here is a small selection of the scenery on offer in the Nsefu [...]
Photo Safari Report: Mike White | Zikomo Safari Lodge | 2 – 8 July 2016
I've been in contact with Mike White since February when he saw an advert of mine in Amateur Photographer magazine. He booked a private week-long safari with me using Zikomo Safaris on the edge of the Nsefu Sector. (For 2017, there will be a scheduled safari in the Nsefu Sector appearing on my safaris page very soon). With sunrise quite late in the winter months, we were very keen to get out early in the mornings [...]
Life in the Bush: Living with Animals
Of course, we are here for the safari, and to give visitors the best possible experience in this wonderful wildlife area. But it is living amongst these vast mammals which - if anything - gives me even greater pleasure. Here are a few photos taken within sight of our house on the boundary of the National Park.
Photo Safari Report: Colin & Jackie Morris | Flatdogs Camp | 15 – 17 June 2016
I raved about this time of year in my last trip report of Arun & Reeta's safari. And I was very pleased to be able to guide Jackie & Colin from Flatdogs Camp last week and enjoy more of the beautiful early season in Luangwa. So, in a rough order of appearance, here are the stars of our safari from last week. We started our first morning with some wonderful giraffe antics along the main river. [...]
Photoshoots: Conservation South Luangwa & Zambia Carnivore Programme
Conservation South Luangwa and the Zambia Carnivore Programme are NGOs, based in Mfuwe, who do invaluable work for the protection and conservation of the Luangwa Valley. I rate both organisations highly and was very pleased to be asked to join the board of CSL at the end of last year. They work closely together to protect the wildlife resources that this area is dependent on and do so in a considered, educated and thoughtful way. It's [...]
Wildlife: Alice’s Legend Lives On….
Anyone who's followed my blog will know of a famous leopard in South Luangwa called Alice. She wowed us with wonderful sightings for more than 10 years, and has only recently succumbed to old age (she hasn't been seen since November so we fear the worst). But her legend of astounding behaviour (even in the presence of safari vehicles) lives on in at least 3 generations of cubs who are still regularly seen. Two cubs in [...]
Tips for Wildlife Photographers: #3 “Think about Light Direction”
Even those who know almost nothing about photography will know that you "put the sun behind you" when taking photos. This is not a bad maxim to use for photography and certainly it's a safe bet that images taken with the sun behind the photographer will turn out just fine. But, applying this maxim to every subject that you encounter doesn't normally give the best results. Let me show you why.... Take this shot of an [...]
Photo Safari Report: Arun & Reeta | Marula Lodge | 16 – 21 May 2016
Without sounding like shameless promoters, there is no easy way to do justice to the early dry season as a time for game viewing in the South Luangwa; it is quite simply a beautiful, rewarding period which is slightly unpredictable, a trait that only adds to its appeal. It's true that the sightings of predators on the move can be better in the drier months, and that the birding opportunities better in the rainy season. It [...]
Wildlife: Not something you see every day….
On the final day of my safari with Arun & Reeta we spotted an elephant eyeing up the tasty leaves of a wild mango tree. Judging him to be of the size who can rear up on their back legs, I quickly trained my guests' cameras onto him and we watched as he shifted the weight onto his back legs and reared up to his tallest height! While they can't maintain this pose for long, it's [...]
EDWARD SELFE
I organise & run photographic safaris in the finest wildlife areas on Earth.
