Me! Tracker of note!
My mission today was to find the elephant herds. Well the truth is I didn’t find a single one! None! Maybe if I go looking for tigers tomorrow I’ll find elephant.
But then I did get side tracked by paw prints on the southern end of Banyini. The Nduna pride were lying up in the mopanie.
It had been a really misty dawn, and usually when that happens we can be guaranteed of a clear day. And so it was. Not that it helped me in any way.
I did some thorough searching for those elephants but didn’t cover the northern third of the property. So I guess that’s where I’ll start tomorrow.
Actually my day will start looking for the Nduna pride ‘cos as I left them just after dark I heard a herd of buffalo not too far away. No doubt the lions will head that way. Especially as they botched up an impala hunt with me at dusk. But the truth is it really doesn’t look like they need to feed anyway.
On my elephant searching travels, I had this big herd of buffalo come to drink at Bandama pan. How some of those youngsters didn’t get stuck in that heavy black clay I really don’t know.
I just love getting around the reserve and seeing all the different habitats and bumping into animals everywhere. Imagine driving to work and seeing some zebra watching you go by.
Giraffe drinking at a waterhole. Vultures flying overhead. Wildebeest with heads down grazing. And throw in a couple of lion for good measure and a herd of buffalo. (oh of course some elephant would have been good). Golly that would be so cool. Indeed it is and I never cease to remind myself how privileged I am!
Good pictures again. Being a (non-professional) photographer myself, I was wondering what percentage of pictures you consider as worth publishing. And how do you select your pictures?
For myself I consider 5 % of my pictures as good, 40 % as average and 55% as #**$%&&
Photograping with a Nikon F65 (non digital) I usually take pictures at sunset and sunrise. The light is at that moment very good.
Living in an green environment ( a small village in the countryside) myself, I can imagine the fact that you feel priveleged to live and work there.
Thank goodness you do what you do, and that you share it so well with your readers. And also, that someone is looking out for the animals and habitats on a daily basis. Now if only the wild dogs could stage a comeback.
Douwe: Never tried to work it out. Maybe only 1%. Really don’t know. Of course I don’t put my best images onto Flickr, I keep them for commercial use and I’m also planning on doing a coffee table book on the reserve. Also shooting digital one tends to shoot a lot more.
Wow if you dont put your best stuff out for us to see, which makes sense, I would love to see the photos you’re keeping from us!!! you must give us more info on your book you’re planning on! I cant wait to see it. Im also wondering on if you have any idea on a time frame for the wild dog film? Despite everything I still cant wait to see it, and Im glad to hear you wll still be making it.
Any sightings on Whiskey?
Paige
Book is still a few years in the making. Wild dog film we’ll probably only start the edit on next year. Next week we start the edit on the Series about my daughters and me having fun in the bush.
Will check on Whisky in next couple of days.
That’s terrible! You tease us with this this and than make us wait a couple years for the finished product! Dont you know you have very impaiciant people here! OK I’m the impaiciant person LOL. Dont you know it’s not nice to tease the animals?
Cheers
Paige
It is understandable that there is a difference in pictures for commercial use and the pictures published on Flickr. I saw some pictures of you on the site of the National Geograhic Society. Yes, I see the difference. Light, composition and subject fits to another. But you have to compete wit other photographers. And, besides the knowledge of geography, I think one of the main goals of the Society was and is to promote outstanding photograpy?
As I website possessor I think the subject matter here is rattling superb, thanks for your efforts.