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Tag: Namibia

“From behind” (#9 in single-image series: relaxed giraffes)

Published May 30, 2023 by Pelidoug

“From behind” (#9 in single-image series: relaxed giraffes)

 

For a giraffe, drinking is as necessary as it is for any other mammal.

The very act of positioning oneself to make drinking physically possible is, however, an enormously more delicate, demanding task for a giraffe than for other mammals.

Giraffes’ approach to a waterhole is always slow, tentative, hesitant…and in a group.

Anxiety and hyper vigilance are especially evident at the crucial moment when a giraffe has to decide that it is now “safe” – or not – to get into drinking position.

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“From behind” (#1 in single-image series)

Published May 22, 2023 by Pelidoug

“From behind” (#1 in single-image series)

 

General rule, when photographing animals, humans included:

ensure that their eyes are fully visible, in sharp focus, and looking at “you”, the viewer.

As is true of so many “rules”, this one is worth knowing.

Generally, it is a good idea to abide by it…but sometimes, the better idea is to break it…

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Three of the same (#14 in series: Burchell’s sandgrouse)

Published May 7, 2023 by Pelidoug

Three of the same (#14 in series: Burchell’s sandgrouse)

 

 

Reportedly, this species  – a southern African arid/semi-arid savannah/grassland specialist –  will sometimes fly 120 kilometres from its nest, in order to find water.

Happily, for many Burchell’s sandgrouse this is no longer necessary; boring humans  – well, humans who sink bores – have proved a boon to Pterocles burchelli.

Named after an English naturalist, they are somewhat pigeon-like in appearance…but not in their abilities and behaviour.

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Three of the same (#7 in series: plains zebra)

Published April 29, 2023 by Pelidoug

Three of the same (#7 in series: plains zebra)

 

For #6 in this series, the number of stripes on the bodies of the featured threesome was self-evident: 3 X 5 = 15.

The number of stripes on today’s heroes is an enormously higher number, not self-evident: 3 X ? = ?…my head hurts…

All members of Equus quagga have many stripes.

Each has his/her own unique pattern.

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Three of the same (#5 in series: gemsbok)

Published April 27, 2023 by Pelidoug

Three of the same (#5 in series: gemsbok)

 

Generally, when it comes to encountering wild animals, humans think, “the closer, the better”

Many wildlife photographers think similarly; they spend large sums of money on huge lenses that prove equally damaging to owners’ bank balances and backs.

Photographers usually try to ensure that the splendid beast/s “fill the frame”.

A shallow depth of field is favoured, thus emphasising the beast’s splendour, and minimising any “distracting” background detail…although “attractive” bokeh is more-than-acceptable.

(if “bokeh” is new to you, click here)

But, but…

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Three of the same (#3 in series: Southern giraffe, aka “Angolan Giraffe”)

Published April 25, 2023 by Pelidoug

Three of the same (#3 in series: Southern giraffe, aka “Angolan Giraffe”)

 

 

Q #1: what has driven some animals to become so remarkably tall?

Q #2: what drove plants to become taller than they might otherwise be, in open woodlands and savanna?

Look at this post’s featured image, and you may have – in part, at least – answered both questions…

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3.5 amazing hours, Namib Desert (final episode, with musical bonus)

Published April 18, 2023 by Pelidoug

3.5 amazing hours, Namib Desert (final episode, with musical bonus)

 

The featured image looks north/ish, to the silhouetted edge of the Namib’s “sand sea”, circa 40 kilometres east of Sossusvlei.

I took the photo at 7.37 pm – Sossusvlei’s sunset time on 21 November 2022.

This little series’ final image was captured 7 minutes later.

Had I had available the necessary time and technology, I would then have loved to listen to a particularly sublime musical creation which I first heard in 1989, and which amazes and inspires me, still.

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3.5 amazing hours, Namib Desert (#8 in series)

Published April 17, 2023 by Pelidoug

3.5 amazing hours, Namib Desert (#8 in series)

 

 

 

I took the featured image at 7.21 pm, 6 minutes before sunset, in the Sossusvlei area on 21 November 2022, looking south/ish from Kulala Desert Lodge.

Had I an additional pair of eyes in the back of my head, they would at that moment have been looking north/ish at a very different sight -the suddenly-silhouetted southeastern edge of the Namib’s “sand sea”.

However, even if my single pair of eyes had maintained an unmoving, “fixed focus, static camera” perspective they would have very soon delivered a beautiful example of “exactly the same, but completely different”…as this post’s final image illustrates.

Happily, I could – and did – move my head, hands, feet and camera.

The image below was taken just one minute later.

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