Apr
01
This is an African White Backed Vulture at the Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre in Limpopo, South Africa. It’s an old picture which I took back in 2007. This vulture is in rehabilitation because he has a damaged wing and sadly he will not fly again. So in this case, as a captive, he is in a good place.
I wondered about uploading this because it’s captive, and all of my African Wildlife pictures so far are not. But captive animals are real animals too, and so deserve equal treatment by photographers.
My own view is that if there’s a better place for captive animals, then that’s where they should be. In some cases, that means back in the wild again. In other cases that is not so simple. Simply releasing a captive-born of several generations could be just that.
This has always been a favourite picture of mine and it would be a shame not to show it.
Mar
24
I have an account at 500px. I took a mini-break from it, but I was never going to stay away for too long.
After a slight wave of concern among its users, 500px seem to be rebuilding well again after their rather embarrassing relaunch last month. The dislike button is still a point of contention for some, but happily it has lost it’s effectiveness in the wrong hands to a large degree. The Flow Page I hear, is up for a revamp too.
Gradually, after user a fair bit of noisy feedback, the Wall is back, albeit hidden away somewhat, as is the Activity Page. Stories is good, although I’m not sure if that’s for me, and then there’s the new, but much incomplete Market. However this version still has the quality of a beta release, with a few too many bugs too be really considered final. In another month hopefully, they’ll all be gone.
But as it stands now, the pros far outweigh its cons, so if you’ve not signed up, see that you do because right now it is the best way to get eyes on your pictures.
My own 500px page is here and I’ve galleries too: Colour | Black and White | British Wildlife
Mar
08
I have released A Flick of the Tail as a limited edition print of 75. This was the image that saw me win a specially commended award at last year’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year. It was also chosen for that competition’s annual Portfolio cover.
A Flick of the Tail is limited to a run of 75 only and are each hand numbered and signed by me just beneath the image area. Each print is embossed with a stamp on the paper’s edge and printed with a generous white border all around. I check each Limited Edition print to ensure quality before it is sent to the buyer.
Print sizes available are 40cm, 60cm, 80cm, framed or unframed. Larger sizes are available on request.
I have more information about my prints, the process we use, payment methods and delivery here.
To purchase or enquire about alternate payment methods, email me via my contact page or at ofni.dyolldivadnull@divad or go directly to my online store here.
Mar
07
Marsh Pride Lion Cub, Masai Mara, Kenya.
- 3rd August – 10th August 2012
- 11th August – 18th August 2012
We are offering Masai Mara Photographic tours for 2012 with 8 and 16 day options.
With co-host Will Burrard-Lucas of BeetleCam fame.
Join with Will and myself to photograph the greatest wildlife spectacle on earth, the annual migration in the Masai Mara in Kenya. We have a private luxury camp, in one of the best locations in the Masai Mara, inside the reserve, and directly in front of a main wildebeest crossing point, set aside especially for us.
For much more info on the tour, including of the vehicles we use, tuition, iMac workstation access at camp, itinerary and costs, then visit the tour info page here at Masai Mara Photo Tours. Who knows, BeetleCam itself may make an appearance on tour!
Mar
02
With the Wildlife Photographer of the Year entries out of the way, here’s one I had left over. I’m not sure if it would have passed in that competition as the guidelines state burning and dodging in moderation. While there was no cloning involved, curves and the black and white conversion allowed the background foliage to be reduced to what you see here. I think it’s still within the confines of traditional black and white darkroom methods, but I didn’t want to chance it with the competition and entered a safer image instead.
For what it’s worth, the original can be seen here. I processed this entirely in Adobe Lightroom, as with my other images, with no enhancement via Adobe Photoshop.
Jan
13
I added three more black and white prints to the store this week, two African Buffalo portraits and one Noble Lion. There’s now nine in the Limited Edition collection, the first six are here. Sizes begin at 30cm and 40cm wide respectively and go up to 80cm or more. There’s more info and print specifications at Print Info.
Dec
31
As is the end of year thing for many photographers, a top pictures of the year is in order. 2011 bought much success for me, in particular that of the Veolia Wildlife Photographer of the Year award and its book cover, but that photo was taken in 2010 even if in some sense it belonged to 2011. But my top five’s criteria is that they were taken in 2011. So here, in no particular order, are my five for 2011.
Zebra Pair
In August I took seven other keen photographers down to the Mara, and those who shared our truck were taken by this zebra pair. It is not uncommon to see zebra pairs like this, it partly acts as a defense mechanism (and it’s been suggested that their opposing tails keep their faces free of flies). But what made this one special was the clear and clean background they were set in. The three of us picked up on this, and this is my take. This one is available as a print here, and you can see a colour version here too.
Read More»Sep
03
Last week, myself and seven others visited the Masai Mara to photograph and experience the annual wildebeest migration and none of us were disappointed. Within minutes (literally) upon arriving at camp we found ourselves running to the river to see our first wildebeest crossing. In the next few days, we witnessed two more, even though we were aware of others still.
One morning we were down by the river first thing – just after 6:00am – and found ourself using ISO settings of 6400 and even 12800 sometimes to catch a crossing. A little later, when the light was a little brighter there was a part two of the crossing, and on this occasion I noticed a steady stream of vultures and maribu storks flying over the top of the assembling wildebeest which had gathered down at the riverside. I managed a couple, and this is one of them.
This was a week long tour organised by myself at last a minutes’ notice (well, two months’ notice anyway) and we were all delighted with the experience we had, very much exceeding everyone’s expectations. It is a precursor for more to follow, and I will certainly have more lined up for next year. Keep an eye out here if you’re interested in one, or subscribe to my newsletter here if you want to be the first to know.
For more updates, news and pictures, you’re welcome to join up with my Facebook wildlife photography page here.
