#myshot: African Elephants

A Special thanks to each and every one that contributed to our challenge.

The African elephant (Loxodonta africana) is the largest living terrestrial mammal, with the largest recorded individual reaching a massive four metres at the shoulder and weighing an impressive 4.5-6.0 tonnes.Photographing elephants, because of the animals' size, can be less demanding than photographing other wild animals as you don't need to be as close to fill your camera's frame.  It's nevertheless still a challenge to produce images that adequately portray the immense power, dexterity, and strong family bonds of Africa's largest mammal.

By Astrid Stevie Winberg

Monochrome magic elephants : taken at Mana Pools, July 2015. Walking with these 
gentle giants was so inspiring and surreal. Truly Blessed.

By Elana Erasmus

Image was taken on the Chobe River, Botswana.

This herd crossed the river to gather on a little island to graze.

By Jasper van Zyl

Matriarch and calf. Rietfontein Waterhole Etosha Pans. Herd of Elephants came 

to drink at the waterhole and the calf came up to the Matriarch to feed, 

and she went into this "pose" while the calf suckled. 

By Rian van Schalkwyk

A bull elephant makes his presence known at a watering hole in 

Etosha National Park, Namibia

By Astrid Stevie Winberg

Walking with Giants ... taken at Mana Pools, Zimbabwe July 2015. Nothing more humbling
than to walk with these gentle giants. A priviledge that we as humans need to uphold.

By Elana Erasmus

Image was taken on the Chobe River, Botswana.This baby elephant was very tiny 

and was constantly looking for the protection and comfort of its mother.A moment of affection 

between mom and baby presented me with this image.

By Good Grief Photography-Deon Greeff

Image taken in the Kruger National Park

By Johan Jooste Snr

This shot I took one afternoon late at the Chudob waterhole in Etosha, 

just before I wantedto depart, and then spotted the herd coming to drink. 

As they came closer, I could see dust blowing off their bodies and they 

got more and more in a hurry to get to the water. 

By Elana Erasmus

This image was taken on a trip to the Serengeti.This youngster was very playful, but kept to the
 side of its mother.It was when he ran off for a moment into the long grass that 

I was presented with this image.

By Johan Wolmarans

Image taken in the Kruger National Park, South Africa

By Petri Ackermann

close-up of a beautiful elephant of the Kruger National Park, South Africa.

#myshot: Namibian Landscapes

A Special thanks to each and every one that contributed to our challenge.

Landscape Photography 

There’s something about getting out in nature with the challenge of capturing some of the amazing beauty that you see.  It’s easy to fall into the trap of dialing in a very small aperture when you’re shooting landscapes, particularly when you’re relatively new to photography.

  

It may be better to stick with apertures in the middle of the range – somewhere in the region of f/11 and f/16 rather than f/22 and f/32. You may lose a little in terms of the depth of sharpness, but your landscapes may look sharper overall.

  

One element that can set apart your landscape shots is to think carefully about the depth of your shots and by placing points of interest in them.  Another element to consider is the sky in your landscape. Most landscapes will either have a dominant foreground or sky – unless you have one or the other your shot can end up being 

 1. By Naude Dreyer

Took this a few days ago on a hazy morning at Pelican Point. The spring tide had flooded the beach the previous evening, and left this pool to create the reflection. I always love combing natural and urban aspects together....

2. Chantlle Bosch

The petrified dunes a Namib Desert Lodge. 1 Liter of dune sand weighs roughly 1.5 kg, 

so imagine how heavy a 400m tall dune is! Then add the weight of LOTS of water 

(after melting ice) penetrated into the sand, and this is partly how the 

dunes of the Tsondab desert petrified into one huge sandstone mass...

3.Johan Jooste Snr

The Namib Desert

4.  By Petri Ackermann Wildlife Photography

Beautiful sunset scenery between Karibib and Omaruru.

5.  Alison Greeff

Epupa Falls in the North of Namibia

6.  Alfons Kiesewetter

 Image taken while cycling in the Swakopmund River

Photo Challenge: #Myshot-African Cats

Photo Challenge: #Myshot-African Cats

Photographing African Cats but it is an amazing and thrilling experience where you learn something new with each image you take. The photographic possibilities are endless, which make the challenge even greater.

As a photographer, I believe in not just coming home with beautiful photographs, but to learn as much as I can. What better way to tell a visual story and to learn about the behavior of the animal.

We had a tough time choosing the top five images since their were beautiful submissions. Thank you for all who contributed and please keep sharing in our new challenges to come.

1. By Werner Dippenaar Photography

Photo taken in the Madikwe game reserve. We followed this coalition of four male Cheetah one morning as they came down to the Marico river to quench their thirsts.

2. By Dan Pawson

This boy came strolling over the dune in the Kgalagadi

3. Megan Dreyer : 24 Atlantic

Sunlight Whiskers – Kalagadi

4. By Corinna Findling-Zolper

African Cats MALAIKA WITH HER 6 CUBS

Taken in Aug. 2014 while in the Masai Mara with David Lloyd.

5. Kim Smith Photography

Leopard Portrait Taken in Masai Mara, Kenya

6. By Naude Dreyer

This is the same male from the previous post, seen the next day. He was resting with some females after killing a zebra. It was very cloudy, so I opted for BandW instead.

Landscape Photography in Namibia

 If landscapes and remote wildernesses are your passions, then Namibia is a country after your own heart. Namibia is an African country like no other and she offers photographic landscape opportunities like no other during the day and even more so at night.

Namibia is a massive, desolate landscape and boasts the title of the 4th least populated country in the world with one person per square kilometer. Namibia will demand that you spread your tripod legs and stretch your histogram to its limit. What awaits you is a vast unpopulated wilderness rich in diversity and full of creative possibilities.

The Namib Rand provide the perfect backdrop for amateur and professional photographers alike. The incredible and abundant contrasts of color and geology the landscapes will give ample opportunity for the perfect shot. The Namib Rand Nature Reserve, located in southern Namibia, is a private nature reserve established to help protect and conserve the unique ecology and wildlife of the south-west Namib Desert.

Read more on our website

MASHATU GAME RESERVE, "LAND OF THE GIANTS"

Mashatu is situated on the eastern fringes of the Kalahari Desert and water is its most precious resource. The sighting of the Mashatu camps in close proximity to water, and in thickets of vegetation, automatically locates the visitor into an enclave populated by birds and animals.

Mashatu comprises 40% of the Northern Tuli Game Reserve and it shares unfenced borders with both the South African and Zimbabwean national parks in the south and north respectively. Mashatu is the epitome of all that defines wilderness areas in Africa. Visitors are charmed by the vast open spaces; the biodiversity of wildlife from the gigantic to the miniscule; the majestic skies unfettered by smog; the tranquility interspersed with birdsong and sounds of the wild.

Part of this charm is the unexpected adventure safari over and above the game drives: horse-back safaris, cycling safaris and walks in the wild. Photographic hides add an aspect to the adventure safari which is unique and thrilling to their patrons be they professional photographers or lovers of wildlife.

These added adventures are all tailored to bring visitors into intimate contact with this remarkable wilderness.

Read more on our website