Something about everything

Canon 50D with Sigma 70-200 f2.8

This was taken Yesterday at Thlou dam In Madikwe. The two rhino were litteraly sleeping in the mud as we drove up. Then the one female got up and approached the vehicle in a very curious manner. Great opportunity for some close-ups. I decided to layer it with a glamour glow and dark sepia. I think it works well with the one side of the face that is underexposed.

Canon 50D with Sigma 70-200f 2.8

After watching them for a while we saw two big brown figures approaching the dam as well. The rhinos thought they are going to have a quite afternoon in the spa........

The rhinos were a bit edgy with the elephant bulls approaching and got up as soon as the big guy was at the water's edge. What I love about this image is the content: blue sky reflecting, objects and emotions of uncertainty ( from the rhino side )

Canon 50D with Sigma 70-200 F2.8

On our morning safari we were looking for the wild dogs. They spent the night around the lodge, but we never saw them. Half way thru our drive I got a call that the Makanyane ( wild dog ) were close to Bush House. We immediately drove their just to find their tracks. They took of after some impala. I drove around the block and found them sleeping in the road. That was just pot luck !

Canon 50D with Sigma 70-200 F 2.8

The found of the morning were these lions. The Tshabalalas and Maropeng youngsters, they killed a wildebeest and went for a drink. We drove along a winding dirt road as my eye caught some drag marks crossing the road and the blood was still light red and wet. I then knew we were on to something. We found the dead wildebeest but no lions. Luckily they walked all along the road towards a small pan not to far from there. They all left the food underneath a Buffalo thorn.

It is amazing how their instincts work to know they have to return to the carcass. We watched them drink and followed them back to the kill. At some point some of the youngsters fell behind quite a bit and one of the females turned around with a very worried look on her face. She contact called to them and waited for them to catch up.

This image works well in B/W because the emotion of stress and worry comes forward
thru the mothers body language. By looking at the image you can actually read it like a story that is unfolding right then and there.

Mom is very weary around the water because they know about the dangers lurking around. She was keeping an eye out while the youngsters were drinking. For me it is amazing to see that they are such good mothers just like their mom, Dipelo. I saw these females grow up and I knew they would be just as good as their own mother. Unfortunately Dipelo is no longer with them.

Hope you enjoyed these images

Cheers for now