Photo of the Day

Cape Buffalo

Mala Mala Game Reserve, South Africa. November 2010

Nikon D3x, 200-400mm f/4 VR, 1/800 @ f/4, ISO 800

Photo of the Day

Cheetah on a Ridge

Mala Mala Game Reserve, South Africa. November 2010

Nikon D3x, 200-400mm f/4 VR, 1/400 @ f/4, ISO 1250

Photo of the Day

Mala Mala Game Reserve, South Africa. November 2010

Nikon D3x, 200-400mm f/4 VR, 1/400 @ f/4, ISO 800

Photo of the Day

Lioness in a Tree

Mala Mala Game Reserve, South Africa. November 2010

Nikon D3, 70-200mm f/2.8, 1/400 @ f/7.1, ISO 800

Photo of the Day

Rhino and Oxpecker

Mala Mala Game Reserve, South Africa. November 2010

Nikon D3x, 200-400mm f/4 VR, 1/640 @ f/4, ISO 800

Photo of the Day

Daughter of Mambirri, chasing a warthog

Nikon D3x, 200-400mm, 1/640 @ f9, ISO 800

What a wonderful morning today at Exeter River Lodge here in the Sabi Sands. We followed this subadult female, and she stalked and attempted a kill of a family of four warthogs. She missed, but she got darned close. I knew that I was going to have autofocus issues in the tall grass, so I stopped down to f/9 just in case the autofocus point missed the mark during the chase. I am very glad that I did, as I needed all of the depth of field I could muster in an attempt to also get the warthog’s shape in the frame. I didn’t use my D3, primarily because I wanted a larger file to crop from in case the chase happened in another direction from me. Awesome day, and I still have yet to post images from the past 3 days.

Another Safari Begins

I arrived last night into Johannesburg, South Africa, and I am taking the day off for a day of rest today. Tomorrow I head to the Sabi Sands for another safari, my last of 2010, and we will be spending our time with leopards and lions as our primary subjects. We are, of course, opportunistic photographers, and will photograph whatever presents itself in front of our lenses. This safari is a unique one for me, in that this is the first time in quite a few years that I have lead a small group of photographers: 7. I will operate the safari out of only 2 Land Rovers, and every person on the trip will have his or her own row.

My gear for this safari is fairly spartan:

• Nikon D3
• Nikon D3x
• Nikon 200-400mm f/4 VR
• Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VR
• Nikon 1.4x teleconverter
• Sony NEX-5 for grab shots and video
• Gura Gear Kiboko bag

After 8 nights in the Sabi Sands (Exeter River Lodge and Mala Mala Main Camp), I will be spending a few more nights at Tswalu in the Kalahari Desert (hello, can you say freaking HOT at this time of the year?). If you are familiar with Meerkat Manor on Animal Planet, you know the place. This is a scouting trip, and I am sure it is going to be a worthwhile extension.

I may have the time to post some of my daily photographs from bush, provided I have the time to do so. Stay tuned!

Photo of the Day

Leopard in a Tree

Mala Mala Game Reserve, South Africa. August 2010

Nikon D700, 200-400mm f/4, 1/400 @ f/4, ISO 3200