About the Author

David Dampier

Financial Manager

David left the bright lights of Johannesburg and a promising career as a chartered accountant to join the Londolozi Ranging team in 2009. After three years spent as a guide, during which he built up a formidable reputation as one of Londolozi's top ...

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28 Comments

on After the Floods

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To date, I think these are the most stunning pictures you have shared! I love the Big Cats so much, but the colors and detail of these birds is extraordinary! Certainly cheers up the bleak, January day here, in Massachusetts! Thank you!

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Spectacular shots,hope to get a few like them in 3 weeks!!

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Thank you for the wonderful bird photos. I find it quite amazing to see the diversity in the bird world.

Member
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Those pictures are phenomenal. Thanks for sharing them.

Member
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WOW! WOW! WOW! GREAT pictures….need to get home NOW!!!

Member
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The beauty brought tears to my eyes

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I’m not a ‘birder’ but these photos are spectacular. Maybe I should concentrate more on birds on my next visit?

Hi Judy
You are 100% right-I always find that concentrating on birds doesn’t mean you see any less of the bigger animals. Invariably it forces you to slow down and look and listen more carefully-I can’t remember how many times I have stopped for a bird and heard something (alarm call, territorial call etc) that has led us to finding a leopard or lion.

Member
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absolutely stunning thank you!

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Stoffie, I think the last photo takes the cake! Awesome images, can imagine the fun that was had taking these. Just another afternoon bumble!

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Fabulous pics! Thank you!

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Love `em all!!!!! Really like you’ve included camera settings. Now to disclose the kind of lens and camera type used. Again, utterly fantastic shots and nice post processing too, Excellent job overall, for sure.

Hi John
Thanks very much! Duncan was using a Canon 7D with a 80-200mm f2.8 lens. Chris was using a Nikon D800 with a 200-400mm f4 lens. I was using the Nikon D600 with a 300mm fixed f2.8 lens. We all used 1.4x converters from time to time as well.

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Those are fantastic, david! What happened to the desk job? When we left a year ago, you were going back to finance. I had an inquiry today from a sibling with a coworker asking for safari tips. Didn’t hesitate to pass along that Londolozi is the best and only way to go! So nice to still feel connected through the blog until we hopefully make our way back someday.

Hi Christine
The desk job does now occupy the majority of my time, but I still try and get out on drive as much as possible-the long summer days fortunately make that a little easier to get right! Hopefully we see you back here in the not too distant future!

Member
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Fabulous and exciting photos. I’m remembering our time there last January – the colors of your birds in Africa are extraordinary! Thank you David!

Member
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Brilliant images! And I appreciate seeing the settings for each. I’ve been practicing with my new Canon and 100-400 lens in anticipation of our May visit to Londolozi – looks like I have a lot more practicing to do! Thanks for the motivation!!

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Thanks for the WONDERFUL photography and inspiration – I think I will have to increase my ISO. Thanks for the camera info. Just love your photos – all of them!

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Stoff and dave What a wonderful idea!!! Great photography Great information and wonderful interpretation of each shot all connected to the rythmes of Natures WELL DONE !!!

Member
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Brilliant….

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Congratulations. Stunning shots and very interesting to see how you are using higher ISO settings to get the shutter speeds you want without quality deterioration. Can’t quite believe that some of the colours are as was — blue under-carriage feathers of the White-Fronted Bee-Eaters in the first photo and again in the fourth. Would be amazing to know that they had not been adjusted a little in post processing.

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Hi John

Thank you very much! With most of the new DSLR cameras I find you can push ISO settings to at least ISO800 without too much noticeable noise, which really does help when you need a fast shutter speed as you say. In terms of editing, there was obviously some done as the pictures were originally taken in RAW format, but this was limited to cropping, sharpening, and some limited levels and contrast adjustments and a small amount of vibrance added-we did not make any colour adjustments. The feathers are slightly iridescent, so when they are in full sunlight, such as in the photos you mention, the colours really do stand out like that.

Member
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Wow! Absolutely brilliant – can’t wait for my photography lesson!

Member
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David, Many thanks. Wonderful colours! The use of higher ISOs is opening up new possibilities. Looking forward to your next postings.

Member
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Hi David: these are all stubnning pics.
just a photographer question: in general for these type pictures, do you set the camera at aperture-priority, shutter priority, or thirdly Automatic and let the camera do “its thing”…
Love them all.
Say hello to Duncan for me.
Jan-Erik

Member
Guest

Hi David, great shots and images , just a question, till when are the carmines in Kruger and will one still see some in late April ?
Thanks, Dawid

Hi Dawid,

The Carmines usually start migrating to equatorial Africa from the beginning of March so the likelihood of seeing them in April is rare. They usually make their way to Zimbabwe from about August and then head South to us in about November.

Hope this helps!

Regards,
Kate

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