Photography

How to Photograph a Lightning Storm

by Rich Laburn October 25, 2011
Thumbnail image for How to Photograph a Lightning Storm

Have you ever wanted to know how to capture stunning images of lightning?  Contrary to what you may think, the process is relatively simple provided that you have the correct equipment, a promising location and, of course, a very big electric storm.  I took the below set of images a few nights ago as the first electric storm of the summer rolled across the central regions of Londolozi, creating a spectacular contrast of lightning bolts and sheet lightning.  I have included a short explanation beneath each image which all together should give you a fairly good indication of how to get these types of shots…

Read the full article → 13 comments

The Week in Pictures # 17

by Talley Smith October 21, 2011
Thumbnail image for The Week in Pictures # 17

Last week I promised leopards for this week, and did they ever deliver!  As the weather gets more unpredictable, the days mixed with thunderstorms and summer sunshine, the bush is getting greener and the variety of creatures big and small grows.  We had a few truly memorable cat sightings and a highlight for me was discovering some very small hyenas.  Enjoy this Week in Pictures…

Read the full article → 24 comments

The Week in Pictures # 16

by Talley Smith October 14, 2011
Thumbnail image for The Week in Pictures # 16

Last week we had rain, and this week another crucial element of life in the bushveld – fire. Several controlled burns were conducted on Londolozi, which are essential to the nutrient cycle of the soil and making room for new, green growth. Fire is an important process which would naturally be created by lightning strikes. Post-fire, the burned areas brought us sightings with interesting colours as well as behaviours – the birds hunting on the exposed ground, and the herbivores feeding on the greenflush. I have purposefully left leopards out of this Week in Pictures (except for the Maxabene Young Male’s tail, below), mainly because David Dampier’s post earlier this week in Leopards of Londolozi contained such stunning images and the latest updates. More next week on leopards, but in the meantime, enjoy this Week in Pictures…

Read the full article → 14 comments

The Week in Pictures #15

by Talley Smith October 7, 2011
Thumbnail image for The Week in Pictures #15

Last week it became warmer, and with this week came another sign of summer… rain!  Water is life, so we welcomed the storm clouds with open arms.  Game viewing can be fantastic in the rain – after all, the animals are still here – and in particular, predators will sometimes use the rain to mask [...]

Read the full article → 13 comments

The Week in Pictures # 13

by Talley Smith September 23, 2011
Thumbnail image for The Week in Pictures # 13

I haven’t been in the bush for the past week so what I’ve decided to do is put up a series of my best bird shots over the past six weeks. Sometimes with the excitement of the big cats, birds often get overlooked. They are, however, a major part of a Londolozi safari nonetheless. Updates on the usual suspects will continue from next, however enjoy this week in pictures…

Read the full article → 16 comments

The Week in Pictures # 12

by Talley Smith September 16, 2011
Thumbnail image for The Week in Pictures # 12

Spring has sprung and the bush is changing. The evenings are becoming balmy, the Jackalberry trees are shedding their leaves making room for new growth, the Knobthorns are in full flower, and the migratory bird species are returning. This week we observed this metamorphosis along with the resulting adaptive behaviours of the animals, and had one particularly emotional and intense sighting which embraced the circle of life in a different way…

Read the full article → 29 comments

The Week in Pictures # 11

by Talley Smith September 9, 2011
Thumbnail image for The Week in Pictures # 11

This week again I had the pleasure of spending time with several experienced and devoted photographers. Many had come to Londolozi in the hopes of photographing a leopard. Fortunately for us Mother Nature, as well as Freddy ‘Eagle Eyes’ Engobeni, did not disappoint. We were treated to a variety of sightings of the Maxabene Female, the Vomba Young Female, the Dudley Riverbank 5:5 Male, the Marthly Male, and the Vomba Female, to name only a few! Otherwise we took some time to enjoy the remaining winter colours and light, sharing photography tips and embracing the bushveld. Enjoy this week in pictures…

Read the full article → 25 comments

Meet the Blog Team: Talley

by Adam Bannister August 30, 2011
Thumbnail image for Meet the Blog Team: Talley

Talley Smith may be relatively new to Londolozi but she certainly is no novice to the guiding world! Talley has been guiding in the Sabi Sands for 4 years and has a great understanding of the ingredients needed to make a sublime safari. She is without doubt one of the hardest working and dedicated people you will ever meet and wildlife and the photography thereof is her greatest passion…

Read the full article → 10 comments

Photographing the Epic Majingilane Coalition

by Adam Bannister August 27, 2011
Thumbnail image for Photographing the Epic Majingilane Coalition

It’s not often that we as photographic guides are given the privilege of being able to set up in advance for the ‘perfect’ photograph. We are usually trying to predict the future and capture the moment in split seconds. On this particular day we used our knowledge of animal behaviour and this allowed us to [...]

Read the full article → 14 comments

The Week in Pictures # 9

by Talley Smith August 26, 2011
Thumbnail image for The Week in Pictures # 9

This past week I didn’t spend as much time on traditional safari but rather driving the specialised Photographic Vehicle, which meant that we were able to stay out in the bush all day, patiently spending large amounts of time with various animals. Our guests were particularly keen birders, and therefore in addition to tracking the usual suspects like the Sparta lions and various leopards, we had the privilege of being able to sit in great birding spots to enjoy the view and hone our bird photography skills – in my mind the most difficult animals to photograph. The three days we spent on the Photographic Vehicle came to its pinnacle on the final night when we discovered a new access to the den site of the younger Tsalala cubs. We spent a few breathtaking moments as these youngsters curiously approached us… see for yourself!

guest choice to stay out

Read the full article → 18 comments

The Week in Pictures # 8

by Talley Smith August 19, 2011
Thumbnail image for The Week in Pictures # 8

What a different, striking week at Londolozi. As you will see from the pictures below, it was not just the usual lion and leopard sightings but also the more scenic misty mornings and winter bird life. Coupled with that was an extraordinary sighting between wild dogs and elephants. The pack gave us a fantastic few sightings before disappearing into western Sabi Sands. Also of note were the males from the Southern pride who continue to survive despite the tough conditions between male lions. With a bit of luck we will continue to see more of these good looking young males. As always, enjoy this week in pictures…

Read the full article → 7 comments

The Week in Pictures # 7

by Talley Smith August 12, 2011
Thumbnail image for The Week in Pictures # 7

I always find it interesting to look back at what the bushveld presents to me on a weekly basis. On some occasions I will spend hours with just a single leopard, watching its movements, behaviour and delighting in the spectacle which it puts on for my guests and I. It is easy to forget about everything else until that animal melts into the bush and I have to find another to replace their presence. It seems as though the Dudley 5:5 Male was a regular feature of my weekly post, however this last week I have barely seen him. Instead my love affair with the Camp Pan Male has been rekindled as he has treated my guests and I to various spectacular sightings and interactions. I guess it is the unpredictable nature of the bush that makes guiding at Londolozi so exciting and our relationships with these animals so special. Although I have long since learnt never to be certain as to what a drive will present, I do know that it will always be special. Enjoy the pictures…

Read the full article → 5 comments

The Week in Pictures # 6

by Talley Smith July 22, 2011
Thumbnail image for The Week in Pictures # 6

Great Tuskers are always a special sighting. Magnificent and established, these old bulls are a proud testament to strength, wisdom and peace in the bushveld. This last week saw such a Tusker move through Londolozi, a unique sighting in addition to all the other interesting big cat movements going on. The Tsalala Pride seem at home at their new densite with exceptional viewing of the older cubs over the past few days. Of course, what would a week in pictures be without the magnificent Majingilane Coalition. Not only did we witness one of them mating with a female from the Sparta pride, but we also the whole coalition together early one evening. Take a look for yourself…

Read the full article → 16 comments

The Week in Pictures # 5

by Talley Smith July 15, 2011
Thumbnail image for The Week in Pictures # 5

The heart of winter has descended upon us, yet it seems as though spring is already here. With an assortment of cubs, pups and foals, one could be forgiven for thinking the season of renewal has already arrived. This past week delivered more fantastic game viewing of diverse wildlife such as wild dogs, the Tsalala lionesses, the Nyeleti Young Male and a stunning cheetah amongst other things. Take a look to see for yourself…

Read the full article → 13 comments

The Week in Pictures # 4

by Talley Smith July 8, 2011
Thumbnail image for The Week in Pictures # 4

The Week in pictures at Londolozi Game Reserve. A fascinating beginning to July with many sightings of elephant herds, the Sparta lionesses and the Dudley 5:5 Young Male and Vomba Female together, as well as a trip back to the one of the early members of the Londolozi family…

Read the full article → 15 comments

The Week In Pictures # 3

by Talley Smith July 1, 2011
Thumbnail image for The Week In Pictures # 3

The week in pictures at Londolozi Game Reserve from the 25th June to the 1st July. Some wonderful images from Talley, which include a new, unknown male leopard…

Read the full article → 16 comments

The Week in Pictures # 2

by Talley Smith June 24, 2011
Thumbnail image for The Week in Pictures # 2

The week in pictures at Londolozi Game Reserve from 18 to 24 June 2011…

Read the full article → 24 comments

The Week in Pictures # 1

by Talley Smith June 17, 2011
Thumbnail image for The Week in Pictures # 1

The last week in pictures at Londolozi Game Reserve including a video of the spectacular Lunar Eclipse…

Read the full article → 22 comments

How to Shoot a Time-Lapse

by Rich Laburn June 10, 2011
Thumbnail image for How to Shoot a Time-Lapse

Time-Lapse photography has become a very popular way of taking pictures and many photographers and filmmakers alike are using time-lapses as a wonderful means of adding texture, colour and feeling to their visual productions. Time-Lapse photography is in itself very simple and with these basic steps I provide below, you can create your own beautiful time-lapses in no time…

Read the full article → 0 comments

Understanding the F-Stop

by Rich Laburn June 3, 2011
Thumbnail image for Understanding the F-Stop

It took me a while to grasp the how F-Stops and Apertures on DLSR cameras worked and when the best time to use the different options were. In truth the explanation of F-Stops is relatively simple and understanding it will help you to make quick and easy decisions as to what settings to use when photography wildlife out in the field…

Read the full article → 0 comments

Canon vs Nikon – Which is Better?

by Rich Laburn May 27, 2011
Thumbnail image for Canon vs Nikon – Which is Better?

A while ago I tweeted a post which provided an infographic breakdown of which photographic brand is better: Canon or Nikon. Given that many photographers and guides often debate this subject, I thought it would be useful to take a look below and decide for yourself which you think is better…

Read the full article → 47 comments

Improve Your Pictures with these Easy Photoshop Tips

by Rich Laburn May 13, 2011
Thumbnail image for Improve Your Pictures with these Easy Photoshop Tips

Nothing can take a good picture and make it great like a little bit of photoshop. Understandably there do remain purists who refuse to use Photoshop, however in todays digital world, where the final image is what people look at, I believe the Photoshop can have a profound effect on your imagery and allow amateur photographers to produce truly beautiful pictures. Here is an easy 8 step process how…

Read the full article → 8 comments

Great Wildlife Photography 101

by Rich Laburn March 25, 2011
Thumbnail image for Great Wildlife Photography 101

Elsa Young is a renowned South African photographer who has captured beautiful images for a variety of publications and people. Elsa’s has taken stunning photographs of Londolozi for over four years now, the results of which can be seen on both our blog and website. On her most recent trip to Londolozi, Elsa captured a picture of a leopard which I wanted to break down, explaining why it is a great image as well as provide a couple of hints to for enhancement. With luck you will be able to take some of these thoughts and ideas to apply to your own images when out in the field…

Read the full article → 6 comments

Motion Blur Wildlife Photography

by Rich Laburn February 4, 2011
Thumbnail image for Motion Blur Wildlife Photography

Motion Blur is primarily about capturing a scene in which an object is frozen still, whilst everything around it is blurred in motion. From a wildlife perspective, you might have seen images, such as this one below, of animals frozen in mid stride or flight whilst the background behind them is heavily blurred. If you wish to try them out when you are next on safari, or at home then take into account these basic pieces of advice below…

Read the full article → 3 comments

Creative Wildlife Photography 101

by Rich Laburn December 17, 2010
Thumbnail image for Creative Wildlife Photography 101

Once you have photographed all of the Big 5 to your hearts content, you will find that there are so many other images begging to be captured. I have seen many repeat guests to Londolozi who have a desire towards creating unique photographs across a diverse array of subject matter. So here are a few ideas to keep in mind for adding unique elements to your pictures…

Read the full article → 3 comments

Wildlife Photographs Dissected

by Rich Laburn November 26, 2010
Thumbnail image for Wildlife Photographs Dissected

Sheila, a regular reader of our blog, was at Londolozi recently and I asked her if she would mind me using a few of her photographs to talk about on the blog. The reason I wanted to do this is that more often than not, nice photographs can be greatly enhanced by a few simple tricks that will make them really stand out…

Read the full article → 8 comments

Wildlife Photography is All About Anticipation

by Rich Laburn November 5, 2010
Thumbnail image for Wildlife Photography is All About Anticipation

Good wildlife photographers are made great by three things: Time in the field, knowledge of equipment and understanding of animal behavior. The first two are obvious, however it is the understanding of animal behavior that will allow you to better anticipate images before they happen and thus get in the position to capture them. Fortunately, you are not alone as your ranger/tracker team is there to help you with all of the above points, but in particular the understanding of each animals behavior. There are of course a few points to remember from your side as well…

Read the full article → 3 comments

How To Compose Symphonic Wildlife Photographs

by Rich Laburn October 22, 2010
Thumbnail image for How To Compose Symphonic Wildlife Photographs

Let me save you a lot of trouble in trying to get good photographs by providing you with a simple outline of how to compose your pictures so that they consistently look great. You will be surprised how these little tricks can hugely improve your photographs and give them a professional edge.

Read the full article → 2 comments

Three Points for Technically Great Wildlife Pictures

by Rich Laburn October 15, 2010
Thumbnail image for Three Points for Technically Great Wildlife Pictures

Friday Photography: There are three simple points to remember when using your SLR camera in the field. If you gain an understanding and mastery of these three aspects of camera use, you will be able to add a solid foundations to your photographic repertoire…

Read the full article → 4 comments

The Best Photographic Equipment To Bring on Safari

by Rich Laburn October 8, 2010
Thumbnail image for The Best Photographic Equipment To Bring on Safari

Friday Photography: There is a large photographic culture at Londolozi. Many guests, rangers and staff are always on the lookout for great shots and thus the conversations are often about photography. So regardless of whether or not you are coming to Londolozi, have already been or are going elsewhere on your African Safari, this is the first installment of a weekly Friday Photographic series which aims to provide some assistance and guidance as to how to take great photographs whilst on safari…

Read the full article → 18 comments

Next Entries →