One thing I am still trying to find the balance between, and don’t think I will ever perfect, is when to take stills and when to video. It is a tension that comes with this role, not one I am complaining about and more often than not, the video camera wins. What follows is another collection of frames grabbed in the margins, snatched between clips, or stolen in those rare moments when I could justify putting the gimbal down and picking up the stills body.
The cold has arrived. Not the deep mid-winter cold yet, but that first sharp edge that catches you off guard, temperatures dropping down to around 3°C in the early hours of the morning, enough to have you reaching for an extra layer on the vehicle. And with that chill comes something worth getting out of bed for: the light. That low, golden, drawn-out light of the cooler months that turns an ordinary scene into something worth stopping for.
Closer to home, the aloes in camp have been putting on a show. The flowers are out, the nectar is flowing, and the activity around them has been relentless, sunbirds staking out territories and squabbling over blooms, bees working through the pollen, the occasional bulbul sneaking in when no one is looking. It is the kind of thing that is easy to walk past, but once you stop and pay attention, especially with a macro lens, it becomes a whole world. I may have spent more time than I should have photographing it.
Out in the bush, there has been plenty to talk about. Leopards navigating lions, lions navigating each other, and a celestial alignment that required me to convince a three-year-old to sit completely still for a long exposure. She was not entirely cooperative.
Let us know your favourites in the comments section below.
Enjoy This Week In Pictures…
Another cool shot with a bee in flight assessing the pollen on this aloe.
The Tinxiya Female is coming into her own after the passing of her mother, the Three Rivers Female. Basically occupying her mother’s territory now, it is going to be interesting to see what unfolds. Here she was chased up into this tree by a pack of wild dogs. The dogs moved on by the time I got there but she certainly didn’t look too comfortable here.
Often, I like to sit and switch off the engine of the vehicle to listen for any animals calling or alarm calls, this time I decided to do it in the company of a large lone zebra stallion. I think he was rather obliging letting me snap some shots of him in the early morning light.
This back-lit shot of a White-bellied Sunbird, was highlights the spectacular colours on the head and neck, but more than that if you look closely you can see the tip of its needle-like tongue sticking out.
A rather scruffy looking White-bellied Sunbird, I presume this is from all the dew covering the Aloes in the early morning.
Silhouettes and sunsets are relatively easy to capture and stunning to look at. The Shingi Male being the subject was the bonus.
The last surviving cub of a litter of three, he is on the cusp of independence.
Following the Shingi Male around was such a treat on a recent afternoon game drive. He snuck up this mound to scan for any unsuspecting impalas. I chose to go behind him and get a silhouetted shot. Although it is a rather busy horizon, I think it works well with him looking off to the left in a gap between the bushes.
Something in the distance caught his attention and moments later he was up and moving again.
The Scarlet-chested Sunbird is the largest sunbird we get here and they are particularly territorial and boisterous to the other sunbirds trying to enjoy a tasty beakful of nectar from the aloes.
Over and above the antics of them chasing the other birds, they are a challenge to photograph because they are so busy.
Something that fascinates me about them, is just how dark black their feathers are. I thought I had the exposer perfect in these shots but when I was in the edit I kept trying to lift the shadows on the face but nothing would change. Their feathers are such a dark matte black.
Now, I know that there are definitely better star shots out there, but this was pretty awesome in terms of the experience while taking the photo.
Firstly, it was a great celestial alignment of Venus lower down, the moon, then Jupiter above the moon, and if you look carefully Mars should also be there next to Jupiter. But it was more that I was out there with my daughter Olivia (3 years old) and telling her to sit dead still so I can have a longer exposure was hilarious.
It is only a matter of time before the Nkoveni Female leads us back to her den. This was when I sat with her for hours waiting for the moment she got moving.
Londolozi's most viewed leopard and prolific mother. This gorgeous female has raised multiple cubs to independence.
Two whole days at a carcass with the Nkoveni Female, I mean we were spoilt with what we saw but, it wasn’t her cubs.
Now of course with the flowers comes pollen, and with that comes the bees. I got out the macros lens and was rather delighted with how this one turned out.
The bees were everywhere and it was hard to choose where to focus.
A magnificent looking duo of lions, that have been drifting around the southwestern parts of Londolozi. The Styx Male is no moving around unannounced though, we often hear him calling, advertising that this is his territory. Hopefully, this doesn’t land him in hot water with any other large coalitions in the future.
A happy looking Dark-capped Bulbul, if there was one. Feasting on the aloes along with all the sunbirds.
The Tinxiya Female was found resting in this large leadwood tree. The Blond Gijima Male had been mating with a Ntsevu Lioness nearby, so she probably climbed up here to keep a look out incase the lions came closer. Safe to say they did.
The lions walking only a matter of metres away, it is not surprising the Tinxiya Female looks slightly concerned. Thankfully, the lions did not notice her up here.
While resting in a large leadwood tree, the Tinixya Female had different visitors, this time it was some lions. Thankfully they didn’t notice her.
The calmer and more quiet of the sunbirds we saw around the aloes. Collared Sunbirds do flock to the aloes though, but normally we see them on the fringes avoid the aggression from the Scarlet-chested.
Sometimes, I can’t help myself but snap a quick pic of the sunrise, and this time of year is perfect for that.
The future for this lioness intrigues me. For the last two years, the Kambula Breakaway lioness has been in the company of the Styx Male. Recently they have been seen mating, so what they means for her, this duo and any chance of the cubs surviving is all up in the air.
But that contrast with the scarlet chest, black feathers and the aloes was gorgeous.
I snapped so many pictures here that I didn’t know which ones to choose so I have added a fair few.
The quintessential sunbird shot. Rich vibrance, full bokeh and a stunning posture.
The activity around the aloes is just never ending, and I am sure the nectar is pretty tasty.
After feeding on an impala carcass for a while, the Makomsava Female settle don a branch to rest for a bit. It is amazing how they make this look so comfortable.
The only surviving cub of the Nanga female, currently territorial northern Marthly. Currently denning north of boundary
The Makomsava Female eventually came down out of the marula tree and rested in the grass. I felt that a B&W edit looked good.
I loved this mornign snapping so many photos around the aloes. This has to be one of my favourites of a White-bellied Sunbird.
After finishing a scrub hare, the Xinkhova Female climbed across here, rasped loudly, almost looking for the skittish male leopard she was seen mating with the day prior.
Born 2021, daughter of Nkoveni. Young dynamo actively claiming territory near camps, showing promise as next generation's dominant female.
The colours and vibrance of every shot makes me want to go and sit there all day taking photos.
The macro lens working too well here, I should have had a wider aperture (higher f-stop) to get more of the bee in focus.
Sean, your photos are just so amazing!
I love all the sunbirds, bees, and, of course, the leopards and lions.
The one of the sunrise is glorious!
Thanks for these lovely photos.
Sean, thanks for a superb TWIP. The sunbirds especially are simply stunning. BUT how on earth do you get any time off?
Sean as always it’s almost impossible to pick just one photo. The vibrancy and colors of the Bees , aloes, the Colors of the Birds just breath taking. The amazing photos of all the leopards, it’s hard to pick just one .
If I had to pick one I think it would be the photos of the Scarlet- chested Sunbird!!
The deep Red and the Pure Black , the contrast of the two colors are amazing .
All amazing Photos !!
Wonderful sunbird/aloe shots, Sean! I’ve eyed those aloes but have never visited during their bloom so have not seen these beautiful birds. The backlit White-bellied Sunbird is my fav of these. And the portrait of Tinxiya surrounded by lead wood trunks, looking ‘concerned’, is my leopard favorite.
You went all out, Sean! Great pix overall, but I LOVE the Scarlet Chested sunbird and the Collared sunbird!
First of all your macro bee images are wonderful – a favorite subject of mine. Additionally, your celestial shot turned out well so your daughter obviously cooperated for the long exposure. And who can resist the images of Tinxiya in the Leadwood and your silhouette shots of Shingi? All in all, a fantastic collection of photos this week!
Sean, great selection of images! The sunbird ones are just stunning!
The Tinxiya female certainly is one of those rising stars of the Leopards of Londolozi and hopefully she will have success when the time comes to rear cubs.
Speaking of cubs, the male that the Xinkhova Female was mating with was seen last year in Central Singita and looked quite younger than he does now (MalaMala saw him earlier this year). No way to know for sure without DNA testing, but could he be a son of Thamba with one of the shy females (maybe the late Mobeni Female)? I base that purely on how much he resembles Thamba but obviously that may be very much a stretch!
The Makhomsava Femake seems to be making a bit of push back south on Marthly from the north? Do you think something may have happened to her daughter the Loloyiso Female (whom you have seen before) or are her movements more to do with the movement of the Tortoise Pan Male, enough space on Marthly, or some mixture of all?
Apologies for so many questions, just so many things came to mind looking at the images!
– Michael
Sean, don’t lose your stills body! Your images are fabulous, especially the close-ups!
Hi Sean, all your Sunbirds and macro images are stunning. The aloes are opening here by us as well and I hear the sunbird and must take a few photos of them. The leopards and lions images are always a winner and we are waiting patiently for Nkoveni to show you were here den is. The Styx male such a stunning male.
Hi Sean, your pictures are almost blinding with so much light and colours!in the category flowers I’d choose the Last one with the macro lens, you took perfectly the bee and flowers.
I’m caught by the leopard fashion, the Makomsava female is magnetic, the Nkoveni the legend and the youngsters an exciting prospect. I love the Styx male and the Breakaway Female! The news about them mating is exhilarating! Can’t choose one picture really. Maybe Makomsava in black and white… fantastic.
Dear Sean, what a colourful TWIP. Love the bees and all the birds . But the shot of a concerned Tinxiya is my absolutly favorite. Thanks.