It is unbelievable how, all of a sudden, we look up and it is nearly the end of July, and for someone who absolutely loves the winter months, it is somewhat slightly depressing. The soft winter light, the golden hues dominating every scene, the crisp mornings, the longer periods of activity for the predators, the spectacular sunsets and sunrises. It just all comes together as the most sensational time of year for photography.
Although we still have a few more weeks of winter and the associated palettes of gold, orange, purple and pink and in some ways I am excited for the buzz that summer brings, I just cannot believe how quickly time is flying by.
So dominating this week’s selection is a number of familiar scenes that many of you may recognise from the Virtual Safaris, all donning the beautiful golden light that is a photographer’s dream. With the Ximungwe Female Leopard and her cub coming down for a drink in Totoaw Dam, their tails magically intertwining before moving off. The Nkoveni Female with an impala ram hoisted in a marula tree, her son sitting proudly in a nearby tree, surprisingly letting her feed in peace. A close-up of the Three Rivers Young Female looking scarily similar to her father, the Maxim’s Male. There is certainly no doubt about the paternity there.
Something I have focused a bit on recently is capturing a few backlit images. From a videography side of things, the scenes that are backlit are much more cinematic and stunning, and so they allow a much more creative expression through the photography as well. One scene that stands out for me was the Nkoveni Young Male perched upon a fallen tree, highlighted by the late afternoon light in this rich cloud of hazy cloudy golden beauty. The Newest additions to the Kambula Pride also presented an opportunity to snap four of the six cubs backlit one morning as they watched their mothers in the distance, more on this to come soon. Then let’s not forget about the magnificent scene of a mother elephant and her calf feeding right outside camp early one morning.
Let me know your favourites in the comments section below.
Enjoy This Week In Pictures…
I sturrgled to choose a favourite image this week, but this was certainly up there, I love how the tails criss-cross with each other, just before the XImungwe Female and her cub settle in for a drink.
Still with a very swollen leg here she bends down to quench her thirst, if you look carefully you will notice her not putting too much weight on her injured front left paw.
Yesterday morning we were treated to a brief but always entertaining sighting of a pack of two wild dogs. To be honest, I don’t know exactly which two these were, as it has been so difficult to keep track of which wild dogs are with whom. But it was a male and a female covered in blood after a recent meal.
As I mentioned earlier, I cannot get my head around just how similar to Maxim’s Male the Three Rivers Young Female looks. She had settled on a rock for a short time, glancing back towards us with a “serious” look on her face, but what amuses me, is that she is not necessarily being serious, this is just her general appearance, we infer our own interpretation to that on our own accord.
This is just a super simple image of a fairly common bird, the Three-banded Plover, but I love the golden lighting and the reflection in this image as it was running around on the water’s edge looking for any insects to eat.
Sunsets at this time of year are absolutely sensational. The slight bit of moisture in the last few days has allowed for a slight bit of cloud cover to form and that illuminated by the sun shining through the characteristic hazy, dusty air makes for a great photo opportunity.
The bold and charismatic Styx Male belts out many full-blown roars deep in the Ndzhenga Male’s territory. However, the ‘dominant’ Ndzhenga Males had no response. Are they too preoccupied further north?
The Talamati Male has his eyes focused on one of the Kambula Lionesses, also deep in the Ndzhenga Male’s territory. The times with the lion dynamics are certainly getting interesting.
The Nkoveni Young Male hopped up on to this fallen tree right in front of Megan’s vehicle for them to all enjoy a marvellous view.
We scooted around the other side and managed to get this pretty spectacular backlit shot of him.
A magnificent Martial Eagle sat around long enough for us to grab a few shots. This being my favourite, a slight gust of wind from behind it caused it crest feathers to flap up, while the afternoon sun illuminating its bright yellow eye.
Driving out of camp, we were greeted by a small herd of elephants feeding with the rising sun in the background. Hard to complain about that way to start a day.
Hopefully, it is a pretty easy way to know you are going the right way.
It was so cute ot watch this tiny little elephant calf trying to copy its mother, albeit rather unsuccessfully, feeding on the twigs of this raising bush.
A rather intense stare of the Nkoveni Female towards her son in a nearby marula tree as she was feeding on a large impala ram carcass. At least, this time she managed to get a decent feed.
Making his mother’s life rather difficult and frustrating, the Nkoveni Young Male is now larger than his mother and much more aggressive, not allowing her to feed on any carcass. I am sure it is only a matter of time befor ehe is pushed into independence by his mother.
The ruckus causing nomads, the Nkuhuma Male and Talamati Male perched up on a termite mound after chasing the Kambula Subadults away. A pretty awesome scene to see two male lions up on a mound like this.
Not at all a fantastic photo, but one that contains a rare bird and this was my first time seeing an African Rail. After hearing the call over the radio from David Dampier, a pretty reliable source of birding information, that he had seen one in the north, I had to go see it myself. Hopefully, I can snap a better photo of it in the future.
Not too bad of a first sighting of the six new Kambula cubs together. Mum sitting there with all six tucked up around her on a chilly morning, and one resting on her paw.
A lovely opportunity as four of the six cubs intently watching their mother chase off another lions. I love watching young of this age, they are intrigued by absolutely everything.
All are wonderful pictures. My favorite this week are the elephants feeding with the rising sun and the Kambula cubs together
Thank you so much, Sandra.
Some cracking photos (as always)
best wishes
Thank you so much, Ian.
Sensational series of images. I can’t decide on just one….The Nkoveni Young Male in that golden haze and the Kambula cubs sleeping around their mom are my top two and all the rest would be number three 🙂
Thank you so much, Karen. Those are some great choices. I must say I struggle to pick a favourite this week.
Once again, a wonderful collection of images, Sean. While leopard portraits are always favs, my #1 this week is the last shot, the 4 lion cubs in that fabulous golden light! The intense, curious stares are intriguing-making me want to know what has their attention!
Thank you so much, Mary Beth. Stay tuned for next Sunday’s Virtual Safari for what the little cubs were so intently watching.
TWIP as well as the weekly video….they’re certainly keeping you busy, Sean! The sunsets and sunrises are gorgeous. Ximungwe and her cub with their tails crossed is probably my favourite, though you’ve made it hatd to choose.
Is Nkoveni still taking her son outside her usual territory? As she won’t be ceding part of it to him, I guess he’ll need a paw up the backside to move away.
SIX Kambula cubs from 1 lioness! – is that a record?
They really are keeping me super busy, Suzanne. But it is the best kind of busy. Yes, the Nkoveni Female is taking her son outside her usual range. I am sure he will be forced to pack his bags soon and go on his nomadic journey of independence. No, so sorry if that is how you interpreted that. There are four cubs from one mother and two cubs from another mother.
Such a treat, Sean, this super selection of fantastic photos! Thanks! I adore the leopard photos and the one of the Three-banded Plover, the colours and the reflection in the water are just so beautiful. The sunset with the Drakensberg Mountains in the background is really sensational. And the four lion cubs in that golden light are fantastic as well. And mum sitting with all six of them: so cute. Are all six of one mother?
The photo of the Martial Eagle is also one of my favourites. In one word: a really fantastic Week in Pictures.
Thank you so much, Christa. I am glad you enjoyed so many of the images this week. No, four of the cubs are from one mother and two from another mother.
The Three Rivers female looks like she pursing her lips together in judgement! She does look like her dad! The Styx male is still so blonde! Do you think his mane with darken up? The lion cubs are too cute! Enjoy your last bits of winter!
I think the Styx Male’s mane will darken up with age, and especially once he starts mating with a few more females, that tends to cause a spike in testosterone which will also darken his mane.
Hi Sean, absolutely fantastic WIP! Mother and offspring are often a favourite, here there are several, the lioness with her lovely cubs, how great the last picture, like kittens following an insect in flight! The mother elephant with her calf, and the Ximungwe female with her tail crisscrossed to her son is absolutely a top one! I’m glad she’s improving even if slowly. He looks absolutely in excellent condition! The Nkoveni young male sitting in a golden light would be a perfect photo to keep as a poster to remember how perfect nature can be, the Three Rivers young female to me has that soft look that stole my heart… lions are always a pleasure to see, and even if common, that doesn’t lessen the beauty and peculiarity of the plover. The African rail was a great discovery! And the sunset always leave me in awe, no matter where it is, it must be in pure nature…. poetic
Thank you so much, Francesca. It was a great week to be out and about snapping some pictures so I am happy with how they all turned out.
Hi Sean, these young lion cubs are so beautiful and very intrigued with every move around them. So glad to see the Ximungwe female drinking and looking after her cub, although her leg is still swollen, and I’m sure painful. Nkoveni looking so tense and I am happy she could get a good meal before naughty boy cub could get any. Soon Mom is going to give him the boot. My favorite would be the Ximungwe female and her cub’ tails forming a heart. Your sunset photo is mesmerizing.
I am so glad that you enjoyed so many of the images this week, Valmai. We have been spoilt with the sightings of late.
I really appreciated your unique and artistic images this week Sean, capturing a stunning group of animals. Saying this, I do have a few favorites beginning with your first photo of Ximungwe and her cub with their intertwined tails – a great way to begin. Another favorite is the Three Rivers young female, very reminiscent of her father. The backlit four lion cubs are quite special as is the third photo of the elephant and her calf with their intertwined tails sunlit early morning behind them. A different kind of favorite for me is your wonderful capture of the martial eagle with his ruffled feathers. My final favorite is Nkoveni, perched in the tree with her kill, staring at her son as if telling him to stay in his tree! I’m reading human feelings into her gaze, but given his greediness in consuming all of the kills she makes and not sharing, that is how it looks.
Thank you so much, Denise. A great breakdown of my images this week. I am glad you enjoyed so many of them.
Lovely pictures, but that three banded plover – WOW! Not simple at all to arrange or take advantage of that lighting, that framing, that background, that reflection. Again, I say WOW!
Thank you so much, Michael. It was just one of those moments where I saw the scene unfolding and grabbed my camera, settings were already correctly dialled in and so it was just a matter of composing and snapping away. But the final product did turn out well.
Wonderful to see Megan’s bright, wide smile on what looks like a cold weather morning. We had fantastic sightings with Megan and ‘V’ last September.
It is great to hear that you had such a good time with Megs and Veatence. Hope to have you back to visit again soon.
Another beautiful TWIP!
Thank you so much, Chelsea.
Some real gems this week Sean!! Can’t single one out.
Thank you so much, Al.
Dear Sean, exceptional shots, in deed the light is amazing, a lot of favorites. Love the lion cubs and Nkoveni. It is wonderful to see her managing her broken leg. Also theelefants in this fantastic mood of light. I know why I mostly come in july/august to londolozi.
Thank you so much, Jutta. This time of year is incredible for photography, the lighting is amazing and the subjects, well they have also been playing their part too.
Love the simple photo’s as you called them :-). The Lion cubs is and leopard photos is special.
Thanks so much, Gawie.
Incredible photos this week, Sean. I can’t pick just one favorite. Love the Kambula cubs laying on mom. The elephants feeding with the surise in the background is amazing. I also like the two photos of the Nkoveni young male. Really like the one of him lying in the tree. He is such a good looking male. Who is his father?? I can’t remember. Again, incredible photos. Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to this weeks Virtual Safari
Thank you so much, Rachelle. The Nkoveni Young Male is a handsome young male and is going to grow into a very impressive dominant male in the near future. His father is the Maxim’s Male.
We look forward to sharing this next Virtual Safari with you.