Background “Manipulation” 2

Visiting a frequently used perch not only provides one with different species but could potentially produce different backdrops to a frequent subject.

These two images show the impact the background could have on a subject in the late dry and early wet seasons on the South African Highveld grass lands.

Rufous-naped Lark

(Mirafra africana)

Fortunately this was a frequently used perch that provided the ideal opportunity for colour changing backgrounds.

Rufous-naped Lark

(Mirafra africana)

These images were taken a year apart with a late rainy season during the second year, still displaying the dry season colours.

Equipment

Vehicle Support System

Fortunately African wildlife sanctuaries abound with some of the most dangerous animals on the planet, and for this reason it is better to photograph these magnificent animals from the safety of a vehicle or hide.

Camera movement is probably the greatest cause of unsharp and blurred images, this can easily be eradicated by using a well-designed support system. Handheld photography is limited to smaller lenses and for the large telephoto lenses is always better to use a stable support.

When you are creating those outstanding images switch off the vehicles engine, engine vibrations will only add to the problem, especially in low light conditions. (Slow shutter speeds)

Crowned Lapwing

(Vanellus coronatus)

Personal experience taught me that shooting from a vehicle pose its own challenges, supporting your equipment in the confined space can be a daunting task.

Tripods inside are cumbersome, and in most cases only solve half the problem. Window and door mounts are also available, but window mounts are not suitable for heavy equipment and therefore not the ideal platform. Door mounts (commercially or self-made) on the other hand can be quite useful but could also be restrictive to one side of the vehicle.

Then there is also the trusty old bean bag (above), although the normal bean bag provides a solid base the problem arises when the bean bag is placed over the vehicle's door. Driving with the bean bag over the door on gravel roads provides you with unplanned stop opportunities, braving African wildlife in order to retrieve it.

My current support system features a uniquely designed bean bag (by OutdoorPhoto) that snugly fits any vehicle door or the passenger seat, with a Wimberley Clamp on a Badger Gear Ground Pod base.

When filled, the uniquely designed bag with the two legs creates an extremely stable platform. Its unique shape snugly wraps around the vehicle door, bars on a game viewing vehicle and many other places to provide you with a very solid platform for heavy photographic equipment.

Remember: African wildlife sanctuaries teem with dangerous animals and for this reason a well-designed vehicle support system is essential. In other parts of the world photographer might be able to leave the safety of their vehicles and setup tripod systems to provide the necessary support.

Lion

(Panthera leo)

Northern Black Korhaan

Afrotis afraoides

One of Africa's shy ground dwelling birds, the Northern black korhaan, provides some of the best photograph opportunities.

The species is endemic to Southern Africa, and their primary habitat is open grasslands.

This image was taken at Rietvlei Nature Reserve in Pretoria (South Africa).

The male Northern black korhaan is territorial and will defend his territory.

Early morning provided me with the best opportunity to make use of the backlight, and the relatively cool Highveld air to obtain the breath vapour from every call in the image design.

Termite mounds littered all over the reserve provide the bird with a slightly higher vantage point to proclaim his portion of Africa.

European Roller

European Roller

(Coracias garrulus)

Secretarybird - The Hunt

The Secretarybird is one of the most majestic birds of prey in sub-Saharan Africa.

Hunting its prey on foot in open grasslands and savannah, provides the ideal opportunity to capture these birds in action.

Stalking through the Highveld grassland with long strides looking for an early morning snack.

The Secretarybird suddenly disturbed an insect.

The insect had a few trick up his sleeve, and tried every one of them.

Eventually the Secretarybird caught-up with its quarry, for an early morning snack.

Light Directions

Back Light and Side Light

The photographers paint consists of reflected light from the scene being photographed.

For this reason, light is the most important factor in the image creation process.

An ordinary subject in excellent light conditions provides better opportunities than a photogenic subject in bad light. (Harsh midday light)

Golden hour light is probably the most productive light we have.

This light is available during the early mornings and late afternoons.

However, even during the golden hour we still have some alternative light directions and angles to explore.

Front light, back light and side light (natural light) are the three main light directions available to the photographer to explore.

The images below show the difference between, side light and back light.

The subject did not provide the opportunity to capture front light.

During the shoot the early morning light on the subject did not change at all as the subject did not change his position relative to the direction of the light, only my orientation to the subject changed.

Side light - more creative than front light. The sun is at a 90° angle with the subject in your viewfinder.

90° difference in the light direction produced two distinctly different images .

Back light always provides more opportunities to be creative in photography.

Although in this image the sun was not directly behind the subject in line with my position.

The Rufous-naped Lark provided the ideal opportunity to explore the available light directions.

Black-shouldered Kite

Juvenile Rivalry

During one of my photo shoots at Rietvlei Nature Reserve, I came across two juvenile black shouldered kites sitting on opposite perches.

The one suddenly flew off and seconds later started a mock attack on the subject in my viewfinder. The attack consisted of one flyby only.

From the series of images below the image above clearly shows the anxiety experienced by the victim.

Patience is required to produce timeless natural history photographs. Spending time with you subjects will eventually lead to spectacular opportunities,

but keep in mind that not all opportunities will end in keepers.

GPS Tracks

Wildlife Photography Tips

Keeping track of subject locations in wildlife photography can be challenging, but GPS devices and Adobe can provide a solution.

The question is why you would want to keep track of locations?

- For you own records. Just looking at an image years later might not provide the

necessary visuals to pin point the exact location where the images were captured.

GPS records on images will assist in building your own wildlife atlas for future use.

- There might be scientific reason for this. Species, especially birds,

images of birds seldom found in a specific game reserve might be useful for research.

Some camera manufacturers sell GPS units that can connect directly to your camera. Some models even have built-in GPS modules, and in both cases GPS co-ordinates automatically get added to the image metadata.

For cameras without GPS modules there is a cheaper way to capture GPS co-ordinates and tag images. Lightroom does an excellent job in tagging images with GPS co-ordinates. Adobe Lightroom has the ability to use gpx files (GPS tracks) and tag images by adding GPS Co-ordinates to the image metadata.

Lightroom provides a variety of ways you can add photos to the map module. This is just one way to accomplish GPS image tagging.

Numerous devices on the market can capture GPS co-ordinates and produce an output file. The device most photographers have available is a SmartPhone. SmartPhones can be used in conjunction with the correct software to provide the required GPS tracks, and provide a cheaper alternative.

The application I find useful is "My Tracks". This application records your tracks, and can export the data to a gpx (GPS Exchange Format) output file for use in Lightroom.

All you have to do is ensure that your Smartphone is fully charged, and start recording your tracks. You also need to ensure that your camera date and time match the date and time on your Smartphone to ensure that tracks match images accurately.

Visual Sample of "My Tracks" Data captured

Distance - 32.7 KM

Total Time - 2:30:30

In Lightroom you need to go to the Map section in order to tag images with GPS data.

Select all the images you need to Tag.

Load the matching GPS co-ordinates file downloaded from your smartphone, using the Load Tracklog option. Next, you need to select Auto-Tag Photos option to tag all images with the appropriate GPS co-ordinates.

Selected images highlighted in orange tag

Helmeted Guineafowl

GPS - 25°54'1" S 28°16'35" E

Altitude - 1569.5 m

Selected images highlighted in orange tag

Pearl-spotted Owlet

GPS - 25°14'2" S 31°53'18" E

Altitude - 272.0 m

Helmeted Guineafowl

(Numida meleagris)

Helmeted Guineafowl is widely distributed throughout Southern Africa. They are predominately ground scavengers.

They are sosial birds and usually form relatively large flocks.

Diderick Cuckoo

Diderick Cuckoo

(Chrysococcyx caprius)

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill

(Tockus leucomelas)

Baboon Society

I think this character's story needs to be shared, to give a glimpse into the life of a teenager in Baboon society.

In the extreme heat of the South African lowveld the family rested in trees near the Sabi River. This teenager found the ideal stop in a Maroela tree, totally relaxed with all four limbs dangling down. Some of the adults rested in the same tree. Toddlers were playing on the lower branches of the Maroela tree, and resting was not part of their agenda.

I was totally fixated on the teenager, when suddenly one of his teenage cousins pounced on his resting perch. The little fellow almost fell off the branch, but was able to grab hold ensuring he did not meet with the ground below.

I was totally fixated on the teenager, when suddenly one of his teenage cousins pounced on his resting perch. The little fellow almost fell off the branch, but was able to grab hold ensuring he did not meet with the ground below.

Startled for a few moments, and with the cousin departing, he went back to his afternoon nap.

In the meantime, the toddlers had become more active in the lower branches, but blocking their way to the top was one of the big males in the troop. Clearly they were cautious of the adult. One tried all possible ways to pass the adult ,but to no avail. He would just stare at the youngster. And an adult tail could always double as a rope.

Eventually it was time to move on. These amazing characters supply endless opportunities if one is willing to pause for a moment to observe their behaviour.