Kenya & Tanzania wildlife Pt 1.

africaddictafricaddict Registered Users Posts: 111 Major grins
edited February 1, 2011 in Wildlife
Here are a few images taken from a recent East African safari during migration time.

Eyeing up your prey.

06.27am
We had the privilege of watching this 2 year old male Cheetah hunt and take down a young Wildebeest this particular early cloudy morning.
The acceleration by this male was unbelievable, one minute simply strolling along, the next hitting the afterburners taking off and nailing his prey in what seemed a matter of seconds.
Here he is about 90 seconds before his success.

D3s 500VR 1/200s ISO3200@f/5.6 Nth Serengeti, Tanzania Oct 2010.

1135883954_CehH5-XL.jpg



Zebra trio sunset silhouette

Watched on by a night roosting Secretary Bird.

D700 70-200VRII 1/2500s f/2.8 ISO1600@150mm Masai Mara Oct 2010

1074208855_Tau5E-XL-2.jpg




Mara river madness

During our 4 weeks in Kenya & Tanzania we were fortunate to witness 7 good crossings, fortunately most of them occurred on the less crowded Serengeti side.
One example of this was a breakaway group of wildes who decided (for reasons unbeknown only to them) it was best to cross at the most inaccessible sections, resulting in some comical leaping.
Used a CP filter on the 500 to try and help combat the harsh lighting/reflections on the river.

D3s 500VR +CP filter 1/320s ISO400@f/5.6 Mara river Northern Serengeti, Tanzania Oct 2010.

1115678342_ZTUYw-XL.jpg




Secretary bird

On the open grass plains of the Serengeti.

D3s 500VR 1/1600s ISO400@f/4 Nth Serengeti Tanzania Oct 2010

1062655529_vLsbV-XL.jpg


C & C most welcome

Cheers
Marc
WEBSITE
"My goal in life is to be as good of a person as my dog already thinks I am"
D5|D500|D810|14-24|24-70|70-200f/2.8|70-200f/4|400 f/2.8E|500 f/4VR|Sigma150f/2.8|Sigma 24f/1.4ART


Comments

  • LindiweLindiwe Registered Users Posts: 606 Major grins
    edited January 29, 2011
    Fantastic images, all of them.
    While I would be amazingly proud to have taken -any- of them, I have to say that the shot of the Cheetah is just superb.
  • StashStash Registered Users Posts: 129 Major grins
    edited January 29, 2011
    Outstanding! Well done! clap.gif
    C&C always welcome. I can't learn if I don't know what I've done wrong or could do better.

    http://donbirch.smugmug.com/
  • David_S85David_S85 Administrators Posts: 13,245 moderator
    edited January 29, 2011
    Whoa! Nice set. Look at that intense stare from the cheetah! I wouldn't want to be in his target sight.
    How big are those secretary birds? The one in the tree looks huge compared to the one in the grass.
    My Smugmug
    "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" - Wayne Gretzky
  • imagesofhimimagesofhim Registered Users Posts: 527 Major grins
    edited January 29, 2011
    Awesome shots to go with what MUST have been an incredible trip! That first on just grabs me! Those eyes--the intensity of the body--it's like you can feel his anticipation! Way to go!
    Blessings,
    Marjohn

    Images of Him Photography
  • Tas67Tas67 Registered Users Posts: 49 Big grins
    edited January 29, 2011
    Absolutely amazing!! All are simply fantastic but I adore the shot of the cheetah! :)
    ~ Capturing the Moment ~
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  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited January 29, 2011
    bowdown.gif

    I am extremely jealous.:D
  • ashruggedashrugged Registered Users Posts: 345 Major grins
    edited January 29, 2011
    Superb
    All the shots are great, but the cheetah wins the prize.
    Robert

    http://rckimaging.smugmug.com/
  • puzzledpaulpuzzledpaul Registered Users Posts: 1,621 Major grins
    edited January 29, 2011
    ...and another vote for the cheetah ... excellent job :)

    ... and 2 certainly brings back memories of my time in E Africa.


    << D3s 500VR 1/2500s ISO1600@F/2.8 >>
    Was the lens a special order - or one you made yourself ? :)

    pp
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  • AndyAndy Registered Users Posts: 50,016 Major grins
    edited January 29, 2011
    WOW! Great stuff, I'm now heading to your gallery. I'm going to Kenya for 3 weeks in October, can't wait :D
    Andy

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  • africaddictafricaddict Registered Users Posts: 111 Major grins
    edited January 29, 2011
    Appreciate the positive comments everyone, many thanks.

    puzzledpaul wrote: »
    << D3s 500VR 1/2500s ISO1600@F/2.8 >>
    Was the lens a special order - or one you made yourself ? :)

    pp


    Good point Paul.......a 500 f/2.8VR WOW!!! icon_lol.gif

    The correct techs now read:

    D700 70-200VRII 1/2500s f/2.8 ISO1600@150mm

    Cheers
    Marc
    WEBSITE
    "My goal in life is to be as good of a person as my dog already thinks I am"
    D5|D500    |D810|14-24|24-70|70-200f/2.8|70-200f/4|400 f/2.8E|500 f/4VR|Sigma150f/2.8|Sigma 24f/1.4ART


  • dlplumerdlplumer Registered Users Posts: 8,081 Major grins
    edited January 29, 2011
    clap.gifclapclap.gif So envious.
    Dan
    http://danielplumer.com/
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  • DsrtVWDsrtVW Registered Users Posts: 1,991 Major grins
    edited January 30, 2011
    Superb images.
    Chris K. NANPA Member
    http://kadvantage.smugmug.com/
  • oldovaloldoval Registered Users Posts: 456 Major grins
    edited January 30, 2011
    Really nice images. I like the river crossing best......even with all the movement everything is nice and sharp.
    Nate
    http://nathanwiley.smugmug.com/
  • AndyAndy Registered Users Posts: 50,016 Major grins
    edited January 30, 2011
    When you shot at 500mm, did you use a t-con?
    Andy

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  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited January 31, 2011
    Every capture is a beaut. I'm particularly impressed with the leopard at ISO 3200. It wasn't that long ago that I hesitated to shoot over ISO 400 with my D2X.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited January 31, 2011
    Fantastic! Terrific shots of animals I may never see! Thanks for posting. Best, Pam
  • Osprey WhispererOsprey Whisperer Registered Users Posts: 3,803 Major grins
    edited February 1, 2011
    Nice series of pics. Sure would be fun to get out of the country to shoot some wildlife like this. Thanks for sharing.
    Mike McCarthy

    "Osprey Whisperer"

    OspreyWhisperer.com
  • africaddictafricaddict Registered Users Posts: 111 Major grins
    edited February 1, 2011
    Appreciate the positive comments everyone.
    Andy wrote: »
    When you shot at 500mm, did you use a t-con?

    On these particular shots, no, but I did bring with me the TC 1.4, 1.7 & new TCIII 2.0 and used them when required.

    Cheers
    Marc
    WEBSITE
    "My goal in life is to be as good of a person as my dog already thinks I am"
    D5|D500    |D810|14-24|24-70|70-200f/2.8|70-200f/4|400 f/2.8E|500 f/4VR|Sigma150f/2.8|Sigma 24f/1.4ART


  • AndyAndy Registered Users Posts: 50,016 Major grins
    edited February 1, 2011
    africaddict wrote: »
    Appreciate the positive comments everyone.



    On these particular shots, no, but I did bring with me the TC 1.4, 1.7 & new TCIII 2.0 and used them when required.

    Cheers
    Marc

    I shared your gallery with the group of 10 that I'm taking to East Africa in October (Maasai Mara, Amboselli, etc) and everyone's jaw dropped :)
    Andy

    Portfolio • Workshops • Facebook • Twitter
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