Travels in Djibouti, Africa

KavKav Registered Users Posts: 80 Big grins
edited March 13, 2012 in Journeys
Just a few shots from my travels around Djibouti, Africa. I hope you enjoy them, and please feel free to C&C them.

Red-billed Firefinch on a razor wire fence:
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USMC CH-53E Helo at night:

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The shore of Lake Assal. 509 feet below sea-level and the lowest point in Africa:

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And lastly, a ship weck off the cost:

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Comments

  • redleashredleash Registered Users Posts: 3,840 Major grins
    edited October 22, 2011
    Nice set--I like the interior helo shot the best. The light rays through the dust create a moody atmosphere.
    "But ask the animals, and they will teach you." (Job 12:7)

    Lauren Blackwell
    www.redleashphoto.com
  • PantherPanther Registered Users Posts: 3,658 Major grins
    edited October 22, 2011
    Howdy Kav,

    Wonderful series of images, each special in it's own way,

    but that one inside the Helo is really stunning, and
    such a powerful image.

    Thank You for your Service and I'd love to see more
    of your images.

    Take care, and Be Safe,
    Take care,

    Craig

    Burleson, Texas
  • GSPePGSPeP Registered Users Posts: 3,978 Major grins
    edited October 25, 2011
    Have seen some of these before on another forum. I like them thumb.gif

    I took a lot of pictures of your colleagues in San Diego (Miramar Airshow) beginning of this month. I'm still busy processing the pictures.
    Greetings from Belgium, Peter
    gspep.smugmug.com & steendorp.smugmug.com
    FB: www.facebook.com/peter.perdaen - Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/1150GSPEP/videos
  • EiaEia Registered Users Posts: 3,627 Major grins
    edited October 25, 2011
    Quite an array of pictures! I especially like the one of you guys inside the helicopter! Love the night shot of the helo too! Thank you!
    ~AnnaMaria~ My little life in God's big universe
  • FlyNavyFlyNavy Registered Users Posts: 1,350 Major grins
    edited October 25, 2011
    Well done Kav! And thank you for your service!!!
    http://jmledy.com/


    http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003085685580
  • KavKav Registered Users Posts: 80 Big grins
    edited October 25, 2011
    Thank you all for the kind words, Although it's very inhospitable (talking about the land, not the local people, they are wonderful) here, it is a beautiful place.
    GSPeP wrote: »
    Have seen some of these before on another forum. I like them thumb.gif

    I took a lot of pictures of your colleagues in San Diego (Miramar Airshow) beginning of this month. I'm still busy processing the pictures.

    If you happen to visit an adventurous forum like I do, I think I've seen your photos. They are wonderful.
  • KavKav Registered Users Posts: 80 Big grins
    edited October 25, 2011
    I found these guys getting a morning snack today. They are African Silverbills:

    DSC5319-XL.jpg
  • AndyAndy Registered Users Posts: 50,016 Major grins
    edited October 25, 2011
    clap.gifclap.gif very nice - thanks for sharing!
    Andy

    Portfolio • Workshops • Facebook • Twitter
  • QarikQarik Registered Users Posts: 4,959 Major grins
    edited October 25, 2011
    killer set! the heli exterior and interior shots rock
    D700, D600
    14-24 24-70 70-200mm (vr2)
    85 and 50 1.4
    45 PC and sb910 x2
    http://www.danielkimphotography.com
  • SamSam Registered Users Posts: 7,419 Major grins
    edited October 25, 2011
    The helicopter shot is awesome!

    It exudes heat, dust, fatigue and end of day.

    Sam
    www.samlinvillephotography.com
  • GSPePGSPeP Registered Users Posts: 3,978 Major grins
    edited October 26, 2011
    Kav wrote: »
    If you happen to visit an adventurous forum like I do, I think I've seen your photos. They are wonderful.
    That's the one.
    Greetings from Belgium, Peter
    gspep.smugmug.com & steendorp.smugmug.com
    FB: www.facebook.com/peter.perdaen - Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/1150GSPEP/videos
  • NatashaCNatashaC Registered Users Posts: 15 Big grins
    edited October 26, 2011
    Love that one inside the helicoptere and the shore of Lake Assal.
    Fantastic work!
    http://natashac.smugmug.com/
  • KavKav Registered Users Posts: 80 Big grins
    edited October 27, 2011
    Thanks, the photography is a fun side job out here. But I had a hard drive crash so I lost 12-15K photos that had not been backed up. So now I'm working to see if I can recover any of them. ne_nau.gif

    But I did back up about 1,000 so that's not too bad.

    Picking up some troops:
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    Close up of one of our crewchiefs:
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    A crewchief leaning out of the side of one of the helos to help guide the pilots down for a landing:
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    Getting ready to go fly:
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    Leaving the dust:
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  • KavKav Registered Users Posts: 80 Big grins
    edited October 31, 2011
    A few more:
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    And I will finish it off with a Somali Sparrow that did not want his picture taken:
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  • LaMaRLaMaR Registered Users Posts: 1 Beginner grinner
    edited November 2, 2011
    Great pictures, im guessing your staying either in tents or clu's... Whatever they are called the trailors lol. I loved that place 24hr gym and galley.
  • KavKav Registered Users Posts: 80 Big grins
    edited November 5, 2011
    I'm in a CLU (Containerized Living Unit: a shipping container that has been converted in to a small two room living space. Each room houses two people) now, but started out in one of the 50 man tents.
  • EiaEia Registered Users Posts: 3,627 Major grins
    edited November 6, 2011
    How did you get the one with the round earth? Awesome! I think there is a message in the bird shots and their livelihood. Great photo perspectives - and - THANK YOU! (from a parent of a soldier)
    ~AnnaMaria~ My little life in God's big universe
  • KavKav Registered Users Posts: 80 Big grins
    edited November 7, 2011
    Eia, That photo was taken with a Samyang 8mm fish eye. While it's about as cheap as they come for fish eyes, it's a sharp lens with an all metal build. I also use it as a very wide angle lens to do interior shots of our helos. I will post some more up later today. The only issue with using it is trying to keep my feet out of the photo, and when using the flash the lens casts a shadow on the floor.

    The photos of the birds are some of my most popular. The Firefench was a luck shot. I found him and some female ones fluttering around under a A/C unit. But I did not have my camera. So I snuck by them and made a bee-line for my shop. After grabbing my camera I snuck back to them and when the finch spotted me. He flew up to the fence, gave me the stink-eye, looked away (the photo on here), and then took off.

    The birds out here seem to have loads of personality.
  • KavKav Registered Users Posts: 80 Big grins
    edited November 7, 2011
    Eia, Here's some more photos with the fisheye:

    Repelling out of a helo while in a hover:
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    And some more that were not:
    One with the kit lens (18-55mm):
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    Formation take off:
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    Dusty landings:
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  • KavKav Registered Users Posts: 80 Big grins
    edited November 7, 2011
    And some of the things to look at out here:

    A shanty town:
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    Sun set:
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    The water is beyond blue along the coast:
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    The smallest flowers I have ever seen. Those are small pebbles in the background. I'm standing up looking at my feet with a 300mm lens. They were about 1/16 of an inch across if not smaller.
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    A normal size flower:
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  • GSPePGSPeP Registered Users Posts: 3,978 Major grins
    edited November 7, 2011
    Again some great pictures thumb.gif
    Greetings from Belgium, Peter
    gspep.smugmug.com & steendorp.smugmug.com
    FB: www.facebook.com/peter.perdaen - Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/1150GSPEP/videos
  • KavKav Registered Users Posts: 80 Big grins
    edited November 7, 2011
    Thanks, I am hoping to have some newer ones here soon. I'm trying to get out to the Cheetah Refuge later in the week.
  • ADMIT PhotographyADMIT Photography Registered Users Posts: 431 Major grins
    edited November 8, 2011
    Great shots! Are you a military photographer? My Capt from my home station is there in Djibouti.
    Website: http://www.admitphotography.com
    Facebook - Twitter
    Nikon D200, D80, SB600, nikon 50mm 1.8, nikon 18-135 3.5-4.6, nikon 70-200
  • KavKav Registered Users Posts: 80 Big grins
    edited November 8, 2011
    Thanks Farsworth, I'm not a military photographer by trade, I am a weapons guy. So I'm more of a machine gun kind of guy. But I was asked to photograph our det by my command. And after seeing my photos the Public Affairs Office uses me as a stringer. Where is your home station?
  • mr peasmr peas Registered Users Posts: 1,369 Major grins
    edited November 8, 2011
    What a really interesting set, thank you for sharing these great images!
  • Secluded ValleySecluded Valley Registered Users Posts: 176 Major grins
    edited November 11, 2011
    Your shots are amazing. Thank you for sharing and thank you for your service.

    Kristine
    "How glorious a greeting the sun gives the mountains!" ~John Muir
  • KavKav Registered Users Posts: 80 Big grins
    edited November 11, 2011
    Got to swim with the whale sharks. Sorry that the photos are a bit blurry.

    A long time friend of mine was passing through on her way to the Pacific rim:
    GOPR0149-X3.jpg

    GOPR0192-X3.jpg

    This one was winding up to kill me with a blow from his tail. I'm not sure what I did to piss him off, but he was mad. I alway kept some distance, but maybe I just smelled funny.

    The wind up with me trying to get the hell out of the way:
    GOPR0457-X3.jpg
  • divmedic4divmedic4 Registered Users Posts: 160 Major grins
    edited November 11, 2011
    Awesome photos Kav. Thank you for your service.
    Canon 7D, Sigma 17-70, Sigma 70-200 2.8 OS, EF 50 1.8 II, 430EXII

    Tom
  • Quincy TQuincy T Registered Users Posts: 1,090 Major grins
    edited November 12, 2011
    DSC9908-X3.jpg

    I'd put a watermark on that, and reduce the size of this available online, because this is a very good image and someone out there would probably pay a very good price for it, no matter who says they took it.
  • KavKav Registered Users Posts: 80 Big grins
    edited November 13, 2011
    Sword and Scales wrote: »
    DSC9908-X3.jpg

    I'd put a watermark on that, and reduce the size of this available online, because this is a very good image and someone out there would probably pay a very good price for it, no matter who says they took it.

    I don't think I can. It's been selected for release by the DOD. So it's public domain.
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