Windy Ridge - Skeleton Coast
May 2009 – Nikon D300, 17-55 @17mm, ISO 200, f 10 at 1/250 sec
Windy Ridge Sunset, Skeleton Coast, Namibia, looking toward the ocean.
Category Archive for 'Safari'
The Best Seats in the House
Nikon D300, 70-200VR @130mm; ISO 400, F7.1 @ 1/320 sec
Traveling through a river bed in Namibia inland from the Wilderness Safari Skeleton Coast campsite, three photographers grab the best seats in the house while taking in the wonderful scenery.
Photo of the Week
Posted in Africa, Photo of the Week, Safari, Travel on Sep 25th, 2009
Namibia Sunrise
May 2009, Nikon D300, 17-55mm f2.8@ 55, ISO 500, f11 at 1/50 sec, -1/2 EV
Metered slightly below the horizon in spot metering mode
As sunlight started across the distance mountain range, I hiked up a nearby rock outcroping some 500 feet above the valley floor to get this image. The clouds were simply spectactular as the moved across the desert sky. After shooting about 6 frames (I don’t recall even checking the histogram), I put the camera down and just took in the view of the entire valley. As I watch the rising sunlight dance across the valley floor, I realized just how lucky I was travel to places like this – to see and photograph things and places that others seldom get a chance to see or even hear about.
Cheers and happy photo’ing
Randy
Photo of the Week
Posted in Africa, Photo of the Week, Safari, Travel on Jul 11th, 2009
Red Dunes (Dune 43) of Namib-Naukuft Park, Namibia
Nikon D300, 70-200VR, 95mm @ f9 1/640 sec, -2EV
While shooting in the sand dunes of Namibia, I found myself in an environment that was largely reds and blues. After looking at the large histogram for general exposure, I always shifted to the RGB histograms for evaluation. More often than not, I found that I was blowing out the reds. A simple drop in EV solved the blown channel. Usually using only a -1/3EV to solve normal exposure problems, I was very surprised by having to drop down into the -2’s for a correct exposure. While post processing, I was also surprised by the white balance of the camera. I always shoot in auto WB mode and correct during post processing. When shooting in extreme conditions, it is not uncommon for me to use either a white balance card or a color checker to help with setting my white balance in post processing. What surprised be was how far off the color temperature was when I started the post processing. I am going to attribute this to the high amount of reds from the sand. The lesson here is to use all of your tools, both in camera and out of camera. Learn when the in-camera meter is smart, when it is dumb, and take the necessary actions to get the shot.
Cheers and happy photo’ing
After a late night in Seattle visiting some friends that reside on Maui and were in town on the ship World, I found a message in my email stating that two out of my four submitted images had made it to the Semi-Final level of the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition. These two images were taken from my 2008 and 2009 safaris to Tanzania and are presented below:
Nikon D300, 200-400VR @400, March 2009
Nikon D300, 500mm+1.4 TC, Feb 2008
As a final note, the email stated that there were some 93,000 entries for the 2009 competition. I am happy!
BTW, there is still room for the 2010 safari adventure to Tanzania.
Enjoy and happy Photo’ing.
The journey homeward started with a four hour flight from Serra Cafema to a dirt strip outside of Sossuvlei. During a three day lay over at Sossuvlei area, we took advantage of shooting Deadvlei. Four brave soles hit the dunes beyond Deadvlei for a long and strenuous hike deep into the dunes. This last hike of the trip took a serious toll on my Nikon gear causing failure of the playback and AF buttons in both D300 cameras. This was in addition to my lenses sounding like pepper grinders. Just my luck, the playback button failed in the depressed position which locked out all button functions to the left of the view screen. With the histogram no longer available, I was on my own for exposure management. Thankfully I had been shooting in the desert for almost a week and was well aware of the ‘plus’ exposure compensation when shooting bright subjects such as sand. What was more challenging was preventing clipping of the blue and red channels during exposure and managing the shadow details with nothing but my shooting experience to rely on. So why did my Nikons fail? Simple, I used them unprotected in a 30-35 knot sustained wind in the middle of sand dunes. Needless to say, sand was getting into everything. Look out Nikon – all of my gear is heading your way for repairs.
With both cameras down and one more day of shooting, I decided to take a big risk and result to using a safety pin and Eclipse Sensor Solution. I used one drop of solution (like I would if I had WD40 or a silicon lubricant) around the edges of both buttons and pried them up using the end of safety pin. After repeating this procedure several times, I had most of my controls back, at least enough to shoot Dune 47 in the late afternoon – at least I thought so. When taking the classic post card shots of the red Dune from the road, the controls failed again, this time in the RGB histogram mode. I could not have ask for a better failure, as I was able to adjust the exposure compensation to prevent clipping with an automatic display after each shot. The following day, was another bush plane ride to Windhoek, then on to Johannesburg, connecting to New York and LA with the final push to Seattle. Total flight time I would estimate at something like 23 hours from Johannesburg to Seattle, each way (not including some 10 hours in bush planes). Total air time – my guess is something just short of 56 hours. This trip was painful, exhausting, challenging, and professionally rewarding as my photography skills were pushed to a new level. Thanks to my photography, once again I was able to see another corner of the world that is seldom seen and yet most of all – I met some wonderful people that will likely influence my personal and professional life for a long time to come. Special thanks to my truck buddies, Paul T, Sylvia, Justin, Larry, JP, and of course Andy for the invitation of a lifetime. I never thought I would be standing on the side of a river looking at the border of Angola.
After South African Airlines lost my checked bag, I treated myself to a business class upgrade. So here I sit in the LAX Red Carpet Club after a wonderful United meal of smoked salmon, fresh greens, stir-fried shrimp, chocolate and grand vanilla ice cream followed up by a warm chocolate chip cookie. Oh yes, I almost forgot the raspberry mojito (always thinking of you, Coogan). Home for two weeks then it’s off to Hawaii for a week of photography and fun in the sun. I will be processing most of images from Tanzania and Namibia in the weeks to come, so enjoy these few images until the next posting. Just a warning, if the colors are a bit off it is because I am using a non-color managed netbook that I bought just for this trip so I will have to fix them after I get home.
Star Trails
Nikon D300, 17-55 @23mm, f5.6, 2918 seconds exposure
Sand Storm Over Dunes
Nikon D300, 17-55mm @55mm, ISO 250, f11, 1/2oo sec
Sand As Far As One Can See
Nikon D300, 17-55mm @40mm, ISO 250, f10, 1/200 sec
Golden Light on Dunes of Namibia
Nikon D300, 17-55mm @ 28mm, ISO 250, f16, 1/125 sec
Black & White II Dunes
Nikon D300, 17-55mm @ 30mm,ISO 250, f8, 1/320 sec
BTW, there are only four slots open for my Tanzania Feb 2010 trip. If Africa is on your bucket list, then what are you waiting for? Come join me for an adventure that will stir your soul and warm your heart.
Cheers and happy photo’ing.
After flying for nearly 18 hours, I finally arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa. In the beginning of the flight, I thought I had really scored big time by landing a seat in the exit row with nearly five feet of foot room. What I soon learned was that the exit row seats were somewhat smaller than normal (width wise) and had a special air bag thing embedded in the waste belt. Together, I had to wedge myself into the seat. I guess I need to shed a few more pounds before the return trip. Overnighted at the InterContinental next to the airport in JB. This am, I am off the Windhoek, Namibia where I will do some exploration of the city and try to link up with a friend of mine that I served with in Iraq. The one day layover in Namibia is a safety stop to ensure that our bags reach us before me move on into the outback of Namibia. The following morning, I board a charter flight for the Skeleton Coast. I can hardly wait to start shooting. Here is a larger map of the area.
The photo below demonstrates what happens when you shoot through the polarized plastic window of the aircraft with a polarizer on the lens of the camera. Only in very special conditions can these two polarizers work together. As you can see in the photograph, they are not working together. This is largely due to the distance between the camera lens and the window as well as the differing types of material. In special cases, where two polarizers are sandwiched together (machined glass to work together), they will work as a variable density filter (VND). VNDs are often used by landscape photographers to slow the shutter speeds down. The most common use of slower shutter speeds using VND is to create motion in water falls or wave action while still being able to manage your exposure.
What I like about this shot is the reflection of the wing art .
Till the next internet connection……..
Randy
I’m off for a couple of weeks to photograph a wonderful and inhospitable place known as the Namib and Kalahari Deserts. Namibia has been on my bucket list for several years and only recently have I been afforded the opportunity to take this journey. During this trip I will be visiting such places as the great Skeleton Coast, Serra Cafema, and Sossusvlei – home to the highest sand dune in the world. The hike along the knife-edge rim to the top is strenuous, requiring 60-90 minutes of taking two steps up and sliding one step down nonetheless, I’m going to get to the top. I have been told that the view from the top of this dune into other valleys and of the mountains beyond is simply marvelous and I can’t wait to photograph this landscape. Due to no internet connections in the middle of nowhere, I will not be posting until my return. So for now, take a look at the maps below to see where I am headed.
From Seattle, I’ll fly into Dulles then onto Johannesburg, South Africa. After a 16 hour flight, I will overnight in Joburg in prep for my flight to Windhoek the following day. From Windhoek, I’ll be flying into the northern area of Namibia along the Skeleton Coast. Several days in this region, then onward to Sossusvlei.
The Sossusvlei, Namibia’s famous highlight in the heart of the Namib Desert, is a huge clay pan, enclosed by giant sand dunes. Some of the spectacular hills of sand are, at a height of 300 meters, the highest in the world. The dunes of the Namib Desert have developed over a period of many millions of years. It is thought that the vast quantities of sand were deposited into the Alantic Ocean by the Orange River. This material was subsequently moved northwards by the Benguela current to be dumped back onto the land by the surf.
The coastal dunes developed as a result of this and were shifted further and further inland by the wind. Wind continuously reshapes the patterns of the huge dunes of the Namib Desert. It timelessly forces the grains of sand on the flat windward slope upwards to the crest of the dune. Here they fall down in the wind shade. The leeward slope is therefore always considerably steeper than the windward side.
While I am excited about photographing some of the oldest deserts in the world and the indigenous people that inhabit them, I am not looking forward to the very lengthy plane rides to and from. Cheers and until I return, do some research on the areas that I have mentioned in this posting.
After a brief lull in my photography, I’m back at posting some of the shots from my Feb 2009 Safari to Tanzania. The Ngorongoro Crater is always a magical place for me. With the rich diversity of wildlife confined to an area about 10 miles square, I am always surprised as to what I will see and the animal interactions. So before moving on to the Serengeti, here are a few additional images from the crater and our camp site. Photo credits: Larry B – photos 1 & 5; DeAnne B – photo 6; Katherine H – photos 9 & 10.
After all day in the crater, we are treated to a wonderful sunset from our camp site.
Noon at our camp site
Kelio, our expert guide, was always checking on something for me.
Hippo pool
Flamingo lift-off
Yellow bark acacia tree close up
Running wildebeest
Mother's first kiss
When not shooting, eating or sleeping, we were in the camera tent.
Many photographers, like Larry, tried hard to escape the camera tent.
As we depart the crater, I treat you to the often-seen tourist view of zebras.
After 1 1/2 days in the crater, we say so long to the 8th wonder of the world. and begin our trek to the Serengeti
Looking Back To…..Ngorongoro Crater
Attempts to update the blog were unsuccessful once we left the comforts of Gibbs Farm. So, now we’re back in the US and I’m posting those updates – belatedly – from the comforts of my home!
From Gibbs Farm we headed northwest to the 8th wonder of the world – Ngorongoro Crater. This geologic feature is 185 square miles, 12 miles wide, and was once an active volcano likely higher than Mount Kilimanjaro. Its collapse resulted in the world’s largest intact caldera that maintains its own wildlife and forms its own weather patterns.
We stop at the park entrance to get a briefing from one of our guides on the geologic history of the area; then we head up the long winding road to the crater rim. We pause for an awe-inspiring look at the crater floor, spotting herds of Cape buffalo and watching as a rain storm drenches a distant part of the crater. Soon we arrive at our next camp site, nestled in the canopy of the tall flat-top acacia trees that are found above 5,000 feet (the camp is 7,500 feet above sea level). The cool damp forest camp, a pleasant reprise from the heat of the day, seems like a tree house oasis. That afternoon and all of the next day we leave the cool forest to enter the world of the crater floor, observing numerous resident wildlife species. We witness the challenge of a new-borne gazelle as it tries to stand for the first time, admire from a distance an endangered black rhino and baby, watch as lion cubs playfully romp in the early morning sun, spot a cheetah on the prowl among a herd of gazelles, and laugh at the antics and unique galloping of the wildebeests. We also spot a family of hyenas eyeing its next meal, as well as a herd of elephants, numerous hippos, zebras, and too-many-to-count species of brilliantly-colored birds. Our crew got a lot of great photos as evidenced by a few examples below.
Afternoon descent into the crater floor
Photo by Randy Hanna, Nikon D300, 17-55mm @ 55
Wildebeest look out on high ground; Ngorongoro Crater
Photo by Colleen Kill, Nikon D90
On the rim of the Crater
Nikon D300, 17-55mm @ 30mm, time release
Wildebeest being wild
Photo by Jean R, Sony DSC-H9 compact digital
Wildebeest and Zebra in the Crater
Photo by DeAnne B, Cannon XTi Rebel, 100-300mm
Forest area of the Crater
Photo by Larry B, Nikon D300, 24-120mm @ 36mm
Lion cub on fallen tree
Photo by Larry B, Nikon D300, 200-400mmVR @400mm
Two Bulls at the watering hole in the Crater
Photo by Larry B, Nikon D300, 200-400mmVR @ 200mm
Wildebeest kicking it up
Photo by David R, Nikon D60, 55-200mm @ 200mm
Lion cub in grass
Photo by Randy Hanna, Nikon D300, 200-400mmVR @ 400