Bloemfontein Camera Club: December 2012

Well, at the end of 2012 one tends to look back and I’ve realised it is now 18 months since I’ve joined the Bloemfontein Camera Club and entered my first photos in April 2011. Wow, what a journey and learning experience. Right, on Tuesday it was, once again, club evening and what an event! The standard of the photos in the Nature categories (especially in die 4 & 5 star division) was very high and 4 COMs was awarded. I submitted 3 photos in the Nature category of the 4 & 5 star division and all three photos received gold awards (12/12). Here are the photos:

How about a kiss?

See the Giant Castle (2012) trip report for details

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Lioness with flies

See the Masaai Mara (2012) trip report for details

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Southern bald Ibis taking off

See the Golden Gate (2012) trip report for details

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What a surprise in the set subject category – I am not really into this category and definitely not when it comes to “Altered reality”. However, true to my nature, I just decided to give it a go by submitting a photo of two (just to support the club).  I decided to use two of the photos we had to develop for Prof Gert Lamprecht’s course and surprise, surprise – one photo scored a 14/15 and the judges awarded the photo the winning status.

Sunset of a different kind

See a previous post on photography courses for details

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Flame of hope received a score of 9/15 – silver award. Not too bad for somebody who’s interest lies with nature photography.

Flame of hope

See a previous post on photography courses for details

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Message to take home:

Just to repeat myself: Never give up trying – one never knows when luck will turn your way. Look what happened to me in the set subject category.

Until next month’s club evening (January 2013), keep on shooting!!!

Trip report: Golden Gate – Sept 2012 (2nd visit)

I heard about a new vulture restaurant being building in the Golden Gate area in the Eastern Free State (South Africa) from a fellow photographer and Bloemfontein club member. similar to the hide at Giants Castle a few hundred kilometers away. So, my wife and I decided to pay Golden Gate a visit (just a relaxing weekend away from home) as it is only about 3,5 hours drive from Bloemfontein. I contacted Schalk (the friend who made me aware of the bird hide) earlier that week to arrange and get permission to visit the hide during the weekend. Another colleague of mine showed me the magnificent Highlands Mountain Retreat during a previous visit to Golden Gate (see more details of that trip in a previous trip report) and we decided to give it a go. And believe me, we were not disappointed. Highly recommended.

Late Friday afternoon we arrived at Glen Reenen reception and we were very disappointed to hear that the project manager of the bord hide did not leave the keys of the hide with the reception. So, we could not evaluate the hide from the inside. Luckily, as a last thought, I packed my own bird hide just before we left Bloemfontein. So, on Saturday morning we decided to have breakfast at Clarence and we came back, we sat for a about 1.5hours next to the established bird hide in our own chairs (bird hide ordered from sadectrade.com – thanks Werner for the tip) just next to the building. Unfortunately there wasn’t a vulture in sight – just one crow and a jackal. So we tried our hand at the crow but it was in the middle of the day – no good!! The jackal was scared away by other people visiting the hide.

Crow taking off with meat

(Nikon D3S, 600mmf4 fixed lens, ISO400, f4, 1/2500, exposure = -0.33, WB = auto, Aperture mode, on tripod with Wimberley head. As you can see, I did not bother to use my converter.)

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We just wanted to get a feel for the situation and just the following:

• We looked through the windows of the hide and it looks very spacious inside (not like the hide in Giants Castle which was built in the late 1960s and can barely accommodate more than 3 photographers at one time).
• It was not easy to get a flying crow in focus and keep the focus because the long grass and nearly mountains in the background.
• Ever now and then people walked up to the hide from the nearby road (Oribi loop) and I think it might chase the birds or other animals away.
• Schalk told me they are looking at the openings (shooting holes) as the openings in canvas are too small for a 600mm lens and I do agree with him.
• There is not enough rocks/boulders around the hide for the vultures to land on. More landing areas are needed in strategic places – especially for photography purposes. But I am sure the bird/vulture experts will know better.

Overall I think it is great idea to have another vulture bird hide in the Drakensberg and closer to home. The hide is due to be opened next month (November 2012) and I really want to “test drive” it from the inside before making any more comments. At this stage I am optimistic about the hide itself but a few issues need urgent attention.

Later that afternoon, we decided to take a ride along some of the loops and we came across a few Southern bald ibis (Kalkoen ibis) foraging in a recent burned area of the field. Great opportunity for a few photos and out came our tripods, Wimberley heads. We got a few shoots of one Ibis as the other five did not stay for the photo shoot. Not a very common bird in South Africa – if I am not mistaken, you’ll only find them in this area of South Africa. So, here are a few of my shots – it was shot around 16H00:

Southern bald ibis foraging

(Nikon D3S, 600mmf4 fixed lens with 1.4 convertor = 850mm, ISO800, f4, 1/5000, exposure = -0.67, WB = auto, Aperture mode, on tripod with Wimberley head. A bit of an overkill with the ISO and shutter speed but I wanted to make sure I do not get “soft” wings if it decides to take off)

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Southern bald ibis ready for take off

(Nikon D3S, 600mmf4 fixed lens with 1.4 convertor = 850mm, ISO800, f4, 1/4000, exposure = -0.67, WB = auto, Aperture mode, on tripod with Wimberley head.)

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Southern bald ibis in flight after take off

(Nikon D3S, 600mmf4 fixed lens with 1.4 convertor = 850mm, ISO800, f4, 1/6400, exposure = -0.67, WB = auto, Aperture mode, on tripod with Wimberley head. For the first time I was able to photograph a bird from its stationary position untill it was well in flight without losing my (camera’s) focus. What a great feeling to achieve it!!)

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Message to take home:

Never ignore a possible photo opportunity, always expect the unexpected and be prepared for it. As we drove pass the Ibis, I just gave it one look and decided to there is nothing really out there worth photographing. I just wanted to continue driving. My wife urged me to stop for a few photos. Ironically, at the end of the day, I got the shots (BIF) and she walked away with a few portrait shots.

Untill my next trip report (visit to Giant Castle) – keep on shooting!!!

Trip report: Golden Gate nature reserve – Sept 2012

I was invited to give an introductory talk on photography to pediatric surgeons (specialists and registrars) over the past weekend. After the talk we had a quick walk about – more specifically to “Holkrans” just behind the Golden Gate Hotel. The weather was terrible – the wind was blowing as though it doesn’t want us on the earth, it was cold and there was no clouds in the sky. Everything a landscape photography does not want to have on the menu. So, during our walk I looked for some interesting landscape opportunities or just for some “other” opportunities. So one can call it a “quick and dirty” shoot – so I thought I must try to think outside the box and do something differently. And here are some of the photos – judge for yourself:

 

The first encounter was this rock amongst the field of grass leading towards the mountain. Unfortunately it was still too early for a nice landscape photo – around 14H45. Nikon D700, Nikon 17.0-35.0 mm f/2.8 lens @ 17mm, ISO200, 1/1600, f6.3, exposure = -0.67, WB = sun. Aperture mode.

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Next up was a nice small tree/bush growing on a rock. I’ve tried to create a balanced in the photo with the placement of the bush on the left 1/3 of the photo and the mountain in the right 1/3. Nikon D700, Nikon 17.0-35.0 mm f/2.8 lens @ 17mm, ISO200, 1/250, f10, exposure = -0.33, WB = sun. Aperture mode.

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When we reached Holkrans, I saw this interesting feature. Bushes growing above the rocks and I’ve tried to create almost an X-ray or underground feeling with the sun from behind the rocks and bushes. Not sure if it works. Nikon D700, Nikon 17.0-35.0 mm f/2.8 lens @ 26mm, ISO200, 1/5000, f2.8, exposure = -1.00, WB = sun. Aperture mode.

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I saw this dead tree/branch and I thought about it for a while – how about a silhouette? Nikon D700, Nikon 17.0-35.0 mm f/2.8 lens @ 19mm, ISO200, 1/250, f11, exposure = -1.00, WB = sun. Aperture mode.

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In the cave (Holkrans), there were a few interesting patterns against the walls.  Nikon D700, Nikon 17.0-35.0 mm f/2.8 lens @ 24mm, ISO200, 1/6400, f2.8, exposure = -1.00, WB = sun. Aperture mode.

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And then we went for a ride in the late afternoon and we had the opportunity to use the golden hour. Too bad about the lack of clouds in the sky – the reason why I did not include much of the sky in my photos.  The very familiar sight of Golden Gate in the late afternoon. Nikon D700, Nikon 17.0-35.0 mm f/2.8 lens @ 35mm, ISO200, 1/125, f10, exposure = -0.33, WB = sun. Aperture mode.

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And to conclude.  Nikon D700, Nikon 17.0-35.0 mm f/2.8 lens @ 24mm, ISO200, 1/50, f10, exposure = -0.33, WB = sun. Aperture mode.

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All the photos were taken hand-held with no support what so ever – another “deadly” sin for landscape photographers.

Message to take home:

Once again, any landscape photography needs proper planning. One must visit the area the day before the shoot, look at the scenery and possible shots and plan ahead. Then, on the day of the shoot, you must arrive well before the golden hour, make sure about a proper set-up and the camera settings should appropriate and ready. A few practice shots to make sure about and composition. Then wait for the right moment and take the shots.

Until the next trip report, keep on shooting – and I think I must rather stay with wildlife photography but it is nice to have a break or take photos of something different every now and then.