I’m grateful and honored that Canon Sweden chose my photo of these cute Australian sea lions as their Facebook cover for September. I am so excited to share my passion for wildlife photography with a broader audience!
This is what the Canon Romania Facebook page looks like now; I’m so proud!
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Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris). This is one of my top favorite photos this year, likely one of the 2024 top ten.
Morning grooming routine 🤭. Kangaroo Island kangaroos, a subspecies of the Western Grey Kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus), photographed at the wildlife sanctuary created by Ecopia Retreat on Kangaroo Island.
Morning traffic, Marataba Marakele, South Africa.
A kangaroo joey tenderly grooms her mother ❤️. I photographed this cute pair at the wildlife sanctuary created by Ecopia Retreat on Kangaroo Island.
The kangaroos in the photo are Kangaroo Island kangaroos, a subspecies of the Western Grey Kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus). Because of their long period of isolation from mainland Australia, the KI kangaroos are pretty different from the Western Grey kangaroos. They’re shorter, darker, and much cuter if you ask me!
That Monday morning feeling 😵💫. Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) photographed somewhere in the Middle River area on Kangaroo Island, South Australia.
Moments like these are why I love wildlife photography 😍. Australian sea lions (Neophoca cinerea) photographed during a guided research tour at the Seal Bay Conservation Park, Kangaroo Island.
All photos were taken with Canon EOS R5 and Canon RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM.
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August 19th is World Photography Day, an annual celebration of the art, science, and history of photography.
Why August 19th, you ask? On August 19th, 1839, the French Academy of Sciences announced the Daguerreotype process, the first to obtain a permanent image with a camera. History was made that day, and the long road to photography as we know it today began.
The best way of celebrating it is to share your best photos with the world. The one above is one of my favorites; it contains two of my favorite things: cameras and squirrels.
Happy World Photography Day!
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I didn’t do much photo processing this month, what with summer vacations, gardening, and the Olympics.
African elephant photographed in Marataba Marakele, South Africa. Many people commented on the elephant’s long lashes on Instagram, but most missed just how long they really were. Take another look. Yes, they are long and thick near the eye, but if you look closer, you’ll see that they are even longer than you think!
A zebra walks leisurely ahead of its harem in the Marakele National Park, South Africa. In zoology, a harem is a group of zebras consisting of one stallion, several mares, and their offspring.
Southern yellow-billed hornbills (Tockus leucomelas) are also called ‘flying bananas’ because of their huge bills. This bird’s bill is remarkably large in comparison to its body and can make up to 1/6th of its entire body length!
Interesting breeding behavior: Once a mating pair is established, they search for a nesting site, often in a tree facing northeast, and construct their nest using leaf litter and bark. The female enters the hole, seals it with her droppings, and leaves a small opening for the male to feed her while she tends to the eggs.
The female lays 3 or 4 eggs and incubates them for 25 days without leaving the nest. During this time, she sheds all her flight and tail feathers, becoming reliant on the male and vulnerable if he is absent or harmed. While in the nest, her feathers regrow, and she emerges with new plumage when the oldest chick is about 3 weeks old. Both parents take turns feeding the chicks for the next 6 weeks. When the chicks mature, hunger prompts them to break down the nest wall.
Stay tuned because I’m bursting with excitement to share more about this unforgettable adventure with all of you!
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One rainy afternoon, while sorting through thousands of safari photos, I decided to take a much-needed break, indulge in my love for Harry Potter, and have some fun.
Being a huge fan of both the books and the movies, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to immerse myself again in the magical world of witchcraft and wizardry, even if for a few hours.
The King.
As you may have seen from my Instagram stories, I went on a safari in South Africa, a truly awe-inspiring experience. We spent ten incredible days first in the Marakele National Park, Thabazimbi, and then in the Lapalala Wilderness Reserve, where we were privileged to witness animals in their natural habitat, a sight that never ceased to amaze us.
A lion strolling leisurely through the Lapalala Wilderness Reserve bathed in the gentle glow of the early morning light.
Captivated by the serene beauty of the wilderness. Witnessing this majestic lion immersed in the soft morning light was truly an unforgettable experience.
Chasing giraffes and zebras! 🦒 Spotting giraffes in their natural habitat is always the highlight of any safari for me. I absolutely love animals with spots or stripes, so this was a dream come true. While some people rushed to look for the Big Five, I went after giraffes and zebras, LOL.
I captured this photo in Marakele National Park, Thabazimbi, our first stop. During our visit, we spent a few days at the Marataba Mountain Lodge, featuring only five suites and offering a breathtaking view of the nearby mountains. Situated in a privately managed area within Marakele National Park, the lodge is approximately a 3-hour and 30-minute drive from Johannesburg.
Imagine the thrill of spotting a young male cheetah on a beautiful golden afternoon while walking just a few meters behind him! It was just my husband, our experienced guide Brendan Vorster (IG: @brendans_wildlife), and me alone in the long grass; the quiet scene occasionally interrupted by the calls of birds and the sound of the wind rustling through the tree leaves. It was an unforgettable experience that we’ll always cherish.
The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), the fastest land animal, can sprint at an astonishing 93 to 104 km/h (58 to 65 mph). Its body is uniquely designed for speed, with a slender build, long, thin legs, and a lengthy tail. The semi-retractable claws, a distinctive feature not found in other cats, play a crucial role in its remarkable speed.
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Lapalala Wilderness Reserve was our second safari destination. We were incredibly fortunate to be accommodated at the Noka Camp, one of the renowned Lepogo Lodges. The five villas, perched on a striking 100-foot clifftop, not only offered awe-inspiring views over the Palala River but also provided a lavish and cozy stay. The lodge, a few hours’ drive from Johannesburg, is completely malaria-free, a key factor in our decision to choose it.
Brotherly love at its finest. These two cheetah brothers always have each other’s backs.
Double trouble. Two young cheetah brothers walk gracefully in the Lapalala Wilderness Reserve on a golden afternoon, the epitome of grace and speed. They moved effortlessly at a seemingly slow pace, yet we could barely keep up with them.
Mesmerized by the gentle strength and protective nature of this beautiful female elephant with her adorable baby following closely behind. 🐘💕
An elephant breeding herd in the breathtaking Marakele National Park, what an awesome sight! The mother in front was very protective of the baby, stirring up dust, flapping her ears, and trumpeting vigorously to keep us away.
Stay tuned, because I’m bursting with excitement to share more from this unforgettable adventure with all of you!
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I’m feeling grateful and honored as Canon Romania chose my photo to be their Facebook cover for the month of July. I am so excited to share my passion for photography and travels with a broader audience!
This is what the Canon Romania Facebook page looks like now; I’m so proud!
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The sun is finally out, and the gardening season is in full swing! I’m either busy in the garden or capturing its beauty, which leaves me with little time for photo editing. And let’s be honest, who wants to be cooped up indoors when the sun is shining? I guess I’ll have to wait for a rainy day to catch up on some editing, ha, ha!
Here are a few photos I managed to edit from May: first out, the delicate cherry tree flowers in Kungsträdgården. I go there every year to photograph the pink fluffy flowers of the Japanese cherry trees, and this year was no exception. It’s such a joy!
A playful red squirrel because, you know, squirrels 😍.
Vibrant pink peonies from my garden. These peonies are from last year, and I can’t help but look forward to the magical moment when this year’s blooms grace my garden in a few weeks.
I hope you enjoyed these photos; there are more to come next month.
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Warning: cuteness overload! This little joey has got me wrapped around its tiny paw. Just look at those big eyes and fluffy ears! 🦘❤️ And that golden light! I feel so blessed to witness moments like these.
A Kangaroo Island kangaroo female (Macropus fuliginosus fuliginosus) tenderly grooms her suckling joey 😍. Incredibly, the mother kangaroo can carry joeys at different development stages in her pouch. She can also provide different nutritional content milk in her four teats to cater to the various joeys’ ages!
This is the same joey as in the first photo. How cute?
All kangaroo photos were taken at the Ecopia Retreat wildlife sanctuary in February 2024.
Squirrel on a mission: curiosity never looked so cute! 🐿️💕
Always looking ahead, even when the view seems a little bit nutty 🐿️🌳.
I hope you enjoyed these photos; there are more to come next month.
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When you and your mate have a disagreement and need to settle it like true Aussies 🇦🇺🥊😂. I always wanted to photograph boxing kangaroos, and one February evening, I was finally lucky enough to find a pair of joeys sparring playfully while the sun was going down. (And the light disappeared quickly; I had to bump up the ISO to 12.800 to freeze the action in low light).
Another joey, grooming itself, same magical evening. So cute!
White-faced heron (Egretta novaehollandiae) photographed at the wildlife sanctuary created by Ecopia Retreat on Kangaroo Island, South Australia.
A wild bottlenose dolphin emerges from the sea to breathe, expelling stale air through the blowhole on top of its head before inhaling fresh air.
This is the first time I’ve photographed dolphins, and it took me a while to figure out the best way to do it. Unfortunately, they disappeared before I could perfect my newfound technique. Nevertheless, I’m grateful for this fantastic experience!
Photographed off the North Coast of Kangaroo Island, South Australia.
I was fortunate enough to come across this rare eastern osprey (Pandion haliaetus cristatus), also known as the fish hawk, on Hanson Bay beach in Kangaroo Island (South Australia) in February 2024.
Unfortunately, they are a rare sight nowadays. They are listed as vulnerable in South Australia, and only 50 breeding pairs are estimated to be left in the region.
Sadly, human activities such as coastal development and competition for food with fishing production negatively impact their nesting sites and breeding.
I hope you enjoyed these photos; there are more to come next month.
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