I’m still culling through safari photos, but I’ve also started processing some of my favorites. This is why the culling is moving so slowly.
One of the first images I completed processing is of a Chacma baboon, also known as a Cape baboon (Papio ursinus), photographed at the Marataba Mountain Lodge. The baboon’s position inspired a low-key processing approach, and I love the result.
Clash of the Giants: African bush elephants (Loxodonta africana).
African elephants engage in mock fights, especially young bulls, to hone skills rather than cause harm. Training through play helps young elephants develop strength, coordination, and social bonds, crucial for survival and hierarchy. These interactions involve trunk wrestling and head-pushing, teaching balance and power without serious injury.
Serious fights are rare, reserved for dominance disputes, with play serving as a safer learning ground.
Play fighting also reinforces group dynamics, preparing calves for adult roles, emphasizing its role over actual combat in elephant life.
Sentinels: two cheetah brothers (Acinonyx jubatus). I photographed them early in the morning, before the sun was up, and the morning mist still hung in the air, creating an eerie atmosphere.
The brothers were out patrolling their territory and stood still for a few minutes, checking their surroundings.
Cheetahs patrol their territories to mark and defend them, often using scent markers like urine. Males, especially brothers like these two, patrol together, covering up to 1,500 square kilometers to maintain their range. Patrols occur mostly at dawn or dusk, with cheetahs using elevated spots to scan for intruders or prey.
They avoid direct confrontation when possible, relying on vocalizations and scent to warn off rivals rather than fighting.
A waterbuck female (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) I photographed while staying at Lepogo Lodges/Noka.
Waterbucks are often found near water sources, which they rely on for escape from predators. Waterbucks are strong swimmers and can dive underwater to evade threats.
Despite their name, they don’t drink water daily, getting much of their moisture from the grasses they eat.
A young lioness (Panthera leo) on the prowl, stalking a giraffe under the midday sun. The hunt is on.
High-key edits aren’t usually my style, but this scene demanded it. Harsh light, a bright background, and the lioness in the shade called for a bold, high-key approach to capture the moment’s intensity.
Four-spotted Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata), a dragonfly so called because of the four dark spots on its wings, two on each forewing. It thrives in a variety of wetland habitats, including ponds, lakes, slow-moving rivers, and marshes. It prefers areas with abundant vegetation, such as reeds and grasses, which provide perching spots and shelter. This species is highly adaptable and can be found across Europe and parts of Asia, from lowland areas to elevations up to 1,000 meters.
I photographed it at a lake near our house, an excellent spot for finding butterflies and dragonflies this time of year. I find myself returning to it in every season, as there is always something to photograph: squirrels, foxes, jays, woodpeckers, birds of prey, small birds, insects, and flowers.
Did you know that the Four-spotted Chaser is notably territorial, with males aggressively defending their chosen perching spots or breeding territories from rival males? They patrol their territory by flying short, rapid circuits and will engage in aerial chases or confrontations to ward off intruders. Males are particularly active during warm, sunny weather, often seen hovering or darting to catch prey.
As always, a red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) with a chestnut 😁. Can you believe how utterly adorable this squirrel is 😍?
📸 All photos were taken with Canon R5 Mark II & Canon RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM.
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