Madikwe Archives - Mihaela Limberea

This is post 46 of 48 in the series “Favorite Photos”

This series contains my favorite photos processed in a particular month.

I didn’t process many photos in June because I was still sorting through my safari shots, and the garden needed a lot of care after I’d been away for weeks. Plus, there were Midsummer celebrations, great weather, and some good books to enjoy!

This image is a striking, low-key portrait of a young lioness, focusing on her intense gaze and facial features against a deep black background.The image features a close-up of a young lioness, with the majority of the frame dedicated to her face. Her fur is a mottled mix of browns and grays, with individual hairs visible and a slightly coarse texture. Her eyes are the most prominent feature, a luminous, fiery orange that seems to glow against the darkness and implies alertness. The pupils are dark and intense, directed slightly off-camera to the left, suggesting she is observing something intently. Her nose is dark and moist, with visible nostrils. Long, white whiskers fan out from her muzzle, catching the light. The ears are visible, one slightly more forward than the other, with soft fur. The composition is tight, cropping out most of the lioness's body and placing her face slightly off-center, creating a sense of intimacy and focus.The lighting is dramatic and directional, illuminating the lioness's face from the side, casting deep shadows that emphasize her features and the texture of her fur. The background is completely black, isolating the subject and making her appearance even more captivating. There are no other animals or people visible in the frame.The atmosphere of the image is one of quiet power, intensity, and mystery. The dark background and the piercing gaze of the lioness create a mood that is both captivating and slightly intimidating, hinting at her wild nature and predatory instincts. The overall impression is one of raw beauty and untamed spirit. — *Young Lioness*, *Madikwe, South Africa*

This portrait of a young lioness shows her regal profile as she waits for the perfect moment. I took it while staying at the Royal Madikwe, and it’s part of my dark portraits series. I haven’t come up with a good title yet, just this descriptive one. If you have any ideas for a title, I’d love to hear them!

A tabby cat wears a crown of Midsummer wildflowers, creating a whimsical and serene portrait.The image prominently features the head and upper torso of a tabby cat, primarily in shades of grey and white, with distinct dark tabby markings. The cat's most striking feature is its large, luminous eyes, which are a vibrant yellow-green and reflect light, giving them an intense and captivating gaze. The cat's nose is a soft pink, and its whiskers are fine and white, fanning out from its muzzle.Adorning the cat's head is a delicate crown made of Midsummer wildflowers. The crown consists of several white daisies with bright yellow centers and some pink clover flowers, interspersed with green leaves. The flowers are artfully arranged and appear fresh, adding a touch of nature and festivity to the cat's appearance.The background is almost entirely pure white, with a soft, ethereal glow that fades outwards from the cat. This stark white background isolates the subject and emphasizes the details of the cat's fur and the floral crown. The lighting is soft and diffused, creating a gentle halo effect around the cat, particularly around its ears and the edges of its fur. This lighting technique contributes to a dreamlike and almost angelic atmosphere.The overall composition is a close-up shot, focusing tightly on the cat's face. This close perspective allows the viewer to appreciate the texture of the fur, the details of the flowers, and the expressiveness of the cat's eyes. There are no humans or other animals visible in the image.The mood of the picture is peaceful, enchanting, and slightly whimsical. The juxtaposition of the wild feline with the delicate floral crown evokes a sense of natural beauty and gentle innocence, creating a serene and memorable image. The bright eyes and the vibrant flowers stand out against the muted tones of the cat's fur and the pure white background. — *Minette, Lidingö, 2026*

Glad Midsommar from Minette, who tolerated her flower crown with the dignity of a cat who knows the daisies were not her idea.

Midsummer (Midsommar) marks the summer solstice and the longest days of the year, celebrated here with maypoles, herring, new potatoes, and, yes, wreaths of wildflowers worn in the hair. It’s one of the most beloved days on the Swedish calendar, a bright pause when the whole country seems to step outside and stay there until very late. The flowers in this crown, daisies and red clover, are the same ones you’d find woven into wreaths across the meadows this week.

Minette is not impressed. She is, however, festive.

📸 All photos were taken with Canon R5 Mark II & Canon RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM.

To view all my favorite photos archive, click here.

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This is post 45 of 48 in the series “Favorite Photos”

This series contains my favorite photos processed in a particular month.

A close-up portrait of a Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill is dramatically lit against a deep black background.The image features the head and upper neck of a Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill, captured in sharp focus against an entirely black background, creating a sense of isolation and emphasizing the bird's striking features. The bird's head is angled upwards and to the right, with its distinctive large, curved, bright yellow bill being a prominent element. The bill shows some texture and color variation, with darker tips and some subtle orange hues. The eye of the hornbill is a vibrant yellow with a dark pupil, surrounded by a bright red, wrinkled patch of skin that extends down its face and neck. The feathers on its head and neck are a mix of dark grey, black, and white, appearing ruffled and textured, especially around the head. The lighting is dramatic, with a strong highlight on the bill and around the eye, and the rest of the bird's body and the background fading into deep shadow, creating a moody and almost theatrical atmosphere. There are no people or other animals in the frame. The mood is somewhat intense and intriguing due to the stark contrast, the detailed rendering of the bird's head, and the dark, empty background. — *Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill*, *Madikwe, South Africa*

Somehow, May has turned into safari month for us. This year, we started at Royal Madikwe, then visited Tswalu, and ended our trip in Cape Town. I began culling photos right after we got back (there were some amazing sightings everywhere), but garden work and other personal things have slowed me down.

That said, I did edit this one photo, I was really excited about it! When I took the shot, I already had some edits in mind and knew it would work well with my dark portraits series. I’m happy with how it looks now, though I might tweak it again later.

The Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill is affectionately nicknamed the ‘flying banana‘ due to its massive, curved yellow beak. Despite the bill’s size, it is surprisingly light because it is filled with a honeycomb-like structure of bone and air.

Here are some other interesting facts about this bird:

1. The bill is a precision tool. That bill is more than just eye-catching; the hornbill uses it like a pair of needle-nose pliers. The narrow tip plucks insects, seeds, and spiders off the ground or out of low vegetation, while serrated inner edges let it crush and break apart tougher items before swallowing.

2. The female seals herself inside the nest. After picking a nesting spot, the female seals herself in, closing the entrance with her own droppings until only a narrow slit remains. She stays inside to incubate the eggs for 24 to 25 days, while the male brings her food through the small opening. Later the chicks reseal the entrance themselves and stay inside for another 40-odd days as both parents feed them. It’s a fortress that keeps predators out almost entirely.

3. It hires a mongoose security team. Yellow-billed hornbills form a real working partnership with dwarf mongooses. They forage together: the mongooses scratch and dig through the ground, flushing out insects that the hornbills snap up, and in return the birds sound the alarm when a raptor appears, sending their mongoose buddies dashing for cover. The birds are so reliable that they sometimes arrive at the den in the morning and call down to wake their partners.

4. The chicks hatch on a staggered schedule. Because the female starts incubating before the whole clutch is laid, the eggs hatch days apart, leaving a brood of different sizes and ages. First-hatched chicks grow faster and are more likely to survive, but the mother’s presence in the sealed nest matters: she feeds bill-to-bill and shares food more evenly, easing competition so the younger, smaller nestlings have a better chance.

5. Those eyelashes are real. Look closely at a hornbill’s eye and you’ll see what appear to be long, dark lashes. They are not hair; they are actually special feathers that help shade the eye and keep out sun and dust while the bird searches for food.

Isn’t Nature amazing?

A delicate male common blue butterfly rests on a vibrant Echinacea flower, creating a serene and magical scene. — *Male common blue butterfly (Polyommatus icarus) perched on an Echinacea purpurea ‘Magnus’ flower*

This is an older photo that I had processed earlier. I was looking for another photo, came across this one, and didn’t like that edit. At all. So, I started again, and I’m now ridiculously happy with it. We’ll see what happens in a couple of years. Will I still love it then?

This was taken in my garden; it’s so convenient to just step outside and find something to photograph almost straight away!

A soft, ethereal image depicts a delicate white calla lily against a serene blue background. — *Calla lily, Lidingö, Sweden*

A single, ethereal white calla lily unfurls against a soft, hazy blue background. — *Calla lily, Lidingö, Sweden*

While hunting for the photo I mentioned earlier, I stumbled on another old picture I’d edited a couple of years ago. The moment I saw it, I knew I had to reprocess it. I didn’t like my old edit anymore, and I could already see in my head what it should look like.

I went ahead and edited it, but now I can’t decide which version I like best. It’s making me a little nuts! Usually, I have no trouble making decisions, so when I can’t choose, it really drives me crazy.

Which one do you prefer?

A Eurasian coot (Fulica atra) swims purposefully across warm, golden water, carrying a long stick in its beak. — *Eurasian coot (Fulica atra), Lidingö, Sweden*

I took this photo of a Eurasian coot (Fulica atra) on a cold April morning near my house. I really liked watching it swim across the lake to its nest, carrying that big branch.

I wanted to take a break from sharing photos of Australia and Africa for a bit (sometimes you can have too much of a good thing), so I decided to focus on something closer to home.

📸 All photos were taken with Canon R5 Mark II & Canon RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM.

To view all my favorite photos archive, click here.

Mihaela Limberea

Tag: Madikwe

Favorite Photos: June 2026

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Mihaela Limberea

Tag: Madikwe

Favorite Photos: June 2026

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Favorite Photos: May 2026

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