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Critique Critique - Five Favorites from the South Africa Bush

My wife and I recently spent three days in South Africa's Madikwe Game Reserve, which is on the border with Botswana. These are my choices of our five best photos of animals. The second and last photos were captured by my wife and post-processed by me.

One reason I like the last photo so much is because of the story it tells. Once an older, bull elephant's dominant role in the herd is taken over by a younger, stronger bull, he is banned from the herd and spends the rest of his life predominantly roaming the bush on his own. My wife's capture of the elephant walking away down the long, lonely road tells that poignant story so well in my mind.

The animal in the second photo is a black rhino, which is a relatively rare sighting at least in that part of Africa where white rhinos are more common. It was a special treat to see it in such gorgeous light.


Photo #1

NIKON D7000    180-180 mm F2.8-F2.8    180mm    f/4.5    1/500s    ISO 500

Photo #2

NIKON D5100    70-300 mm F4.5-F5.6    300mm    f/11.0    1/500s    ISO 5600

Photo #3

NIKON D7000    180-180 mm F2.8-F2.8    180mm    f/5.6    1/500s    ISO 360

Photo #4

NIKON D7000    180-180 mm F2.8-F2.8    180mm    f/8.0    1/250s    ISO 5600

Photo #5

NIKON D5100    70-300 mm F4.5-F5.6    102mm    f/9.5    1/500s    ISO 1100

Critique Critique - In the Snowy Mountains of Norway

Hello again, Nikonians!

During Easter, I was staying at my cabin in the Norwegian mountains, close to a ski resort. My wife and kids enjoyed the slopes while I went for a walk with the camera. We had 1 meter (around 3 feet) of snow all over the landscape, and beautiful blue skies most of the time, which made for a very nice Easter holiday.

By the way; did you know that the sun and snow in the mountains of Norway during Easter result in a UV grade close to what you'll find on the beaches of the Mediterranean Sea (Italy, Spain, Greece, Turkey etc.) during summer?

I was lucky enough to catch this photo of a cross-country skier while I was doing one of my walks:
Cross-Country Skier, Haugastøl, Norway. 2018.


Finally, back at the cabin after a very long and rewarding walk, I enjoyed a cup of warm cocoa in the snow cave we dug for the kids to enjoy when they weren't out skiing:

Relaxing in Snow Cave, Geilo, Norway. 2018.

NIKON D7100    18.0-200.0 mm f/3.5-5.6    20mm    f/8.0    1/80s    ISO 200

The first image is a real favourite of mine. I'm not sure of the second, but I like the intimacy and childishness it displays after what I did. It's no masterpiece, but perhaps some of you will like the storytelling in the image.

Thanks for your time and your words!

Little Greenie Building a Nest

Cranes on the Platte river in lousy light. (whooper included)

I know many were watching college hoops last night, but I was having a great time with friends along the river. Lousy light means you need to try different ways to make a photo. The whooping crane is always treat to see here in Nebraska as there are only about 400 in the North American central flyway.

Nikon 70-200 f2.8E FL

Bought this a wee while and yet to get bored by it. Out of 20+ decent lenses cluttering my photography room the Image Quality of this really stands out. I've never really been a 'zoom' sort of person and I doubt it will take the place of my favourite lens (105 f2.5Ais) but the quality is flat out amazing.

Ft. DeSoto with some friends

Got out for the sunrise at the North beach lagoon.