Tagged: Bird Hide

11Jan

“Pretty Ugly” – Mazda Wildlife Fund Finalist November 2012

Posted in Bird Sanctuaries/Hides, Flora and Fauna, Locations, Mazda Wildlife Fund, Photo Competitions, Photography 101, Portfolio, Print for Sale, Road Trip, Wildlife, Workshop | Leave a comment

My shot of this African Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus) made the finalist list over at the Mazda Wildlife Photography Competition for November 2012.

Where I can, I try photograph with some environment included, not just a smooth studio style background. The pink flowers and green foliage added depth and interest to a bird that most people simply ignore. I hope it made it all the more enjoyable. Your thoughts?

African Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus) © Harvey Grohmann 2012 All Rights Reserved

African Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus) © Harvey Grohmann 2012 All Rights Reserved. Click on the image to see a larger HQ version.

Shot details: Nikon D90 and Sigma 100-300mm F/4.0 EX IF HSM.
ISO-800 f/7.1 and 1/640s. Post Processing with Topaz Labs DeNoise 5.

This was photographed on a morning session with fellow photographers at the Austin Roberts (a South African zoologist) Memorial Bird Sanctuary in Pretoria near Muckleneuk. There’s no fee to visit the sanctuary but I always make a donation. There is a comfortable hide albeit a bit high and the field of view is restricted for 500mm primes :) The sanctuary is located in the Walkerspruit Open Space System. Two streams, the Walker and the Argo, feed water into wetland basins of which nine are small perennial dams that attract a multitude of water birds. The sanctuary was fenced in June 1970 and became a valuable civic amenity with recreational and educational value. You can hire a guide to go on guided walks of the reserve. Let me know if you are interested.

Click here to read about the remarkable Mr Roberts.

Contact me for tuition, workshops, photo tours and event photography.

Gear I use: Bodies: Nikon D-SLR’s / Lenses: Nikon, Sigma, Tokina, Vivitar
Filters: Hoya UV & Polarizing / Flash: Nikon Speed-lights / Bag: Lowe Pro
Tripods & Heads: Manfrotto / Grips, Triggers, Timers, Batteries etc: BandH
Editing Plug-in: Topaz Labs Noise Reduction, HDR, B&W Conversion & more!

ALL IMAGES ON THIS SITE ARE © Harvey Grohmann. Read more for Terms and Conditions:
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08Sep

Seokama Private Camp and Lodge. Waterberg, Limpopo.

Posted in Bird Sanctuaries/Hides, Flora and Fauna, Flowers and Plants, Land/Seascape, Landscape, Locations, Lodge, Nature, News, Portfolio, Road Trip, Sunrise / Sunset, THL, Training, Wildlife, Workshop | 1 Comment

Photographic Workshops:

I’ve had the good fortune to travel around Africa on my photo tours/workshops and see many camps, lodges, parks, hotels, conference centres and the like. There are only a handful that are memorable and make you want to return time and again. Not just the scenery, wildlife, facilities and peacefulness but what really makes the difference is the people. Seokama is one of those rare places where you can relax with family and friends and truly feel at home.

At the beginning of, and throughout the summer I visit Dave, Monika, Peter, Ryan, John and Tepa. The Waterberg is one of my favourite bush-veld getaways. Whilst there are dozens of lodge choices in the area, I occasionally need some escape from the pressure of only chasing the Big 5 for clients and not focussing on the other wild and birdlife, scenery that Africa has to offer.

Seokama Private Lodge is this escape.

Lodge Building. Seokama Private Lodge.

Sunrise

Vista

African Sunsets

Within walking distance from the lodge, 4 luxury canvas tents sleeping 8 on very comfy beds, each one with a covered verandah and an en-suite bathroom where the shower overlooks the bush at the back (just your head is visible!). A well appointed lodge with kitchen, lounge, bar and pool deck with views of the bush-veld savannah tucked amongst some beautiful mountains and landscape, a boma with Bush-Baby’s calling at night, has all one really needs to wind down. There is also a conference centre for hire, with facilities. Seokama has an abundance of bird life, especially around the summer rainfalls, as well as a good variety of game..

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