HarveyG

Those people who zoom drive past a bird in a tree in a park (like the KNP) don’t know what they are missing. Sure Rollers are relatively common, like the Lilac-breasted Roller, that is. This Roller is different. It’s the first time I’ve seen a Purple Roller. I parked the car at an angle so that I could get comfortable with the cameras, idled for 30 seconds, switched off the engine after he got accustomed to us/the car. He took off after a few minutes and caught himself lunch. He then returned to the same spot and gave us a wonderful display. Next time you see a bird in the KNP, hang around a bit…

Shot with a Sigma 170-500mm f/5-6.3 APO Aspherical for Nikon

Purple Roller - Coracias naevius (c) HarveyG Photography 2010

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Whilst it might not knock a purists socks off, (Too much black dead space in the middle), I liked the purples and mauves as well as the balance between the dead tree silhouette and the sun.

Shot with a Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 EX DG for Nikon

Fireball - (c) HarveyG Photography 2010

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Every time I shoot my brain is in overdrive. A bad thing probably because it should be in auto, not manual. Exactly the opposite of how I shoot. I never use the little green (AA-Amateur) Auto button on my DSLR. It’s either on [A]perture or [S]hutter Priority (yes, I suppose that’s semi-auto) and sometimes on [M]anual especially if I use that Vivitar 500mm f/6.3 Series 1 mirror of mine. I still often manual focus, a legacy of 25+ years using Manual Focus Minolta 35mm SLR’s.

The sun had set when I spied this little Natal Francolin (now called a Spurwing…) hop onto a rock about 10m away, I grabbed the D90 and clicked it onto my 190XPROB using the QRP, zoomed to 500mm, and checked the s/s. It was dark already. 1/30s! Perfect for that blurred motion shot, wait, wait, there’s the typical feather ruffle, shoot! I only got one shot of him ruffling, and this was it. NGM here I come ETA: This shot flies in the face of so many who abhor motion blur in wildlife shots. Not everything has to be pin sharp with catch-lights in the eyes. Nature doesn’t pitch up to a studio with hair made, a make-up artist on call and a lighting technician with all the gear!

Shot with a (1997) Sigma 170-500mm f/5-6.3 APO AF-D Aspherical for Nikon.

"Brrrr!" - Natal Spurfowl - Pternistus natalensis (c) HarveyG Photography 2010

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(ETA 22 04 2011: For years I read my Father’s monthly Nat Geo magazine that arrived in the mail and it had a profound (subliminal?) effect on my photography (especially wildlife). I found this sub-page regarding Motion Blur Photography on their web site today.

Just got back from a week in the KNP. via Louis Trichardt, Punda Maria, Pafuri, Crooks Corner (where South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe meet at the joining of the Limpopo and Luvuvhu rivers) , Shingwidzi, Mopani, Phalaborwa. It was awesome. Never saw so many Nyala in my life. Cats and Rhino’s were elusive but saw most everything else. Also some new bird species I’ve never seen before: Woolly necked stork, Purple Roller. My first ever Eland, Tsessebe and Black Backed Jackal in the KNP. Here’s a shot of Pioneer Dam, Mopani Camp at sunset. I will add more as soon as I can.

Shot with a Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 EX DG for Nikon.

Pioneer Dam - Mopani Camp, Kruger National Park (c) HarveyG Photography 2010

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