HarveyG

Well it’s back to the grindstone for most of us. Hope you all feel refreshed like these little guys and have a fabulous 2012!

Splish Splash - Crowned Lapwings aka Kiewiet (c) H Grohmann photographed during a Workshop at Rietvlei NR

and all those togs that can afford the new Nikon D4 should have a blast at the Olympics with it this year.

To watch the mothers and children initially playing in the mud was so much fun. Then the old bull emerged from the bush, where he was hidden from our view feeding. With a flick of his trunk and a subtle move of his body the entire herd stopped playing, as if chided by him, and then proceeded to regroup and leave the water sports in the dam to go dry off. It was inspiring to witness the interaction and intelligence of these massive creatures, and yet not a sound was made by any one of them. Read on to see an edited image and decide what impact that has overall.

Elephant Dust Bath, Nsemani Dam, H7 near Satara © HarveyG Photography

(continue reading…)

Attached a full list of species endemic to South Africa accurate as of July 2011.
For more information on each bird, click the appropriate link.

Mainland and its territorial waters

The South African list encompasses the combined areas of darker blue, presented here in separate lists for clarity

Struthionidae

• Ostrich, Struthio camelus

Spheniscidae

• King Penguin, Aptenodytes patagonicus Rare/Accidental
• Rockhopper Penguin, Eudyptes chrysocome Rare/Accidental Vulnerable
• Macaroni Penguin, Eudyptes chrysolophus Rare/Accidental Vulnerable
• African Penguin, Spheniscus demersus Vulnerable

Podicipedidae

• Little Grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis
• Great Crested Grebe, Podiceps cristatus
• Black-necked Grebe, Podiceps nigricollis

(continue reading…)

For your convenience I’m adding locations where you can shoot from time to time. Many are close to home. Others take a bit more effort. I will add images of the facilities and a short description as I can. I hope to have this as a comprehensive list soon.

Johannesburg City Parks Bird Sanctuaries

Over the past year I have developed and customised a photographer centric toolbar that fits right into your browser. It’s light, under a 1Mb at last update. It is completely adware and spyware free. I want it that way. I’m sure you do to.

I got frustrated by losing Bookmarks and having to search History for a web site or resource I had found weeks earlier so the idea of the Toolbar was born, with a photographic flavour.

“Click here to download”

Below some screen shots in the gallery:

What does it do: It stays on your menu bar for quick access to hundreds of resources. If you ever lose your favourites, links, tools, bookmarks; just reinstall the bar and they’re all back in a few seconds.

It has a search window like most toolbars, but also a very useful tool from TPE that allows you to pre-plan your shoot, location/time of shoot, sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset for seascapes, landscapes, and other location shoots.

There are quick links to Facebook, Twitter your desktop Skype application.

A global digital clock so if your a travelling ‘tog, you can work out the time in another city in another country.

The biggest drawcard is the “Tog Tools”. A drop down menu to resources from across the web.

Manufacturers web sites; Camera, lens, studio, DIY, Scripts, Actions, Tips, Tricks, Owners Manuals, Free Software, Data Recovery, Associations,  and loads more.

We are accepting suggestions of web sites and tools to keep adding to the system. Please Contact Us with your idea!

“Click here to download”

Entered in the IPIP monthly club meet and achieved an 80% for it.

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 and Batteries: Phottix
Editing Plug-in: Topaz Labs for Noise Reduction, HDR.