Reverting back…

Work commitments in the summer months have not be kind to me where time for project development is concerned and more often than not, I have not even had the opportunity to hold my trusty Canon EOS-1D X Mark II when in situations that lend themselves to photography.  However, for the most part, on such occasions I would have the Canon G3X and iPhone X to allow some worthwhile photography and experimentation.

Quite often I have enjoyed wildlife photography in Africa.  A recent school trip to South Africa provided me the occasional chance to revert back to such work and witness the natural world – usually only if I was up and about some hours before the children.  Wildlife photography in South Africa requires the consideration that you are no more than part of the food chain.  Despite the knowledge that this Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) had recently eaten, distance was always kept.

South Africa’s smaller reptiles are certainly no less dangerous.  The following two images are not tame exhibits:  I was told under no circumstances to lie prone on the ground to capture the photographs I would have liked to have taken, as I would stand no chance of getting away from an attack.  With the venomous puff adder (Bitis arietans) accounting for more deaths than any other snake in Africa, I heeded the warning.

A bite from the night adder (Causus rhombeatus), though also venomous, is unlikely to fatal to adult humans – notwithstanding, I remained at a safe distance.

The striped kingfisher (Halcyon chelicuti) is not easy to catch on film – particularly during breakfast.  Unlike the variants found in the UK, these eats mostly grasshoppers followed by other large insects. Small lizards, snakes and rodents are also occasionally taken.  This juvenile spent a few precious moments perched 10m away from me, before continuing with its hunting.  On this occasion, I was seen as the potential threat.