Originally Posted by kdog Super images, Jim. Somehow I missed this thread when you first posted it. The moving Zebra is really special. The 70-300L seemed to work very nicely for you.

Yes it did, Joel.

It is not fast at the long end, but it does seem to be nice and sharp with good contrast. And it is pretty small, easy to handle, and light.

I would love to be able to use a 300mm f2.8 IS L and a 500mm f4, as well as a 70-200 f2,8 IS L, but the weight is a real issue, and one does not want to be swapping lenses in the Land Cruiser as it can get pretty dusty at times.

Your Smugmug gallery is breathtakingly beautiful! The herd of elephants as sunset is amazing, as are all the cats. The hippo straight on in BW is perfect. You definitely got your money's worth.

Aw shucks......

Uh, what hippo shot in B&W?? You mean my rhino, maybe ?

Great to read your very informative reply Jim, thanks! You've done a top job with the caracals pic under those circumstances! While the big familiar animals understandably steal the show for many viewers and establish one's credentials in the safari club, for me the caracals shot is worth more. Interesting that like me you also seem not to consider super teles critical, especially since the "accepted wisdom" goes that you can never get enough reach on safari. I don't know quite where that is coming from. A lion's head filling the frame could be in a zoo, but the caracals in your shot, and the elephants below them, certainly are not! So I think the magic in magic safari shots is in the ability of the photographer to put such "common" animals as lions and elephants and giraffe etc, and uncommon and less charismatic animals, both, in that very special and distinctive ambiance that is Africa. Not something that super teles can always do, apart from other considerations as we have mentioned.

You might be right that the unfortunate animal that contributed to the panther's dinner that night was a hyrax. Its screaming was so primal, though, that it could have been coming from you or me!

At Ruaha we also had the benevolent protection of armed Masai to and from our bandas after dark, but armed with spear and flashlight only. That is trust!

Neil

Originally Posted by pathfinder Uh, what hippo shot in B&W??

These are terrific, Jim! I'm loving the aerial shots in particular. It sure looks worth getting in an airplane when you have a good photographer behind the lens!

Originally Posted by NeilL t! So I think the magic in magic safari shots is in the ability of the photographer to put such "common" animals as lions and elephants and giraffe etc, and uncommon and less charismatic animals, both, in that very special and distinctive ambiance that is Africa. Neil

I have been totally immersed in the processing of my images since our return from Africa. I've looked at thousands of captures so far. I have a goodly number of close-ups of the various animals and they are OK and fun to look at but I could easily get the same results at a zoo or park.

The images that really invoke a response from me and bring me back to the experience of the trip are the images showing the subject in its setting.

Originally Posted by Harryb I have been totally immersed in the processing of my images since our return from Africa. I've looked at thousands of captures so far. I have a goodly number of close-ups of the various animals and they are OK and fun to look at but I could easily get the same results at a zoo or park. The images that really invoke a response from me and bring me back to the experience of the trip are the images showing the subject in its setting.

What a fantastic set of images Pathfinder. It really was a pleasure viewing them. Like the rest the Zebra really is an eye catcher. Well done.
Cheers
Bob

Originally Posted by Harryb I have been totally immersed in the processing of my images since our return from Africa. I've looked at thousands of captures so far. I have a goodly number of close-ups of the various animals and they are OK and fun to look at but I could easily get the same results at a zoo or park. The images that really invoke a response from me and bring me back to the experience of the trip are the images showing the subject in its setting.

LIke this one, maybe, Harry?



Bob, I am glad to you enjoyed the blurred zebra.

Here is a wildebeest in a similar rendering.

Originally Posted by pathfinder LIke this one, maybe, Harry?

Originally Posted by pathfinder LIke this one, maybe, Harry?

What a corker Jim! Glorious!

Neil

Keep em coming

Harry mentioned we shot in the rain one afternoon



We saw these commensal birds on giraffes, rhinos, African buffalos and other species.



This baby was an orphan




Wildebeest from the air




Two lions on the savanna after dark

Jim, the first image in your post #32 is against the odds - 1 head to 3 tails!

I've seen birds on the backs of buffalo in Africa excavating and continuing to excavate open wounds from fighting etc. I guess that's an invitation to infection and parasitism, and must eventually weaken the animal. Birds picking out the ticks, ok, but that is something else!

Neil

2 out of 3 buffalos have their own bird, as well as several flies.



And this rhino has one in its nose

Originally Posted by pathfinder 2 out of 3 buffalos have their own bird And this rhino has one in its nose

!!!

Neil

Beautiful images and oh what a trip.
Have been to Harry and Linda's viewing images..
Again a wow trip

Hi Gale, glad to hear from you.