September 4, 2011

Lumen Angelus

Fig 1. Lumen Angelus - Angel of Light

While looking through my archive of photo’s, while preparing a portfolio for submission to another website, I came across this photograph of a Whiskered Tern taken at Marievale Bird Sanctuary, Nigel in South Africa.

I absolutely love how photography can surprise you like this! Although this was taken quite a long time ago now, in 2007; I remember this day clearly. It was a cold grey miserable windy day at Marievale and there was really very little action happening. The wind was strong enough however for the terns to hover into the wind like this. For a brief moment, the sun came out and shone upon this Whiskered Tern and I managed to capture the moment.

It has of course been overly-dramatized in Photoshop for effect, but still today this image speaks to me on many levels. Having been shot quite a long time ago, I have learned so much more about photography and Photoshop and I recognize so many flaws with this image. Yet it appears to transcend all of that and it still manages to convey emotion and drama. Somehow being more experienced hasn’t helped these creative moments, and inspiration like this has been fleeting of late. Does it mean to say, one should forget what one has learned; just go out there and shoot for the moment; ignore the rules and the pundits and simply let the creativity flow?

For me these kind of moments are few and far between but I certainly cherish them when they come along, and love to be reminded of them when I find an old image in the archives like this one.

Do you have any special ‘Aha’ moments that you’d love to share. Drop me a line. I would love to hear from you.

Fig 1. Lumen Angelus - Additional EXIF Info:
Camera: Canon EOS-1D Mark IIn
Lens: Canon 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM
Extender: Canon 1.4x II Extender
Focal Length: 560mm
Shutter Speed: 1/3200s
Aperture: f/5
ISO: 200
Date Taken: Jan 24, 2007, 7:28:24 AM

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 License. Copyright Ian Weatherburn Photography.

Filed under bird avian tern whiskered whiskered tern marievale south africa ianweatherburn weatherburn photography monochrome angel light

19 notes &

August 17, 2011

The Southern Ground Hornbill is on the Red List of Endangered Species so it’s always great to get a sighting of these birds. It’s even better to hear them calling to each other as they make such a great distinctive sound - almost like a hollow drum that is being beaten.

This photograph was taken in the Madikwe Game Reserve, in the North-West Province of South Africa, while staying at Jaci’s Safari Lodge. We had the most fantastic stay there and they catered wonderfully for my two younger daughters, aged 6 and 7 who were totally enthralled by all the wildlife that we saw there. The ranger, Johan and the staff really knew how to appeal to the children’s senses while keeping the adults happy and well-fed!!

At this focal length and aperture the eyelashes were captured wonderfully and the grass back-drop out of depth-of-field worked wonderfully as a smooth background.

Additional EXIF Info:
Camera: Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
Lens: Canon 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM
Shutter Speed: 1/8000s
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 400mm
ISO: 1600
Exposure Bias: Av(+0.33)
Notes: Full-Frame
Date Taken: Aug 15, 2011, 10:33:10 AM

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 License. Copyright Ian Weatherburn Photography.

Filed under bird avian hornbill southern ground hornbill southern ground madikwe jaci's safari lodge ianweatherburn weatherburn photography wildlife south africa africa

10 notes &

July 23, 2011

Kruger Park - Zebra Stallion Fight

In December 2010, the family went away to the Kruger National Park, one of the largest game reserves in South African and really an icon for our country. Kruger is truly a massive game reserve and you really only get to explore small snippets of it each time you go there. It is however still one of the most magical places to go to and this year my children had reached an age where they really began to appreciate it.

This sighting was really a very memorable one as these two Zebra stallions were vying for the attention of the females and trying to win the right to mate with the ones that were in heat. It was a great change as so often Zebras are simply grazing and not doing very much at all, which doesn’t make for exciting photography. However as you can see, this time was thankfully different.

I tweeted the other day how powerful photography is for evoking memories that could be so easily forgotten. My daughter, Michelle - age 7; was standing at my computer while I was processing these images in Photoshop and she immediately recalled the event that day in the Kruger Park sitting watching these guys fight it out. Photography is truly incredible that way. When you think of the number of things we simply forget each day (more so the older we get!), and yet a simple photograph can conjure up a whole flood of memories, sometimes even smells and sounds.

I feel truly privileged that we have the Kruger Park to go to and share with our children. Long may it last. With each passing day, and each new Rhino that is slaughtered we have to feel grateful, it may not be here tomorrow.

If you ever have the chance to come to South Africa, be sure to book several days of your trip to go and explore the Kruger National Park. You won’t regret it. If you’re really lucky, it won’t just simply be fighting Zebra that you will see, but keep an eye out for the so-called Big 5: Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Buffalo and Rhino. The iconic Big-5, so named as the most dangerous animals to encounter on foot in the bush. But don’t forget the Little-5 too (Ant-Lion, Leopard Tortise, Elephant Shrew, Buffalo Weaver and Rhino Beetle). Keep an eye out for those too and you’ll be amazed at the variety of wildlife there is to see.

Filed under kruger africa photography south africa monochrome mono b&w ianweatherburn weatherburn

2 notes &

July 23, 2011

Hole in the Wall (Mono)

The magnificent Hole in the Wall rock formation off the east coast of South Africa is a great tourist destination. If you ever come to South Africa you have to do yourself a favour and travel to the Eastern Cape. It is very rural and rustic but such a beautiful part of the world with incredible scenery and friendly people. The roads are hell, so a good 4x4 is recommended but this makes it all the more fun as you really get to see the scenery as you travel around. Magnificent beaches, great fishing if you like that kind of thing and all round fantastic photographic opportunities.

This photo was taken near sunset and I was practically all alone on this stretch of beach by the Hole. Not once did I feel unsafe and even walked back to my car after dusk, so South Africa can be a safe place to vist. Really, you just need to be sensible. I remember this holiday like it was just the other day. It was really great spending time with some good friends (Cathy, Lance and family), who have now sadly moved away to Cape Town and we don’t see them anymore.

But I shall always remember walking down the hill and wading through the river. Setting up my tripod and trying to get the best viewpoint possible with an incoming tide was challenging. The monochrome conversion of this photo really does bring out some of the incredible detail more than the colour one, and in full-size at 22in wide it really looks great. I think I need to print and frame as soon as possible.

Eastern Cape (Transkei)
South Africa

Additional EXIF Info
Camera: Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III
Lens: Canon 24-70 f/2.8
Shutter Speed: 1/125s
Aperture: f/13
Focal Length: 24mm
ISO: 200
Date Taken: Apr 8, 2010, 4:57:45 PM

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 License. Copyright Ian Weatherburn Photography.

Filed under photography, africa coast eastern cape hole ianweatherburn landscape rock sea south africa wall weatherburn photog photography