World Image issue 06 March 2014
Magazine of Photography and travel and wildlife
Magazine of Photography and travel and wildlife
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
The Magazine of the Peoples Photographic Society<br />
Issue Six - <strong>March</strong> <strong>2014</strong><br />
Website = www.photosociety.net Page email = magazine@photosociety.net
Society Co-ordinators Bit<br />
With the new year, started a new chapter in the formation of the Society. Membership has increased and should<br />
continue to do so, especially if members get involved in promoting the society and engaging in the events we manage<br />
to offer. A suggestion has been made that everyone should try and persuade five of their friends who are interested in<br />
photography to join the society. A good plan for you to consider.<br />
This years competitions have been announced and the first submissions have been received both for April and<br />
September, to win you must compete and to do that you need to submit the pictures. Because not every one indulges in<br />
specific areas of photography, and our numbers are not high enough to produce a full entry into all the categories that<br />
are available, we shall leave the competitions as a single open category for the time being. Because it is more difficult<br />
to judge between colour and greyscale, each competitor may enter up to three pictures in colour and three in<br />
Greyscale. If sufficient Greyscale images are submitted to enable the separation then the open competition will be run<br />
for each.<br />
The magazine is changing with new additions being included. As yet we do not have any equipment reviews but I am<br />
assured these will be coming soonish. These reviews are not from the companies with a vested interest in a product,<br />
but from our members who are using the stuff every day. When considering the 'review' of the canon 7d I realised that<br />
doing a full review is not so easy, most of us do not use these cameras, any camera, to its fullest capability. Some get<br />
stuck on Auto, others run through the main dial to their favoured setting on their previous camera and there it remains.<br />
Only one setting on a camera will enable you to learn about the art of taking pictures and that is MANUAL, there are<br />
sadly very few who use this setting, ever. So when it comes to writing a review not enough is known or understood<br />
about the subject. So how about writing a user review, based on how you use the camera and in what program setting<br />
you have settled on using. In that way, if ten people use the same camera in ten different settings we end up with a full<br />
review produced by, and aimed at those who use the camera.<br />
The Website and the Society magazine is changing as are the rules regarding advertising. We have recently been<br />
looking at ways to enhance the site by expanding to take advantage of the full features available to us, i.e., those<br />
features that only become active in the full access and unlimited website. While some have offered help, others are not<br />
in a position to help financially, and some have simply ignored the request. So be it. The changes we are including are<br />
that for those businesses that have worked hard to support this society will continue to enjoy the benefits of the<br />
freedom to advertise in both the site and magazine. These same people will be submitting reports and articles to the<br />
magazine for you to enjoy. They have also indicated that their offer of financial support will remain open.<br />
Advertising from other businesses will be withdrawn except from the Hub where the Members Links will remain.<br />
Requests for advertising space in the magazine will be accepted by donation to society funds, currently £30 per advert<br />
for the remaining duration of the site’s existing contract (2016). Articles, reports and travelogues will be accepted<br />
from all members for the magazine. The other changes will become obvious to those visiting the site. Finally, the<br />
magazine reads more and more like a journal, and is well worth getting involved with and maintaining. The beauty<br />
about the revised magazine is that the only advertising is from those members who are, and have constantly and<br />
actively been supporting this society and are fully TRUSTED by this Society.<br />
On the subject of funds, the question should be answered about excess funds and what happens to them. I am keeping<br />
a running record of the accounts, currently for my own records to keep a check on what I am spending on the Society.<br />
I have an account set aside for holding the Society funds and to keep them separate from my own. Any donations<br />
from members or from advertising will be channelled into that account. The funds thus accrued will be allocated as<br />
follows:-<br />
1/-The initial hosting and the cost of the domain name.<br />
2/-The renewal cost for these items will be set aside.<br />
3/- The cost of promotional items and events<br />
4/- Competition prizes and awards<br />
In the unlikely event that the Society should fail while funds remain in the account, those funds will be given to a<br />
conservation charity dedicated to the preservation of our natural world.<br />
© Please remember that all articles and images published in this magazine are copyright protected<br />
Cover Picture Boys of the Massai by Peter Hogel<br />
Website = www.photosociety.net Page 2 email = magazine@photosociety.net
The India National Group<br />
The members in India are in the process of forming an autonomous group to operate there. This is in the<br />
early stages of formation but we wish them well and will keep members posted.<br />
Coordinator Post, Kenya<br />
Due to a lack of communication and the cessation of his website, we have been forced to remove Joseph<br />
Mbunga as the coordinator for Kenya. Regular communication is a necessity for coordinators. This position<br />
is currently vacant.<br />
Yorkshire, UK<br />
Rodger Lee, the Regional Co-ordinator for Yorkshire, UK is beginning work on building a group in that<br />
area.<br />
Kev Sidford of Mountainrite has volunteered to represent the Society as the coordinator for the Peak<br />
District. He plans to arrange a number of mountain tours and other meetings within that general area and<br />
overseas.<br />
East Herts, UK<br />
The East Herts group has been having a number of small, off the cuff, and promotional meetings at the Cat<br />
Survival Trust and Paradise Park in Hoddesdon. The weather has not been overly kind with rain, hail and<br />
high winds, but the outings were both eventful and profitable in regards to getting the photographs and<br />
talking to prospective members.<br />
Events Calendar<br />
The Photography Show, NEC Birmingham, UK<br />
Some members plan to attend the show on Tuesday 4th<br />
<strong>March</strong>. Details at www.photographyshow.com<br />
Admission times:<br />
Saturday 1st <strong>March</strong> 10:00 - 18:00<br />
Sunday 2nd <strong>March</strong> 10:00 - 18:00<br />
Monday 3rd <strong>March</strong> 10:00* – 17:00<br />
Tuesday 4th <strong>March</strong> 10:00* – 17:00<br />
*Retailer and pro entry from 9am<br />
UK national meeting, Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th<br />
April. Snowdon Area, North Wales.<br />
The Members of the society are invited to attend a<br />
Society Photography Gathering on the weekend of April<br />
12th / 13th In the Snowdon area of North Wales.<br />
Schedule can be found on the home page.<br />
East Herts, UK Group, Sunday 11th May <strong>2014</strong><br />
RSPB Rye Meads<br />
Rye Meads, Hoddesden, SG12 8JS<br />
Meet in the car park at 10am<br />
With luck the Kingfishers will be feeding their young and<br />
we may even get to see them fledge.<br />
East Herts, UK Group, Saturday 24th May <strong>2014</strong><br />
Hertfordshire County Show,<br />
The Showground, Dunstable Road, REDBOURN,<br />
Hertfordshire, AL3 7PT<br />
The show is open from 8.30 am. As there will be lots of<br />
people at the show, further details of the meeting place<br />
will be posted on the website at photosociety.net nearer<br />
to the date.<br />
Thost attending may wish to get their tickets in advance<br />
(20% discount) pre-order details at http://<br />
www.hertsshow.com nearer the date.<br />
East Herts, UK Group, Saturday 31st May <strong>2014</strong><br />
St. Albans Steam and Country Fair,<br />
Smallford Campus, Hatfield Road, St Albans, AL4 0XR<br />
Meet inside the entrance at 10.30 am<br />
East Herts, UK Group, Saturday 7th June <strong>2014</strong><br />
Whitwell Steam and Country Fair,<br />
Mansells Farm, Bury Lane, Codicote, SG4 8TJ<br />
We have a<br />
East Herts, UK Group, Saturday 28th June <strong>2014</strong><br />
Welwyn Festival Fun Day<br />
Singlers Marsh, Welwyn<br />
Meet at the WI Tea Tent at 12 mid day.<br />
Website = www.photosociety.net Page 3 email = magazine@photosociety.net
Exhibitions<br />
To cater for popular demand, the Society will be running two international competitions each year, April and<br />
September. There will also be the December Exhibition which will comprise the top ten placed pictures from each<br />
competition staged both national and international.<br />
<strong>2014</strong> Photographic Competitions<br />
April <strong>2014</strong><br />
The International competitions are open to all registered members of the Society.<br />
Categories - Open (Colour and Greyscale)<br />
Each member may enter up to six pictures, three in colour and three in Greyscale.<br />
No identifiable marks or copyright statements are permitted on pictures, and submitted pictures should not be posted<br />
into FB until after the judging process is complete.<br />
Entries should be sent by wetransfer.com or emailed to lendasnow@hotmail.co.uk and be between 1mb and 5mb in<br />
size. Larger files received will be resized, smaller files will be inspected and rejected if they appear to be too small in<br />
size to provide proper quality. In this case the entrant will be contacted to resubmit the image. Previously top three<br />
placed or similar pictures may not be resubmitted.<br />
An email giving the file names and picture titles and categories, should be sent to the above address at the same time<br />
as submissions. This email may also contain a resume about the picture.<br />
Copyright remains always with the photographer but the society shall be permitted to display the pictures on its<br />
website were reasonable precautions will be taken to prohibit unlawful downloads and coping.<br />
All competitions are judged 'blind', the names of judges and entrants will not be displayed or supplied until after the<br />
results have been ascertained for each event.<br />
If sufficient entries are received in Greyscale then the entries will be seperated into their own 'Open Greyscale' and<br />
'Open Colour' competitions.<br />
The closing date for entries into the April International Competition will be the 31st of April <strong>2014</strong><br />
For reference, the September and subsequent competitions will be the same as the above in nature. This will<br />
apply until further notice.<br />
STOP PRESS:<br />
For all those with cameras and other valuables that can<br />
be damaged by water or impact, our attention has just<br />
been drawn to a storage / carry case manufactured by<br />
TUV to a high standard, IP68 Equivalent to be exact.<br />
These hard plastic camera boxes are being marketed in<br />
the UK by Mountainrite, the adventure travel specialists.<br />
Before you move on, consider this, with the change in<br />
British weather patterns and the increased risk of flash<br />
floods, wouldn’t it be nice to know that you can grab a<br />
single bag with all those important possessions and run,<br />
or if you are not home, that same bag will protect your<br />
possessions until you can retrieve it?<br />
Well, I have considered it and thought you may like to<br />
consider the options, information on the cases can be<br />
obtained by email from<br />
kev.sidford@mountainrite.com<br />
We will be reviewing this at the NEC photography show<br />
and will have full details and a picture for you in the next<br />
magazine.<br />
Mobile: +44 (0)797646<strong>06</strong>97<br />
Email: kev.sidford@mountainrite.com<br />
New Product of note from Tamron.<br />
Tameron have just released their 150-600mm-supertelephoto-zoom,<br />
compatible with both full-frame and<br />
APS-C camera bodies. Lighter than its counterparts and<br />
can be handheld. for a field test and review, visit http://<br />
theamazingimage.com/wildlife/field-test-new-tamron-<br />
150-600mm-super-telephoto-zoom/ and for the technical<br />
s t u f f v i s i t h t t p : / / w w w . t a m r o n - u s a . c o m /<br />
news/35mm/15<strong>06</strong>00_A011_dec13.asp The price of the<br />
lens varies but in the UK it is about the £960.00 mark, in<br />
the USA $1500, much better than the $12,900 price tag<br />
for the Canon version.<br />
Website = www.photosociety.net Page 4 email = magazine@photosociety.net
Groups and Group Co-Coordinators<br />
Group Leaders are volunteers, the hard part is to recruit local members the easy part is to arrange<br />
the meetings. There are no formal meetings just gatherings at specified venues at specified times.<br />
If you would like to be one of the National or Regional co-ordinators, or a co-ordinator for your<br />
local, Region, or national area let me know at Gordon@photosociety.net<br />
Society Co-ordinator - Gordon Longmead<br />
National Cordinators<br />
India - Nicolas Rao<br />
Namibia - Scott Hurd<br />
Tanzania - Peter Hogel<br />
United Kingdom - Gordon Longmead<br />
Regional Co-ordinators<br />
Arusha, Tanzania - Peter Hogel<br />
Benton, Kentucky, USA - Jack Glisson<br />
East Herts UK - Gordon Longmead<br />
Lincoln UK - Dave Walster<br />
Madras, India - Nicolas Rao<br />
North Scotland, UK - Robert Murray<br />
Peak District, UK - Kev Sidford<br />
Yorkshire UK - Rodger Lee<br />
Website = www.photosociety.net Page 5 email = magazine@photosociety.net
Ian Bales Smith - An Introduction<br />
Elephant <strong>March</strong><br />
Educated in Rhodesia, and subsequently at Sandhurst, Ian<br />
lived and worked in Central Africa. He retired from<br />
service in 1983 and developed an ecotourism business for<br />
international visitors, Afrika Tourism & Training. He<br />
trained and facilitated nature and tourist guides and tour<br />
operators for the <strong>World</strong> Peace Parks, Transfrontier Parks,<br />
the KNP and KZN Wildlife [Ezemvelo] Parks. He was a<br />
member of the board appointed to motivate the<br />
proclamation of St Lucia Wetland Park as a <strong>World</strong><br />
Heritage Site. [ISimangaliso].<br />
The Businesses:<br />
Zululand Zig Zag Safaris will do its best to ensure that<br />
your holiday and tour is an added value experience, is<br />
memorable, and that you will want to return for more.<br />
They specialise in tours for small family groups, and<br />
couples, and also provides for larger groups, in which<br />
case the services of other reputable tour operators and<br />
guides are contracted in.<br />
Ian operates specialist tours to eco-cultural destinations<br />
with particular reference to Isimangaliso; Kruger<br />
National Park; The Galagadi, Etosha & Hluhluwe &<br />
Umfolozi Game Reserve. Whatever your personal<br />
interests, family or group requirements or budget, you are<br />
invited to discuss your holiday and tour, we will do our<br />
best to ensure the value of the experience you deserve.<br />
Having returned home, he is re-establishing his tour<br />
business to be based in the UK.<br />
Egyptian Geese with Goslings<br />
Accredited as a Business Consultant and Mentor, Ian is<br />
now an Entrepreneurial Survival Solutions Business<br />
Consultant & Training Facilitator for the Tourism<br />
Industry, and operates specialist tours to eco-cultural<br />
destinations with particular reference to Isimangaliso;<br />
Kruger National Park; The Galagadi, Etosha and<br />
Hluhluwe and Umfolozi Game Reserve.<br />
Having returned home, he is re-establishing his tour<br />
business to be based in the UK. As a photographer, Ian is<br />
new to photography, but is a keen learner and is<br />
interested in pursuing the art and skills of wildlife<br />
photography.<br />
Hyena cooling off<br />
Afrika Tourism & Training, Ian trained and facilitated<br />
nature and tourist guides and tour operators for the <strong>World</strong><br />
Peace Parks, Transfrontier Parks, the KNP and KZN<br />
Wildlife [Ezemvelo] Parks, and was a member of the<br />
board appointed to motivate the proclamation of St Lucia<br />
Wetland Park as a <strong>World</strong> Heritage Site.[ ISimangaliso].<br />
Accredited as a Business Consultant and Mentor, Ian is<br />
now an Entrepreneurial Survival Solutions Business<br />
Consultant & Training Facilitator for the Tourism<br />
Industry.<br />
Website = www.photosociety.net Page 6 email = magazine@photosociety.net
Lions of Serengeti and Ngorogoro and some of the other gyus.<br />
Peter Hogel -Tanzanaia<br />
I had hoped to be in Serengeti for the migration in<br />
February, instead this trip in November was to be the last<br />
for some time, travelling around populated areas instead,<br />
populated by humans, but that’s another story for another<br />
time.<br />
The interesting thing here to observe is, tourist making<br />
noise, lion don’t care, then, a twig snaps some 50 meters<br />
behind them, a gazelle who yet haven’t seen them makes<br />
a tiny noise, and every lion is on red alert all heads turns<br />
at the same time, this sound means something they care<br />
about a potential meal. Ok this time nothing happened,<br />
no dramatic chase but it makes you see the lions as the<br />
intelligent top predator they are and they don’t distract<br />
easily.<br />
I like this time (November) in this areas of Serengeti,<br />
migration is knocking on the door and the lions are<br />
answering, not as much happens here now, everyone is<br />
waiting.<br />
The hyenas and vultures (one of my favourite animals)<br />
found themselves an elephant carcass, the carcass was<br />
too far away for unappetizing close ups, but you could<br />
see where the party is at.<br />
Photography wise it’s a good time for cats, they are<br />
restless and hungry, food is heading their way .<br />
I do like the cats, and I like how they are aware of their<br />
habitat, now, we are thousands of visitors in Serengeti all<br />
driving around in safari cars, potentially looking as<br />
canned food, but we are not on the menu, occasionally<br />
you see tourists acting very touristy, making noises to get<br />
the lions to do something, and the lions just don’t care,<br />
its like they don’t even hear it, but of course they do,<br />
make no mistake, don’t get out of the car…<br />
Ngorogoro is a special place, such a secluded area that do<br />
have water all year around and still you can see a bit of<br />
the migration there, wildebeest in a single line, besides<br />
the one In front wanting to go the other direction.<br />
Website = www.photosociety.net Page 7 email = magazine@photosociety.net
During the migration, more than 1 million wildebeest<br />
wanders the plains, eating about 4 million kg of grass<br />
each day, don’t even want to think of how much comes<br />
out the other end!<br />
I love this place and it’s a joy coming here, every time,<br />
and every time it gets harder to return to “civilization”,<br />
civilization, interesting word, a concrete jungle of<br />
civilization, do we live and act civilized and is the jungle<br />
or the plains of Serengeti savage and wild?<br />
This round up I got some other shots that I’m quiet happy<br />
about, you might argue about how good they are<br />
photography wise, but I’m happy about them because<br />
they are a bit different, the giraffe is a tricky one to get a<br />
different photo of and so is the guiny faun the bird in the<br />
tree, otherwise running around like a headless chicken on<br />
the ground.<br />
I’m going in the direction of the wild having more order<br />
and “manners” if you want the civilized world, here in<br />
the wild, every one has their place and act upon it, might<br />
be the place in the food chain but still it’s a “wild” order<br />
that rules out here somehow honest.<br />
Website = www.photosociety.net Page 8 email = magazine@photosociety.net
Well I might have got carried away a bit in my thoughts<br />
here by the end, but if you are a “prey” you know that the<br />
lion will eat you if you get to close, in society you don’t<br />
know who your friends are and who is going to eat you<br />
up and spit you out when they don’t need you anymore…<br />
they say the wild is a hard and brutal place, but<br />
civilization…. I just don’t know !<br />
Royal Swan<br />
Oft we have seen the royal swan<br />
and looked upon its neck so long<br />
and wondered how such a graceful rose<br />
could hold such shape in splendid pose.<br />
From curving neck to body resting<br />
in down and feather body nestling<br />
the wings of white a bower forming<br />
a cavern for the head adorning.<br />
Gliding softly over clear silent water<br />
be it wife, or husband, son or daughter<br />
serene in beauty of purest white<br />
shines as a beacon of burning light.<br />
New Product of note from Tamron.<br />
Tameron have just released their 150-600mm-super-telephoto-zoom, compatible with both full-frame and APS-C<br />
camera bodies. Lighter than its counterparts and can be handheld. for a field test and review, visit http://<br />
theamazingimage.com/wildlife/field-test-new-tamron-150-600mm-super-telephoto-zoom/ and for the technical stuff<br />
visit http://www.tamron-usa.com/news/35mm/15<strong>06</strong>00_A011_dec13.asp The price of the lens varies but in the UK it is<br />
about the £960.00 mark, in the USA $1500, much better than the price tag for the Canon version.<br />
Website = www.photosociety.net Page 9 email = magazine@photosociety.net
Mobile: +44 (0)797646<strong>06</strong>97<br />
Email: kev.sidford@mountainrite.com<br />
PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR TO ROMANIA<br />
Programme:<br />
Transylvania, with its name coming from Latin – ultra silvam<br />
(beyond the forest), is one of the most interesting and<br />
surprising regions of Romania. Its German, Hungarian and<br />
Romanian cultural traditions play a great role in its cultural<br />
and ethnic diversity. The Transylvanian plateau is surrounded<br />
by mountain peaks (Carpathian Mountains) and drained by<br />
sparkling rivers, which makes it both a pleasant place for a<br />
relaxing holiday with a landscape pleasing to the eye and an<br />
exciting place for adventure-seeking travellers.<br />
Day 1<br />
Flight from UK to Romania (Sibiu International Airport).<br />
After meeting with our Romanian tour leader, there will a<br />
transfer by modern minibus to our accommodation located in<br />
Sibiu, not far away to its old historical centre (where we’ll<br />
have our dinner).<br />
Day 2<br />
Today we’ll spend the day in Sibiu; one of the most<br />
important cultural and religious centres in Romania as well a<br />
major transportation hub in central Romania. The city used to<br />
be the centre of the Transylvanian Saxons until <strong>World</strong> War II<br />
and it was designated European Capital of Culture for the<br />
year 2007, together with Luxembourg. It is ranked as "Europe<br />
8th most idyllic place to live" by Forbes. After breakfast,<br />
we’ll walk along the beautiful narrow streets of the town and<br />
we’ll have enough time for taking good photos; in the<br />
afternoon we’ll drive to Dumbrava Forest for visiting Astra<br />
Open Air Museum.<br />
Day 3<br />
About one and a half hour northwest of Brasov (120 km), is<br />
Sighisoara (Hungarian: Segesvár, German: Schäßburg), the<br />
last inhabited medieval citadel in Eastern Europe. It is a place<br />
straight out of the pages of a fairy-tale - one of the best<br />
preserved medieval citadels in Europe, a magical mix of<br />
winding cobbled alleys, steep stairways, secluded squares,<br />
towers and turrets. We will spend all day long here, visiting<br />
the citadel and its main landmarks.<br />
Day 4<br />
After breakfast, we’ll drive to Brasov, via Saschiz and Viscri<br />
villages. Viscri is a UNESCO Heritage Saxon village, which<br />
has a fortified church that still exists even today from 12th<br />
century, located at about 60 km from Brasov on the road<br />
towards Sighisoara. The amazing thing about this place is that<br />
it is practically cut off from the rest of the world. On the way<br />
there only hay fields and hills surround you, and very rarely<br />
you see human presence. In the evening we’ll reach the city<br />
of Brasov and we’ll have a well-deserved dinner and clean<br />
cosy accommodation.<br />
Day 5<br />
We will spend the first part of the day in Brasov, visiting the<br />
old historical city centre, The Black Church and Weavers<br />
Bastion, St Nicholas Orthodox Church and First Romanian<br />
school. Brasov is one of the largest and most cherished cities<br />
of Romania. Located in Tara Barsei (Burzenland), known<br />
also as Little Transylvania, and surrounded on three sides by<br />
mountains, it was a perfect place for a medieval settlement.<br />
The old city, founded by the Teutonic Knights in 1211, is one<br />
of the best-preserved cities in all of Europe. It was thoroughly<br />
restored to the delight of an increasing number of tourists. In<br />
the afternoon we’ll drive to Bran to visit its famous castle<br />
(known to be the home of Dracula’s spirit).<br />
Day 6<br />
We’ll spend the day in Tara Fagarasului; located at the<br />
foothill of the mountains is one of the best-preserved areas<br />
from Romania. It has been mentioned for the first time in<br />
1222 as Terra Blachorum (the country inhabited by the<br />
Romanians), while the settlement of Fagaras (Fogros) was<br />
referred to in a document of 1291. Here we’ll visit The<br />
Temple of Destiny from Sinca, The Old Watermill from<br />
Ohaba, The Whirlpools from Lisa and, finally, Lipizzana<br />
studs ranch. In the evening, we’ll be back to Sibiu.<br />
Day 7<br />
Returning to your home country.<br />
If you wish to come along please contact me at the above<br />
email address. If you are outside the UK the trip is still open<br />
to you. Again if you reside outside the UK but would like to<br />
attend, please email me.<br />
Website = www.photosociety.net Page 10 email = magazine@photosociety.net
Tom Coetzee - Fstop Safaries<br />
South Africa<br />
As you may infer from the title, my name is Tom<br />
Coetzee, I was born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, but raised<br />
in Krugersdorp. My studies in Nature Conservation<br />
allowed me to work at the famous Hoedspruit Research<br />
& Breeding station for Endangered Species. I began<br />
FStop Safaris after many years of being a Field Guide in<br />
the private game lodge industry and deciding that I<br />
wanted to share my experience with people wanting to<br />
not only see, but also capture the pictures of the Fauna &<br />
Flora on offer.<br />
Now, this article may have been seen before by my<br />
regular followers, but it is always worth renewing old<br />
memories and to remind people of what can happen on<br />
safari. I do however think that this sighting was so<br />
unique that it deserves to be shared in detail as to what<br />
actually happened on this particular April morning.<br />
It was a cool autumn morning on 16 April last year when<br />
we left on our early morning game drive. The mist was<br />
hanging low from all the moisture in the soils & the rains<br />
from a few days back. It was mystical, but I knew exactly<br />
what I wanted to go look for.<br />
The pride of lions, 3 lionesses with their 4 cubs & a<br />
male…related to the females. I needed to get into the area<br />
quickly, but I was also playing for light for the<br />
photography. The lions had a favourite part on the<br />
reserve for a while with their young cubs & I was hoping<br />
to find them in that area. Even though they could’ve<br />
moved much further than anticipated if they were hunting<br />
or even made a kill…that would’ve “spoiled my plan”,<br />
which was to find the pride early & have them playing in<br />
the cool morning.<br />
Well this was what I hoped for; if they were still on the<br />
move & I could find them quickly the chances were that<br />
the young cubs could be playful & interact with each<br />
other & maybe their mums. I of course did not tell<br />
anyone what my plan was, but oh boy was I in for a<br />
surprise soon after!<br />
I literally decided to push my luck & predict that they<br />
would be in the area where both females had a den site in<br />
a riverbed & work from there. After 16 years in the bush,<br />
it’s amazing how you can “predict” animal movement!!!<br />
Predicting behaviour quite often is true, it comes with<br />
experience…but to predict movement & actual spots,<br />
now that is BOLD! I had a gut feel, went with it & took<br />
the last bend to enter the riverbed…what waited for me<br />
was a lioness in the river & 2 cubs behind her. Lying<br />
there almost waiting for my arrival we stopped on the<br />
bank and turned off the engine. It’s like watching the<br />
movie scene where the director yells “lights, cameras,<br />
action”!<br />
No sooner did we stop or the 2 young cubs launched an<br />
attack on each other, but this is where the intriguing part<br />
started. My camera’s shutter immediately captured a<br />
quick series & I realised that I will have to push the ISO<br />
to get any sort of decent shutter speed. With the mist still<br />
further up the bank we had very little sunlight to work<br />
with. The camera got pushed hard & I fired away, by the<br />
way the sound of a camera releasing 9 or 10 frames a<br />
second is an awesome feeling!<br />
The lioness got up & really went after them, the cubs<br />
dashing for cover, but she got to one. After a few seconds<br />
mom got up to see why her cubs are<br />
“cullering” (moaning) so much & I must say she didn’t<br />
show pity and just gave the one a shove. The young cub<br />
really got a work over & was clearly upset with his<br />
“aunt”. This was followed by a mixture of female on cub<br />
attack, but also cubs launching onto the female.<br />
Website = www.photosociety.net Page 11 email = magazine@photosociety.net
The most amazing part of this was happened in between<br />
when the male launched onto the cubs as well…this<br />
made them run big time, making Usain Bolt look like a<br />
pedestrian!<br />
The female then launched onto the male & the grand<br />
finale was an image of the female launching an attack on<br />
her brother with a cub in the background. I am useless<br />
when it comes to Photoshop, but I know this image has<br />
more potential! As it is, a series of images was used in<br />
the online version of Mail and Guardian, and the last<br />
image is currently also in the running for <strong>Image</strong> of the<br />
Year with the Getaway Magazine.<br />
I do hope you like this post as much as I enjoyed taking<br />
the pictures and writing about it!<br />
Website = www.photosociety.net Page 12 email = magazine@photosociety.net
I Saw A Mouse<br />
I saw a mouse, a timorous beast<br />
Injured, with a cat, to become a feast<br />
with body worn it lay and waited<br />
the final bite for which it was fated.<br />
I watched as the cat, with velvet paw<br />
stroked the mouse without the claw<br />
who just watched with eye unblinking<br />
what, I wondered, was it thinking.<br />
The cat wandered off to lay in the sun<br />
the prey was beaten, the game was done<br />
and mouse and cat both lay together<br />
two feet apart amongst the heather.<br />
For an hour they lay, hunter and prey<br />
as the sun passed to the close of day<br />
when the cat rose she stalked to the mouse<br />
kissed it once and entered the house.<br />
As death walked away, mouse crept to cover<br />
home to spouse, to sister, to brother<br />
and as it went into the grass, slinking<br />
again, I wondered, was it thinking.<br />
So how did you get on in naming the breed of<br />
the cat?<br />
Alex Rostocil<br />
Phone:<br />
+254 722 411 566<br />
Allow us to introduce you to a Jungle Cat -<br />
Phylum: Chordata (Vertebrata)<br />
The jungle cat is found across a wide geographic<br />
area, ranging form Egypt, the Middle East, Parts of<br />
Southern Asia through to western China.<br />
Website:<br />
Beach2bushkenya.com<br />
Email:<br />
alex@beach2bushkenya.com<br />
Website = www.photosociety.net Page 13 email = magazine@photosociety.net
Arusha, Tanzania<br />
Tina Andreasson<br />
The next trip after Marrakech was to Arusha in<br />
Tanzania.<br />
The first glimpse of the African sun we got was<br />
what at first looked like a lava stream<br />
glimmering on the earth that we could see<br />
through the clouds from the plane.<br />
The men were often seen dragging carts around,<br />
filled with all sorts of goods: sacks of food,<br />
piles of fire-wood, tires, and once in a while a<br />
pile of friends. The women got their belongings<br />
with them by balancing them perfectly on top<br />
of their heads.<br />
What looked like a glowing wriggly wire was<br />
in fact the reflection of a descending orange-red<br />
sun in the flowing waters of the Nile. This was<br />
just a taste, an appetiser, of the richness of<br />
Africa. A richness mainly consisting of beauty -<br />
human as well as environmental.<br />
The first and unfortunately only day in Nairobi<br />
we saw poverty mixed with wealth. Fresh green<br />
parks, slum areas, pretty buildings, shacks<br />
patched together with pieces of metal and<br />
wood, modern shops, and dirt roads scattered<br />
with fruit stands where those who were<br />
barefoot and dirty mingled with men in suits<br />
carrying briefcases on their way home from<br />
work, stopping just for a fruit- and chat break.<br />
A very nice city indeed with many more things<br />
to discover had we had more time.<br />
Happy Smiling Faces<br />
Giraffes<br />
Sometimes on a head beautifully draped with a<br />
scarf, sometimes the scarf covered fancy<br />
hairdos such as a giant bun of little braids<br />
swivelled up neatly on the back of the head.<br />
The next day we travel by car to Tanzania.<br />
Despite the changing scenery, the people<br />
remained the same in many ways. Incredibly<br />
beautiful and friendly.<br />
The women were often dressed in brilliant and<br />
bright colours. Long skirts and big shawls<br />
draping their enviable figures, slim but with the<br />
most breathtaking curves I've ever seen!<br />
Website = www.photosociety.net Page 14 email = magazine@photosociety.net
They carried the same stuff their men did, but<br />
instead of friends they were often seen with<br />
enormous bunches of freshly picked bananas...<br />
It wasn't unusual to see them carrying their<br />
little baby on their backs either. No matter if<br />
they were working in the fields or cooking food<br />
over hot coals on the roadside, the little one<br />
would be tied to her back fitting perfectly like a<br />
pea in its pod.<br />
A while later I got to see my first Maasai<br />
village, and then some more. Surrounded by<br />
rolling hills, open landscapes and an endless<br />
sky most often showing an unforgiving sun,<br />
they live in their little round huts, a few<br />
gathered in a circle. Often the houses are<br />
surrounded by a fence, sometimes made from<br />
thorn bushes, to keep lions and other predators<br />
out during night time.<br />
Boy Child<br />
When we got further out in the countryside we<br />
could see more and mire clay huts with grass<br />
roofs. Already in the outskirts if Nairobi I saw<br />
my first goat herder boy who couldn't have<br />
been a day over eight years old. He looked well<br />
adjusted to his role as he stood there leaning<br />
against his stick with his hand on his hip that<br />
was jutting out to the side, surrounded by his<br />
herd of goats.<br />
The Maasai are actually nomads, so many<br />
villages were deserted but they blend in both<br />
visually as well as literally as basically all the<br />
materials they use are organic. they are the<br />
most beautiful people I've ever laid my eyes on.<br />
tall and slim, straight backed and proud.<br />
Slender muscles are covered by their black<br />
shiny skin, that isn't shiny because of sweat or<br />
oil, it just shines like newly polished ebony.<br />
The Massai Men<br />
Zebra<br />
Website = www.photosociety.net Page 15 email = magazine@photosociety.net
Their faces are also very well proportioned.<br />
They have been blessed with clear cheek bones<br />
and jaw bones, and other beautiful features in<br />
addition to that! Not once did I see someone<br />
unattractive or with eyes half shut and a mouth<br />
half open (the most annoying facial expression<br />
I know that can make the most sought after<br />
model look ugly). Instead what I saw on each<br />
and every on of them, was the sharp and alert<br />
look.<br />
You can kind of see that it is alert and that there<br />
is something in there (this look and the<br />
charisma that automatically comes with it can<br />
make any ugly duckling look like a swan). The<br />
look is sharp, almost searching.<br />
Zebra<br />
Maybe one becomes more beautiful if one is<br />
surrounded by mountains and green hills<br />
scattered about you, and with pretty trees<br />
basking in the African sun.<br />
But I also saw Maasai men in town, talking on<br />
their mobile phones, and they too, were<br />
handsome!<br />
Cheetah<br />
Perhaps they have to be alert and on the look<br />
out for dangerous animals that may be lurking<br />
in the distance. Or perhaps I'm just<br />
romanticising...<br />
Arusha in Tanzania was our next stop, for me, a<br />
pretty messy town in the north of the country.<br />
The streets are crowded with cars, people<br />
pushing carts and people walking. I don't<br />
remember seeing any zebra crossings, but<br />
everything seemed to function well despite the<br />
chaos.<br />
After eight days of fantastic safari from Lake<br />
Manyara through Serengeti to Ngorongoro we<br />
returned to Arusha where we spent two days.<br />
Website = www.photosociety.net Page 16 email = magazine@photosociety.net
So, luckily we had time to visit the bustling and<br />
colourful markets where we thanks to our guide<br />
Moses, (who had offered to take us around<br />
town privately one of the days), could buy food<br />
that we were going to take back to his place and<br />
cook for him.<br />
He had invited us to his home in the outskirts of<br />
town, and we had offered to buy and cook food<br />
for him and his friends in return. His house was<br />
in a little suburb with a village feeling.<br />
When we arrived we stepped through a wooden<br />
door that was placed in a wooden fence that<br />
surrounded the area. Hens and goats walked<br />
around on the dirt ground where the houses lay<br />
scattered. At the nearby school the students<br />
smuggled chalk to the younger kids during<br />
recess through the barred windows, when no<br />
one was looking. The children were happy and<br />
called cheerfully to us and greeted us in<br />
English.<br />
What they said in Swahili I'm not sure I dare to<br />
even guess, but they did seem cheerfully<br />
naughty-yet-friendly enough.<br />
Between the houses there were other little<br />
shacks with a hole in the floor, in other words,<br />
the communal loo. There was no running water.<br />
Two women sat outside the house next door,<br />
one fixing the others' hair into tiny braids as<br />
they do so well!<br />
After a wonderful meal made by Moses' friend<br />
(he had already started cooking so all we could<br />
do was to give him a hand) over a gas-cooker<br />
and hot coals, our journey continued.<br />
With a propeller plane we flew from Arushas<br />
humble airport to the wonderful island of<br />
Zanzibar. It was common to see other than cars<br />
and bikes, people travelling on donkeys or cart<br />
pulled by these fine animals. The roads were<br />
edged with little palm leaf covered stands<br />
where people ran their business such as bikerepairman<br />
and fruit merchant.<br />
A big part of the island's edge consists of<br />
gorgeous beaches with white sand.<br />
On the beach at Zanzibar<br />
When the tide is low you could see people<br />
collecting mussels and sea shells, or work on<br />
their wonderful boats, (dhows). Early in the<br />
morning we could almost every day see some<br />
of the local boys take a dip in the ocean, and<br />
play and jump on some poles that were standing<br />
out in the salty waves<br />
When dusk finally descended upon us we could<br />
often see a fisherman or two standing out in the<br />
water against the glimmering sunset.<br />
The capital of Zanzibar Stone Town is like a<br />
labyrinth of old houses many of which actually<br />
felt as if though they were ready to crumble.<br />
But, amongst all the stone and dust you could<br />
find the most beautiful details in windows and<br />
doors and carved wood and other<br />
craftsmanship.<br />
Once in a while we saw kids playing with the<br />
toys they could find in their environment, such<br />
as palm nuts and often they would come<br />
running down a narrow lane rolling an old<br />
wheel from a bike (with or without the rubber<br />
tyre). They didn't seem particularly unhappy<br />
because they didn't have the latest Play station<br />
or the latest Barbie doll.<br />
I forgot to mention that we during the safari<br />
also visited the Maasai school. After the<br />
children had sung, read the alphabet, and<br />
counted for us, some of us were going to give<br />
them some food that was left over from our<br />
lunch. When we opened the boxes, so many<br />
eager little hands were outstretched that I didn't<br />
really have time to see what I gave to shom...<br />
Website = www.photosociety.net Page 17 email = magazine@photosociety.net
Of course they lead a much harder life and have<br />
many more obstacles to overcome, but i think<br />
that humans are experts at acquiring problems<br />
that aren't there to begin with.<br />
With new modern luxury, there are new modern<br />
problems. Why are we never content? I know<br />
that in our society we have a better life in many<br />
ways, but sometimes I can almost feel more<br />
sorry for us.<br />
School-Kid<br />
It was everything from fruits, sandwiches and<br />
vegetables, to chocolates and juice. Suddenly<br />
Peter gives me a slight push and says "Well that<br />
was nice Tina" (sarcastically that is) and points<br />
at a little girl of about two years that of all the<br />
things I could have given her, I had been given<br />
- an EGG... She was walking around with it and<br />
sucking it and trying to bite it, and she looked<br />
so confused!!!<br />
Hanging Out<br />
Unfortunately I never had the time to crack it<br />
open for her, so all I can do is just hope that she<br />
got it home perhaps to a mom or dad that could<br />
help her find the treasure inside...<br />
The reason being that we should be ashamed of<br />
our "problems". On the other hand, we're<br />
human too. And as I said, humans never seem<br />
to be able to just be content.<br />
If you do have the basic necessities in life, like<br />
food, water (that won't make you sick), shelter<br />
(from cold or heat and all the things that<br />
weather and environment can through at you),<br />
healthcare (and many other things that we in the<br />
developed world so often take for granted), you<br />
will find other "problems" such as constantly<br />
comparing yourself with others, feelings of<br />
inadequacy and hopelessness, meaninglessness,<br />
and a variety of other <strong>issue</strong>s that I'm not even<br />
going to bother mentioning here. When<br />
struggling with the basics, there's no time for<br />
such trivialities.<br />
Perhaps I've misunderstood everything, but this<br />
is just a reflection of the thoughts I get when I<br />
think of the little that I've seen. What is actually<br />
the reality? I think it depends on who you ask,<br />
whose truth we're talking about. The only thing<br />
that matters in the end must still be how people<br />
perceive their own reality.<br />
Hakuna Matata<br />
Despite that poverty is evident I didn't really<br />
experience any real misery, perhaps that's<br />
because the people seemed to have a kind of<br />
inner peace. Most of them seemed genuinely<br />
friendly and at ease and the children laugh<br />
more there than they do here at home.<br />
Website = www.photosociety.net Page 18 email = magazine@photosociety.net
Wildfire in Zakynthos 5th July 2009<br />
Gordon Longmead<br />
Every now and then we like to visit our friends,<br />
The Therianos family, Sia, Roula, Dimitris and<br />
Tassos, on the Isle of Zankynthos where we<br />
stay in their holiday villas, in the village of<br />
Kallithea - http://www.therianos.gr -<br />
On the date as stated, and after a really hard<br />
morning sunbathing and visiting the beach in<br />
the north of the island, I decided to sleep<br />
through the hottest part of the day in my fully<br />
air-conditioned villa.<br />
At 3.30pm the villa started shaking and it<br />
sounded like a roaring thunder overhead.<br />
Coming out of a deep sleep, my first comment<br />
was an unprintable expletive along the lines of<br />
“what the hell was that?” Camera in hand to<br />
catch the villain, I was just in time to see this<br />
helicopter 70 feet above the villa, which was by<br />
now shaking even more.<br />
To give you an idea of just how close, this was<br />
taken with a 70mm lens and it would not all fit,<br />
the picture is un-cropped, and while on the<br />
subject all the images are as taken, a few have<br />
been cropped.<br />
Seeing the direction it was heading and<br />
realising something was afoot, I leapt into the<br />
hire car and took off with the immortal and<br />
often famous last words “See you later”.<br />
Although I had no idea where I was going, I<br />
just followed the road that appeared to be<br />
heading for the column of smoke that was the<br />
source. The first thing I met, having driven<br />
straight passed the police cars was the island<br />
fire engine retreating from the fire.<br />
This appliance is operated totally by volunteers<br />
and is woefully ill-equipped for fighting fires,<br />
especially wildfires.<br />
I was beginning to wonder why they were<br />
getting out so being sensible I stopped the car<br />
on the side of the road, having first turned it<br />
round, and walked to the corner you can see in<br />
the picture. The local fire chief stopped me at<br />
that point and requested that I went no further. I<br />
agreed and he even made me promise not to<br />
wander out of his sight.<br />
Now I am used to fire and smoke, and the heat<br />
that they generate, having had a few encounters<br />
before, but nothing could prepare me for what<br />
was to come.<br />
As we were upwind of the blaze and the fire<br />
was being swept past the corner there was<br />
nothing to see but the smoke being blown over<br />
the ground so I returned to the village which<br />
was 50 meters down the hill.<br />
Here I saw for the first time how a wild fire can<br />
jump staggering distances. The picture below<br />
was 150 meters from the blaze then this<br />
happened.<br />
Website = www.photosociety.net Page 19 email = magazine@photosociety.net
All the villagers could do was stand and watch<br />
as this wildfire swept towards their homes, on<br />
man turned his garden hose on to his roof, if the<br />
fire came, he stood no chance. The helicopter<br />
was a water bomber and was making trips<br />
between the bay in the north and the fire.<br />
We stood and watched the helicopter fighting<br />
its losing battle with the wildfire, but then it<br />
turned its attention to the area between the fire<br />
and the village. By this time I had walked back<br />
to the edge of the village, the fire was now so<br />
close that when the water was dropped I got<br />
soaked although I managed to cover the<br />
camera.<br />
A fireman told me that I was getting wet<br />
because they were dumping water on the back<br />
gardens of the homes closest to the fire to try<br />
and drive the fire back. The wind was helping,<br />
sort of, as it veered and pushed the main fire<br />
past the village.<br />
It was about that time that the smoke became so<br />
thick that the sun went out and the village was<br />
plunged into darkness.<br />
It was at this point another water bomber<br />
arrived from a neighbouring island, and as you<br />
can see, he was not intent on hanging about.<br />
At first I thought he had problems due to the<br />
smoke, but it turned out that he was burnt hedge<br />
hopping to get at the seat of the main blaze.<br />
Website = www.photosociety.net Page 20 email = magazine@photosociety.net
It did not take us long to work out that the fire<br />
was 300 meters away over the ridge and could<br />
easily arrive with us in seconds, so we<br />
retreated.<br />
At that point there was an event that was not far<br />
short of a miracle, the wind changed direction.<br />
Reversing its course it drove the fire back the<br />
way it had come.<br />
This was his next run on our side of the hill. He<br />
is in there, just follow the water trail. Having<br />
watched these pilots I must say they took risks<br />
to save the village, had I not been so absorbed<br />
in the moment I would have stood in awe of<br />
their efforts.<br />
Now, being me, I had to see where it was going<br />
to and so I jumped back in the car and drove to<br />
get ahead of the fire. After a short distance I<br />
stopped and was joined by a reporter and then a<br />
police car. To watch the spectacle.<br />
This was even more of a gracious act because<br />
no air craft is allowed to over fly the island<br />
after an hour before sunset. Any fires burning<br />
are then left to their own devices and may burn<br />
unchecked.<br />
The helicopter was back the following day,<br />
when the fire turned about there was little left<br />
to burn, in the morning it was a case of<br />
damping down the odd pockets of fire that<br />
remained.<br />
The reporter and I walked up through an olive<br />
grove to get a better view and was confronted<br />
with an image similar to the one above.<br />
These wild fires can be started by accident and<br />
stupidity, the main cause is tourists throwing<br />
cigarette stubs out of their vehicles. But they<br />
can also be caused by hot exhaust pipes when<br />
stopping to take pictures or to enjoy the view.<br />
But then a spark caused by a falling rock can do<br />
the same thing, either way the results for the<br />
island and its community are devastating.<br />
Website = www.photosociety.net Page 21 email = magazine@photosociety.net
While these valleys will eventually recover,<br />
when the fires reach the olive groves the lively<br />
hood of the owner is gone. Olive groves do not<br />
recover from fires and the owners rarely have<br />
the funds to replant. Even if they did, the trees<br />
take many years to fruit.<br />
In the evening of the fire, I sat and watch as<br />
another fire started to the north of the island.<br />
Another charred valley, only this time there was<br />
no village nearby and no airborne fire service to<br />
put it out.<br />
Website = www.photosociety.net Page 22 email = magazine@photosociety.net
Magazine Submissions<br />
Members are welcome to submit Bio’s and other articles relating to expeditions and equipment reviews. Small file size<br />
pictures may be included. Recognised wildlife trust and Nature Conservation group adverts may be included free of<br />
charge per quarter page subject to approval.<br />
Any one who would like to write a feature article for the magazine, please do. I have no real limit on the magazine<br />
size but for ease I will find a comfortable limit depending on the method used for circulating it.<br />
Trade Adverts<br />
Adverts may be placed with the magazine at the editors discretion. A charge will be made in advance of publication<br />
towards the running costs of the society amounting to 10 GBP per quarter page per <strong>issue</strong>.<br />
Submissions should be emailed to lendasnow@hotmail.co.uk please state ‘magazine article or advert’ in the subject<br />
line.<br />
Tour Operators<br />
Members who operate, or work on behalf of Tour Operators are invited to submit reports on their tours as a feature of<br />
the magazine. These can be a regular feature if desired and may include pictures to highlight aspects of the article. The<br />
first of these reports should be an introduction to the company area of operations and its tour guides and staff.<br />
Although the Society can not be held responsible for the conduct and safety of the tours, the tour operators that<br />
advertise on, or have links within, this site or provide reports within the societies magazine, do so on the<br />
understanding that they undertake to conduct the tours in a professional manner, be customer focused, with an<br />
emphasis on safety and value for money.<br />
As many of the tour operators and guides are members of the society, they are knowledgeable both on the areas they<br />
visit and on the subject of photography and will be willing to offer tips and guidance if required. Feedback about your<br />
tour is always welcomed and may appear in the society magazine.<br />
Website = www.photosociety.net Page 23 email = magazine@photosociety.net