Hyenas in the Rain

Hyenas in the Rain - 1Ds3, 500, f/4, 1/200s, ISO 800

Almost exactly a year ago I had arrived in Arusha eager to start my photographic safari.  My buddy Andy Biggs is over there now running a couple of back-to-back safaris and he posted on Facebook today about the storms and rains they had seen.  I only saw one afternoon of downpour during my trip and this image was taken during a 'light drizzle' break.




I took the video above shortly before we stopped and I photographed the Hyenas. Its quite an experience driving through the Serengeti during a rain storm.

Rocky Asilomar Shore

Rocky Asilomar Shore - Canon 5D2, 24 TS-E II, f/5.6, 2mins, ISO 200

I've been so busy lately that I haven't even had a chance to fire up Lightroom and work any images nor go out to photograph.  Since its leap day and I have a couple of hours this evening, I figured I should post something.

A Morning on the USS Midway

This past holiday break, I went on a family trip to San Diego.  On our last morning, we visited the USS Midway Museum.  I wandered around making images primarily with the M9 and the Voigtlander 12mm f/5.6 lens.

I really like the way they've created this museum.  The flight deck is filled with all manner of interesting planes and helicopters.

You climb into several of the aerial vehicles as my daughter and sister did here.

The areas below the flight deck are also filled with interesting stuff, including all kinds of dials and switches that Maya enjoyed pushing.

The passageways on the ship are narrow and low.  I'm wondering if the ship I'll be on in South Georgia this fall will be even narrower.

The general rule of thumb on the ship seems to be that the higher up in rank you go, the better your living and dining quarters.  The captain and fleet admiral had it well (not pictured).

Now that is a serious mixer.

More dials, switches and knobs.

Pelican Stretch

Pelican Stretch - 1D4, 500 f/4 IS, f/4, 1/1250s, ISO 800

Now is about the ideal time to head to the La Jolla cliffs near San Diego to photograph the California Brown Pelican in breeding plumage.  I made this image back in December but if I had several days free, thats where I would head now. 

Bonsai Rock Sunset

Bonsai Rock Sunset - 5D2, ZE 50, f/11, 20s, ISO 100

The high water level at Lake Tahoe submerges many of the rocks around the largest one with the tree growing out it.  I haven't had a chance to get back to Tahoe to photograph it with the water level lower.  I made this image this past summer and though I ended up liking a different version which I posted earlier, there are elements of this one that work well for me too.  One of the things you learn as you do more and more landscape photography is to really work and explore a scene.  Try different vantage points and different framing options. 

Portal

Portal - 5D2, 70-200 II @ 120mm, f/14, ISO 100

Its been a very busy last couple of weeks and so I haven't had a chance to even look at any images to post.  On Saturday, I got a break, not only time off from all the regular stuff but a day trip to the coast and so took the opportunity to make some images at Pfeiffer Beach.  Now its back to the slog, so I probably won't get a chance to post any images for a while.

Over the Ngorongoro Crater

Over the Ngorongoro Crater - 5D2, 24 f/1.4 II, f/3.5, 1/2500s, ISO 200

If you do a safari in Tanzania that includes the Serengeti, chances are that for one leg you'll end up in a flight over the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater.  The flight is relatively quick, about an hour long and its incredible to see the variety in the landscape below.  In this image, the Ngorongoro Crater is visible in the distance with farmland in front. 

Chicken Dance

Chicken Dance - 1D4, 500 f/4 IS, f/4, 1/800s, ISO 400

I know its cheesy but c'mon, this Pelican totally looks like he's doing the chicken dance :)

Gnarled

Gnarled - M9, 28 Elmarit, ~f/5.6, 1/1500s, ISO 160

Gnarled branches lit up by the mid day sun make for an interesting study in lines and shape.  I made this image in the late morning at Patriarch Grove this past summer.  The final mile on the road to the grove was closed due to a large snow drift requiring a hike.  It was my first time at this location and I was mainly interested in scouting locations for a later shoot.  Though I typically don't make images with the harsh mid day sun, in this case the isolation of this tree and its gnarled limbs were too tempting to pass up.

Mount Woodring under Cloud and Mist

Mount Woodring under Cloud and Mist - 5D2, 70-200 @ 145mm, f/4.5, ISO 100

A much more popular subject to photograph from this spot at Oxbow Bend in the Grand Tetons is Mount Moran.  However on this morning clouds engulfed Moran and so I had to make do with what I had and that was the peak of Mount Woodring visible just over the many layers of cloud and mist coming up from the Snake River.