This Week At Angama #68

Photograph by Jeffrey Thige

Just a few minutes before sunrise and right down the hill from the lodge, I came across this huge bull elephant. I decided to stay a while, allowing him to get comfortable before the sun had risen. [f 6.3, 1/100, ISO 25]

Photograph by Jeffrey Thige

As the rays peered through the clouds, I got into position and tried to get my angle as low as possible. For an action shot, I waited for him to rip up the grass with his trunk and then photograph him as he placed it into his mouth. [f 7.1, 1/125, ISO 250, -0.33]

Photograph by Jeffrey Thige

Feeling like I had taken enough of the same shot, I opted to try something different: a starburst. This is when you make the aperture very narrow and shoot directly into the light, with a small part of the subject blocking out the sun. Done properly, these images can be amazing. [f 20, 1/250, ISO 320 TNW]

Photograph by Adam Bannister

A breathtaking view of Angama and the Mara Triangle from an elevated point along our private road. No matter how many times I see this scene, it never fails to impress. [f 4.5, 1/400, ISO 200]

Photograph by Adam Bannister

It was wonderful to witness a large herd of elephant descending the Oloololo escarpment with such grace. Their many calves were playful as always. [f 7.1, 1/500, ISO 500]

Photograph by Jeffrey Thige

We were able to catch up with the Owino pride this week. Here, is the youngest member. They hadn’t had a successful hunt for a while and were paying very keen attention to their surroundings, hoping to catch some prey off guard. [f 5.6, 1/800, ISO 100 -0.33]

Photograph by Jeffrey Thige

Moments later they caught a glimpse of a warthog family in the distance. They immediately assumed their positions, led by an older, more experienced female. [f 6.0, 1/320, ISO 100]

Photograph by Jeffrey Thige

Our guests were treated to a close-up view. The warthogs got wind of the pride and scattered before they even had a chance to chase. Another failed hunting attempt. [f 5.0, 1/400, ISO 200 -0.33 ]

Photograph by Jeffrey Thige

It is quite astounding what a huge difference changing angles can make to your photography. A lower angle almost always complements the shot. For this photograph, I got as low as possible to make the lioness look even more majestic. [f 5.0, 1/500, ISO 100]

Photograph by Adam Bannister

This week has also seen the arrival of five young males to the Mara Triangle. With the migration fast approaching, this promises to be a very interesting turn of events when the big males start patrolling their territories. [f 5.6, 1/800, ISO 200, +0.33]

Photograph by Adam Bannister

A male cheetah was sighted by Adam along the Mara Bridge area. This seems to be a new cheetah, but judging from his full stomach, he is an experienced hunter. [f 5.6, 1/400, ISO 200, -0.33]

Photograph by Adam Bannister

Photographing a stationary giraffe can be difficult because of their size, which forces the photographer to zoom in and get either a profile or abstract shots. Capturing one in motion is not much easier, but it certainly does make for much more interesting viewing. [f 4.0, 1/500, ISO 100, +0.33]

Photograph by Adam Bannister

It has been eight weeks since the controlled burning was done around the Oloololo escarpment area. This is what that same area looks like this week. The beautiful green grass has attracted a multitude of herbivores, and with this being the Owino pride’s territory, it has given them plenty to choose from. [f 5.6, 1/1000, ISO 500]

Photograph by Adam Bannister

Such sights capture true Africa. The open savanna, the promise of rain and the pure serenity all come together in one magnificent shot. [F7.1, 1/500, ISO 320, +1.67]

Photograph by Adam Bannister

A yellow throated long-claw poses atop a Kenya/Tanzania border demarcation rock. [f 4.5, 1/1250, ISO 125, +0.67]

Photograph by Adam Bannister

This Week At Angama doesn’t feel complete without a picture of a roller and this shot take by Adam did not disappoint. [f 4.0, 1/1600, ISO 250 +0.33]

Photograph by Jeffrey Thige

When the sun rises high and hot it gets very tricky to shoot. This is when I mostly tend to go abstract, photographing common animals from unusual angles. Sometimes it works, and sometimes you just have to press that delete button, fast. [f 6.0, 1/250, ISO 250, -0.67]

THIS WEEK A YEAR AGO

Photograph by Adam Bannister

In photograph a little creativity goes a long way. Take for example a sleeping lion passed out under a tree in the harsh midday sun. [f 4.0, 1/2000, ISO 320]