Battle of the Bulge

The black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis; Shona: chipembere; Ndebele: mbejane) is a solitary animal with complex breeding habits. Black rhinos reach sexual maturity between 6 to 10 years of age, and females have a gestation period of about 15 to 16 months. The dominant male establishes a territory to attract females, and mating is often aggressive and territorial. They typically give birth to a single calf, which they care for intensely. This beast, with its low reproductive rate, has contributed to their endangered status. The black rhino can be found in 12 countries in Africa, totalling an estimated 6,500 individuals, according to IUCN. Black rhino populations are increasing; despite constant poaching pressure, due to intense conservation, protection and management efforts.

(Canon EOS 5D Mark III / EF 70-200mm f/2.8 IS II USM; 1/400 sec; f/5.0; ISO 1250; 150mm)

Picture ©2024 Andrew Field – Simply Wild Photography

A-Z of Photography

F/Stop is the setting which regulates the aperture of a camera, modifying the amount of light falling on the sensor, and the depth of field (area of focus) in an image. The f-number series is a geometric series based on a multiplication of the factor 1.4. Each f/stop change results in a doubling or halving of the light transmitted through the lens.

“After forty years of ingesting every aspect of photographic science and composition, I still find the camera to be an endlessly intriguing partner that challenges my imagination and knowledge. All that with only three variables of shutter speed, aperture and focal length.”

Ralph Auletta

Stuck in darkest Africa, lost in the wild and loving it! Don’t let me out of here…

Three Wise Men

These three dagga boys, or Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer; Shona: nyati; Ndebele: inyathi – thanks Pierre Joubert for the correction), were captured in the early morning strolling through what was once a shallow water pan just off a Mopani forest. They appear to be old males who had broken away from the herd to lead a more solitary existence. Males seem to team up in pairs or a few more. It is a typical bovid grazer and water dependent. The buffalo is a dangerous mammal which can be prone to charging at great pace if annoyed and is most perilous to the predator when wounded during a hunt. It will fend off lion attacks when under threat and a common modus operandi is that of mobbing a prowling pride. Buffalo can outrun lions, their principle predators, over short distances.
(Canon 50D; f/5; 1/500sec; ISO-100; 235mm)

Picture ©2011 Andrew Field – Simply Wild Photography

Digital Wildlife Photographic Tips
Water is perhaps the best attraction for animals where the photographer can literally sit and wait for something to happen, and it often does. Setting up a camera on a tripod in a static position near water and sitting in silence for a few hours will often yield excellent opportunities. This often calls for a little camouflaging of your position and the use of blinds can be an advantage.

This was a lost image recently recovered and redone for the blog.   First published in October 2013, my entire collection of 2011 RAW images simply disappeared.  While searching through a junk box, I discovered DVD discs which was a backup up of my 2011 work…   

Breakfast Gawk

Buffalo (Syncerus caffer) grazing a few Kigalia flowers, under the cover a tree, partially in the early morning sun. This small group was part of a much larger herd moving to water. Because buffaloes eat more course vegetation, they require water at least twice a day, taking in about 35 litres in a session. Like their domestic ‘cousins’, buffalo use a series of distinctive vocal calls to initiate herd activity, while in transit, threatened or drinking and grazing.

(Canon EOS 5D Mark III / EF 100-400mm f/5.6 L IS II USM; 1/1500 sec; f/4.5; ISO 4000; 170mm)

Picture ©2016 Andrew Field – Simply Wild Photography

Photography Quotes
Ansel Adams was an American photographer and environmentalist. He pioneered photography in the American West and is famous for his black and white landscape photography. He is attributed with the quote:

“Twelve significant photographs in one year is a good crop”

Stuck in darkest Africa, lost in the wild and loving it! Don’t let me out of here…

This image, and others of your selection, can be acquired from the author printed on fine art canvas of photographic paper for wall mounting.

Tough Guys

Sentinel buffaloes (Syncerus caffer) observe for any threats while the herd moves down to water. The average buffalo weighs anywhere from 450 kg to 900 kg, a heavy, durable and tenacious beast. This is not exactly the best of shots, and the camera was confused by the darkness of the buffalo against a bright back ground.

(Canon EOS 5D Mark III / EF 100-400mm f/5.6 L IS II USM; 1/120 sec; f/13; ISO 320; 400mm)

Picture ©2016 Andrew Field – Simply Wild Photography

This image, and others of your selection, can be acquired from the author printed on fine art canvas of photographic paper for wall mounting.

Fodder on the Trotter

The Warthog is a particularly camera shy little beast, often caught dashing across the veld with tail rigidly upright, rather like a car aerial. Those tusks are actually enlarged canine teeth and a nasty defensive weapon. This member of the pig family is well targeted, for a snack, by all the known predators. Warthogs have calloused pads on their wrists from grazing on bent forelegs.
(Canon EOS 5D MarkIII / EF 100-400mm f/5.6 L IS II USM; 1/2000 sec; f/4.5; ISO 320; 100mm)

Picture ©2018 Andrew Field – Simply Wild Photography

 

This image, and others of your selection, can be acquired from the author printed on fine art canvas of photographic paper for wall mounting.