Fringed Lily

It is amazing to be able to find such a pretty specimen in the middle of an area somewhat barren of bright coloured flowers, but if you look closely, about a water pan, you are in for a surprise. This image was taken in May at a pan in Mana Pools.  The flower is actually quite tiny.  Bart Wursten kindly identifies this plant as a species from the small aquatic family Menyanthaceae being Nymphoides either forbesiana (probably) or thunbergiana.
(Canon EOS 7D / EF-S60mm f/2.8 Macro; 1/15 sec; f/8; ISO 320; 60mm)

Picture ©2015 Andrew Field – Simply Wild Photography

Digital Photography Terms
Diffraction is an optical effect and the scattering of light caused by deflection usually at the edges of an opaque object which may be the origin of a slight fizziness in an image, particularly when narrow apertures are used. This may limit the total resolution of the image, no matter the megapixels of the camera.

“I think the equipment you use has a real, visible influence on the character of your photography. You’re going to work differently, and make different kinds of pictures, if you have to set up a view camera on a tripod than if you’re Lee Friedlander with handheld 35 mm rangefinder. But fundamentally, vision is not about which camera or how many megapixels you have, it’s about what you find important. It’s all about ideas.”

– Keith Carter

 

 

Waterbuck Targeted

Waterbuck (Kobus Ellipsiprymnus – Shona: dhumukwa; Ndebele: isidumuka) on the retreat, displaying their target rimmed bottoms. There are two varieties of Waterbuck that can be found long the Zambezi River, one with a white rump patch (K.e. defassa) and the other with a white elliptical ring, as in the image. The two types have hybridized in some areas. These varieties overlap along the Zambezi and in theory white rump patched antelope should be seen, but more likely north of the river.
Population Trend : Decreasing; Threat: Least Concern – Source IUCN
(Canon EOS 5D Mark III/ EF100-400 IS USM; 1/750 sec; f/6.7; ISO 640; 227mm)

Picture ©2016 Andrew Field – Simply Wild Photography

Digital Photography Terms
Catchlight is usually a white highlight seen in the eyes of a subject which is a reflection of the light source. The catchlight clarity and sharpness in an image is a prime indicator of focus and it is important in portraiture and often wildlife photography too. If there is no catch light, perhaps the photographer has got the lighting wrong. Positioning and shaping of the catchlight lends toward the naturalness of the subject image.

“Things always seem to clash. These portraits illustrate why I normally like photographing landscapes. No two-way conversation is necessary. Once I see what I like the most about their personality, I point and shoot. For most portraits, it is necessary to talk to the subject to develop the most cursory of relationships prior to pushing the button to expose the subjectís personality. Here the subjects only needed to wordlessly talk to me and I not to them.”

– Stephen K. Malshuk

Boswell Rising

The majestic elephant (Loxodonta africana) they call Boswell, an iconic beast, and one of the few elephants in the area, in which he was photographed, that rises up on its hind quarters to feed from the higher branches of trees. This time ‘our Boswell’ is caught with a glimpse of morning light on his belly.  A personal favourite!
Population Trend : Increasing; Threat: Vulnerable – Source IUCN
(Canon EOS 5D Mk III/ EF100-400mm IS II USM; 1/3000 sec; f/6.7; ISO 1600; 1001mm)

Picture ©2016 Andrew Field – Simply Wild Photography

Digital Photography Terms
Bicubic Interpolation comes about during the studio process and is generally associated with the enlargement of a digital image which involves the insertion of new pixels that, in case of bicubic interpolation, calculate their attributes from the nearest surrounding eight pixels. This method of enlargement creates more contrast thus setting off the effect of blurring which may occur with the process. Photo processing software usually provides a choice between bicubic and bilinear interpolation.

“When 35mm was in full flower in this country; in the miniature’s golden thirties – photographers in the new medium became ‘experts’ overnight, full of tall talk about small grain and big enlargements. They had to, in self-defence, for in those early days of the miniature it seemed important to be technically hep, at least in conversation. Never mind the pictures! In spite of much hokum, much good came to the surface, survived the babel and exerted an influence that has since benefitted all photography.”

– Jacob Deschin

Eland Herd Pauses

Now and again one is blessed with sighting of a herd of Eland (Tragelaphus oryx) in the Mana Pools areas. This herd seems to be predominantly male, but sometimes one encounters large nursery herds. The Eland is not a fast moving beast, basically being able to maintain a trot rate over several kilometers of about 35 kph, but rarely does so. Eland have the bulk of a domestic cow (and in fact were bred in captivity for their meat in Zimbabwe at one time). They are generally slower than other plains antelope, which might suggest this makes them a favourite for predators, but like the Kudu, the Eland is an incredibly high jumper. An Eland’s defense against predators is not in flight, but engagement, sometimes by mobbing and chasing off the predator.
Population Trend : Stable; Threat: Least Concern – Source IUCN
(Canon EOS 5D Mk III/ EF100-400mm IS II USM; 1/3000 sec; f/5.6; ISO 640; 371mm)

Picture ©2016 Andrew Field – Simply Wild Photography

Digital Photography Terms
Absolute Resolution is the horizontal and vertical pixel count of a camera’s sensor express as a multiplication of the two parameters usually expressed in megapixels.

“And young people who are learning digital skills discover that the real challenge is coming up with an image that resonates, first of all, with yourself and hopefully, with an audience. They can learn all these new techniques and think that they’re easier to use, but creating great images isn’t about the tools.”

– Jerry Uelsmann

Browsing Kigelia

A buffalo (Syncerus caffer) herd moving to water pauses for a short while to browse on the flowers of the Sausage Tree (Kigelia africana), a favourite at this time of the year (October).
Population Trend : Decreasing; Threat: Least Concern – Source IUCN
(Canon EOS 5D Mk III/ EF100-400mm IS II USM; 1/500 sec; f/5.6; ISO 640; 200mm)

Picture ©2016 Andrew Field – Simply Wild Photography

The World of Lenses
Wide Angle Lenses are those lens which range between 21 and 35mm and is used in compositions which need more of the scene to be included in the photograph. Wide Angle lenses have an important role in landscape and architectural photography, making full use of their wider field of view, and is a favourite of the crime scene photographer and interior design imaging. The wide the lens the greater the tendency of the lens to magnify the distance between objects and introduce perspective distortion.

“Contradictions of perspective. Contrasts of light. Contrasts of form. Points of view impossible to achieve in drawing and painting. Foreshortenings with a strong distortion of the objects, with a crude handling of matter. Moments altogether new, never seen before… compositions whose boldness outstrips the imagination of painters… Then the creation of those instants which do not exist, contrived by means of photomontage. The negative transmits altogether new stimuli to the sentient mind and eye.”

– Alexander Rodchenko