Wildlife Photography Blog - for news, views and articles on wildlife, conservation, photography, and safari destinations. © Scotch Macaskill


Scotch Macaskill's Wildlife Blog

IMPORTANT: Please note that from April 2009 this Blog's Web address changed as a result of a switch in the blogging platform we use. It's still an integral part of the Wildlife Pictures Online website and, we hope, will continue providing entertaining and enjoyable content in the form of wildlife images, news, views and information.

For the most recent posts, links, and other resources, please visit the new Wldlife Photography Blog.

Wildlife Calendars for 2008 Now Available
October 21, 2007
 
2008 Wildlife Calendars

Our carefully selected 2008 Wildlife Calendars are now available. Featured animals include evergreen favorites like tigers, polar bears, pandas, and wolves while African residents such as the lion, giraffe, and elephant have not been forgotten.

A number of the calendars showcase the superb work of National Geographic photographers. Others are published under the banner of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) which means a purchase will benefit the WWF and its global conservation efforts.
 

Today's picture: Sable Antelope at Waterhole
October 21, 2007
 
Sable Antelope at waterhole

Photo Details: A small herd of Sable Antelope (Hippotragus niger), including a youngster, wade belly-deep into the muddy water at Shumba Pan, Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe.

Camera: Canon EOS 400D; Lens: Canon 70-300 IS Zoom; Focal Length: 300mm; Shutter speed: 1/250; Aperture: f8; ISO: 200.
 

Today's picture: Elephant and Hippo Confrontation
October 25, 2007
 
Young elephant confronts hippo

Photo Details: A young elephant confronts a hippo on the banks of Masuma Dam, Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe.
Camera: Canon EOS 400D; Lens: Canon 70-300 IS Zoom; Focal Length: 140mm; Shutter speed: 1/800; Aperture: f5.6; ISO: 200.

Additional Info: In Hwange there is very little surface water by the end of the dry winter, so underground water is pumped into waterholes and man-made dams. This draws a wide variety of wild animals that gather in their hundreds to drink and wallow, usually in relative harmony.

Occasionally there are confrontations and skirmishes as animals compete for the scarce resources. This sequence of photos was taken at Masuma Dam in the park, where the big herds of elephant are dominant. They like to drink from a furrow into which the fresh water is pumped, then wade into the dam where they wallow and stir up the mud, making the water less palatable for smaller animals.

Elephant and hippo elephant and hippo
elephant-hippo confrontation Hippo wades into dam

The hippo had wandered from the safety of the water on to the banks in search of fresh water when the young elephant, full of bravado as is their habit, decided to confront the adult hippo (main photo). The latter merely stood its ground with head raised, at which the young ele quickly backed off.

But the elephants had the final say as the adults took over, chasing the "intruder" back into the water.
 

Elephant Photo Wins Top Award
October 30, 2007
 
The Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2007 has been awarded to British photographer Ben Osborne for his image Elephant Creation.

The winning image, taken in Botswana's Chobe National Park, depicts a large bull elephant kicking and spraying mud in a waterhole. Ben used his vehicle as a hide while he staked out the waterhole for three weeks during Botswana’s dry season. He used a slow shutter speed to interpret the low morning light, water spray and texture of the mud in a more impressionistic way.

Winning images in the various categories can be viewed on the National History Museum website and are certainly worth browsing through, even though it's a tedious process.

When the page opens, click on the thumbnail category (eg Overall Winners), then the winning photo, then the "view" link, then finally the tiny "click to enlarge" link below each photograph. This opens a decent size image - but why one has to jump so many hoops to get there is a mystery.
 

Today's picture: Buffalo Herd, Okavango Delta
October 30, 2007
 
buffalo herd

Photo Details: A herd of African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) creates a cloud of dust in the early morning air as the animals start their daily trek in search of suitable grazing, Okavango Delta, Botswana.
Camera: Canon EOS 400D; Lens: Canon 70-300 IS Zoom; Focal Length: 300mm; Shutter speed: 1/4000; Aperture: f5.6; ISO: 400.

Please Note: Pictures displayed on this blog are copyright protected. View them online, enjoy them, but kindly do not use them for anything else. Should you wish to purchase an image or require clarification on use, please contact me.
 

 
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Contact Details: Scotch Macaskill, Dirt Road Traders, Currys Post Road, Howick, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Tel: +27 (0)82 578 2329. Privacy: Your privacy is guaranteed. See our Privacy Policy for more. This site accepts advertising and other forms of compensation - see Disclosure and Advertising for details. Site updated: 2019. Copyright © 2002 - 2019 Scotch Macaskill