Hello everyone! We've been back for a few days, and I've been crunching through 500Gigs (20,000 images) as quickly as I can. I'd first like to apologize for the sheer number of images. I appreciate your understanding in allowing me a little latitude on my 15,000th post to put up so many pics! My intent was to document and illustrate everything we did and saw and post it all in a semi-chronological fashion. I've agonized about so many images that are not going to make this first post, but that's ok, I'll put them up on my next post. Please look through to the very end. There's a bonus video for you all to enjoy!
First of all, if you are expecting NatGeo-low angle-perfect light-blood and guts action, this is not the trip for you. It was very difficult shooting in the Range Rover, shooting over your buddy's hat, arm, shoulder, etc. Some of the guides were slow to realize we were photographers, and not animal fact enthusiasts. We wanted shots in good light, but being in the truck with so many other folks, it wasn't ideal shooting especially when the action occurred right beside the vehicle and one had to shoot downwards at the animals eliminating all bokeh. Eventually, the guides started to understand what we wanted, and began to do their best to get the sun on our backs, and maximize unobstructed shooting. By our last day, we were saddled with a guide that went out of his way to get us just the most absolutely best shots we could get despite the heavy clouds and lack of light (it is winter there now making for really short days and some rain)
Now the good stuff... We got to see so many many things, our schedule was booked from 4AM till 8PM just about every single day. This did not include all the fun and hijinks that occurred throughout the evening (Ant, my brother Steve and I bunked in one treehouse). We went zip-lining, competed in some archery, saw how the local villagers lived including visiting an elementary school, visited a wildlife rehabilitation center, visited several gaming preserves that allowed amazing close-up opportunities with and much more! We ate 6 awesome meals a day with each meal practically including an appetizer, main course and tasty dessert. (I gained 7 lbs ) We made good lifelong friends with the other guests Gerossimos (Greece), Kylie, and Grace (Australia). We were of course, at our best behavior... Yeah right! We couldn't have been a more crude, crass bunch of guys, but they dealt with us with a lot of understanding and good humor. The staff was more than accommodating and our hosts Greg and Karen Sweeney provided us with a lifetime of memories we will soon not forget. Their site can be found HERE
For example, video of me going down the zipline HERE
Another video of Anthony zipping down the wire HERE
Please note there is some crude humor and some gore in a few of these shots so I hope you are not easily offended! Well let's start the show! I hope you are sitting down!
4. And the crude humor begins! The captain turned off the air conditioning for some reason before we left, and it started getting real warm in the plane. Ant and I had some thoughts about it. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5184/5751678639_e990a09e19_o.jpg
5. Our first stop from San Francisco was NYC. I wish to thank Eric (Eyelaser) for getting his son to pick up a couple of better beamers for Ant and my brother. It was kind of you to get those for us Eric! Here we are at Times Square! Woohoo! http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2176/5752223266_9157b9b3a9_o.jpg
46. We visited a preschool/kindergarten where we spent sometime with the children handing our gifts to the ones that were getting good grades! This little girl started crying when she saw people from another country with flashing and speaking a strange language! http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3299/5755681458_cc4ef4f20c_o.jpg
Welcome back Conrad. Looks like you had the time of your life. Normally 100 shots would be way too many, but not this time. I feel as if I've been to Africa, at least as close as I can feel without actually going. You're such a GREAT storyteller with words and images. Love all the scenic stuff city and rural, images of you guys and of course the wildlife, wow, wow wow. Too many to comment on, but I'm so impressed and so happy for you. 97, 98 and 99 are breath taking congrats. Looking forward to more 100 shot posts Bravo!
DUDE!!! WOW!!! Very impressive shots my friend, and with surprisingly clean BG's. So did ANT end up getting violated by a pack of angry monkeys? Hahahahahaha WAY WAY TOO many shots to pic, they are all my favs. Well done my friend, well done.
Sevan
THE ANT DANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ROTFLMAO! Way too funny, was he drunk?
Wow Conrad, just Wow! really fantastic stuff, thanks for sharing these wonderful images. There are a lot of cool things that you saw, but I agree, that Lilac breasted roller is fantastic.
-Andrew
Great post Conrad, you saw an awesome selection of animals and birds for one trip.
Where to start on picking out images from 100 picture post? The ones that really stand out for me are the Honey Badger, the Caracal (amazing to see one at all, let alone in daytime and posing so well), the Wild Dog, the running slow shutter speed Cheetah, the Scops Owl, the close up of the King of the Jungle (no.85), the Leopard in a tree and the Lilac Breasted Roller.
A fabulous seris and a very suitable way to mark you 15,000 post!
Absolutely sensational - NG eat your heart out. This is why I've just joined this forum - to see and learn how to shoot shots like those. Think I need a return trip to Africa.
me too