marc2307 Offline Upload & Sell: Off
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| p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Lioness V Mongoose, (500PF) plus a few more from Botswana. | |
Have been quite busy of late with trips as varied as Serengeti, Bavarian Alps, Swedish Lapland, and have just returned from Uganda and soon leave for a 3 week assignment to Ecuador- Galapagos/Amazon, but not complaining for one minute!
So I've grabbed a bit of time to process a late Sept trip before all these from my time spent in the NG12 concession in the Okavango Delta/Botswana whereby I had just a few days to prepare my newly purchased (Sept 23rd) Nikkor 500PF, on this trip the light weight prime proved an ideal combo for an encounter with 2 lionesses and a family of mongoose!
"Mongoose mayhem!"
I followed a pair of lionesses for over 3 hours knowing their preference for daylight hunting.
Thinking and hoping they were about to strike on a lone drinking Giraffe, however with lions being big curious cats, the pair got distracted by a family of Banded Mongoose that panicked attempting to scramble to safety with mongoose scattering here there and everywhere, she struck out at a separated mongoose striking a flattening blow, but somehow the fearless foe wrangled free managing a miraculous escape!
It was such a thrill to witness this rare and exciting David versus Goliath moment, that had a fortunate ending for all the family!
Being F/F I make no apologies for the cut tail and having the amazing lightweight 500PF in my lap enabled me to grab a 5/6 frame sequence, having a bigger, heavier prime, such as my 400/2.8E may not have seen me so fortunate to capture anything, as this sequence was all over in seconds.
Camera: Nikon D500
Lens: AF-S Nikkor 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR
ISO: 360
Focal Length: 500.0 mm (750.0 mm in 35mm)
Aperture: f/6.3
Exposure Time: 1/2500s

The 2nd frame from this sequence missed focus here, but with 5 in 6 hitting the mark, I'll take it.



The lucky Mongoose escapes and darts off just out of frame.

"Predator on the mound"
A young male leopard uses a large termite mound to scan the evening plains for his favourite Reedbuck meal.
Camera: Nikon D850
Lens: AF-S Nikkor 70-200 f/2.8E FL VR
ISO: 1100
Focal Length: 200mm
Aperture: f/6.3
Exposure Time: 1/800s

"Three dog night"
A trio of Wild Dog (from the 11 pack) have finally given up the chase for an Impala.
Camera: Nikon D850
Lens: AF-S Nikkor 70-200 f/2.8E FL VR
ISO: 800
Focal Length: 86mm
Aperture: f/6.3
Exposure Time: 1/1600s

"Sub adult male leopard"
Early evening and with the sun already set an 18 month old male leopard stares down my lens whilst lounging on a termite mound.
Camera: Nikon D500
Lens: AF-S Nikkor 500PF E FL VR
ISO:1800
Focal Length: 500.0 mm (750.0 mm in 35mm)
Aperture: f/5.6
Exposure Time:1/1000s

"Treehole lookout"
A young leopardess disappeared into a hole at the base of this Jackalberry tree and exited out through an opening half way up, how cool was that!
Camera: Nikon D850
Lens: AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR
ISO: 500
Focal Length: 200.0 mm
Aperture: f/5.6
Exposure Time: 1/2500s

"..........And stay out!"
4 African Wild Dog (from the 11 pack) harass and "escort" a panicky hyena out of their area.
Camera: Nikon D500
Lens: AF-S Nikkor 500PF E FL VR
ISO: 360
Focal Length: 500.0 mm (750.0 mm in 35mm)
Aperture: f/5.6
Exposure Time: 1/1250s

"Young male leopard portrait"
Camera: Nikon D500
Lens: AF-S Nikkor 500PF E FL VR
ISO: 2000
Focal Length: 500.0 mm (750.0 mm in 35mm)
Aperture: f/5.6
Exposure Time: 1/1000s

"Little Bee-eater"
Camera: Nikon D500
Lens: AF-S Nikkor 500PF E FL VR
ISO: 800
Focal Length: 500.0 mm (750.0 mm in 35mm)
Aperture: f/5.6
Exposure Time: 1/1000s

Cheers
Marc
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