Uploads from BrankyGrad, with geodata

contrast

nobody@flickr.com (BrankyGrad) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 04:53:32 -0700

BrankyGrad posted a photo:

Clear blue sky. Quite different from what we've got going on around here today. I'm so tired from traveling this weekend I needed something bright (blue!) and cheerful for Monday morning.

I liked the contrast between the older brick building, with all its ornamental details and the Transamerica's modern lines and bright white color. Is that crazy?

Happy Monday, all!

Chess, anyone?

nobody@flickr.com (BrankyGrad) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 04:54:47 -0800

BrankyGrad posted a photo:

We interrupt our regularly scheduled African wildlife and landscapes to bring you something slightly different. But still taken in Africa :-)

The morning before we left to head for home, I had fun playing with the 50mm lens. Not something that got a lot of use over the course of the trip. I mean, you get close to the animals, but not that close. It subsequently had to go into the shop for repairs. I swear, I didn't do it!

Better on Black

HBW!

potty bokeh

nobody@flickr.com (BrankyGrad) — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 05:00:54 -0800

BrankyGrad posted a photo:

If you're squeamish, you might want to move along. Nothing to see here.

So, hippos spend most of their days in the water, and walk into the bush each night to feed. They mark their paths so they can find their way back in a hurry (at least, that's what our guides said). How do they mark them, you ask? Well, this tree is marked. With poo. Yep. The males make this funny windshield wiper-like action with their tails and spray crap everywhere. Literally. And I felt the need to take the picture which you see here. Aren't you glad you stopped by today?

South Luangwa National Park, Zambia.

HBWacj! (or perhaps, HPW?)

Informational Update: (since people wondered) The person in the bokeh was the scout that was with us on this walking safari. To go on a walking safari (where you're quite literally walking around, without the protection of a vehicle), in South Luangwa, you must be accompanied by an armed scout (lest someone get charged by an elephant or lion or something). He's carrying a rifle, which in the 15-20 years he has been a scout, he told us he only had to fire a handful of times. I don't know that he ever shot to kill, warning shots seem to do the trick most of the time. My understanding is that the national park employs the scouts and assigns them to the camps.

I was amazed at how alert he was. Here he walked ahead of the group slightly to keep an eye on things and scan the surroundings ahead. We touristy-types were looking at things (and in my case taking pictures of poo), and he was ahead, making sure we stayed safe. His attention never wavered for a minute. It was amazing!

yawn

nobody@flickr.com (BrankyGrad) — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 03:14:52 -0800

BrankyGrad posted a photo:

Because really, the babies just look like they're yawning. I want one.
I also love the evil eye the hippo all the way on the right looks like it is giving. They really weren't too happy we joined them in the water.

Kafue National Park, Zambia

The baby is so little, you've got to see this bigger.

Onward, towards Friday!

nobody@flickr.com (BrankyGrad) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:03:49 -0800

BrankyGrad posted a photo:

Pretty please, take a look on black. Happy Monday!

Camouflage x2

nobody@flickr.com (BrankyGrad) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 04:48:10 -0800

BrankyGrad posted a photo:

Another shot from the scary lion sighting. You can really tell how impressive it was that my mother spotted these ladies, and how creepy they were.

I swear, there are two of them in there.

Kafue National Park, Zambia

Much, much better on black. Seriously.

Safari Limo

nobody@flickr.com (BrankyGrad) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 04:28:36 -0800

BrankyGrad posted a photo:

This sturdy Land Cruiser took us all over Zambia's Busanga Plains. It was fun to see it sitting by itself when we were on our boat ride.

Kafue National Park, Zambia

View On Black

You look tasty

nobody@flickr.com (BrankyGrad) — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 07:06:36 -0800

BrankyGrad posted a photo:

So, there were probably at least 10 vehicles around this leopard by the time we finally moved on. It was a little ridiculous, but she (I don't know if it really was a she, but since she's pretty we'll go with that) couldn't have been less interested. This was really just the end of a yawn, but I still thought it was pretty funny :-)

Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana.

Her spots pop better on black

nobody@flickr.com (BrankyGrad) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 05:07:26 -0800

BrankyGrad posted a photo:

This guy was super cooperative. He stood right in front of the vehicle in several different poses!

So, after 3 months of posting, I'm starting to run out of shots. Thanks for reliving the trip with me! I do still have some more to post, but the end is in sight. *sigh*

Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana.

He's closer to life-sized here. Not.

where's the snowflake?

nobody@flickr.com (BrankyGrad) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 03:28:21 -0800

BrankyGrad posted a photo:

This is really the beginning of a yawn (cats are very sleepy creatures, no matter their size), but I couldn't help but laugh. Doesn't it look just like she's waiting for a snowflake to land on her tongue?

Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana

View On Black

flying

nobody@flickr.com (BrankyGrad) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 05:21:17 -0800

BrankyGrad posted a photo:

The focus is a little soft on this kingfisher (does this qualify as 'blartsy'?), but I couldn't resist sharing it anyway :)
Happy Monday!

Kafue National Park, Zambia.

He pops a bit better on black.

Pretty kitty

nobody@flickr.com (BrankyGrad) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 08:23:25 -0800

BrankyGrad posted a photo:

I've been wanting to post this leopard for quite some time, but I wasn't ever happy with the processing. S/he was up in a tree, so the light was kinda weird. Yippee for magical Lightroom presets! :-) I'll probably post another couple of this one, so be prepared!

Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana

Even prettier large on black!

I hope he can't get in this boat

nobody@flickr.com (BrankyGrad) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 04:32:18 -0800

BrankyGrad posted a photo:

That's pretty much what I was thinking as I took this. We were in a little flat-bottomed boat that didn't seem like it would have held up to a big croc trying to climb in. Fortunately this one wasn't full grown.

Kafue National Park, Zambia.

Take a look at his creepy little eyes, here.

oh, the angles

nobody@flickr.com (BrankyGrad) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 05:21:23 -0800

BrankyGrad posted a photo:

giraffes are a bit awkward when they drink, wouldn't you say?
This one was quite far away, but I couldn't resist getting some shots of it taking a drink :-)

Moremi Game Reserve

View the hilarity on a larger scale

Poser

nobody@flickr.com (BrankyGrad) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 08:03:01 -0800

BrankyGrad posted a photo:

HBWE!

Kafue National Park, Zambia

Get a better view of this guy voguing here

Man vs. Falls

nobody@flickr.com (BrankyGrad) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 04:25:32 -0800

BrankyGrad posted a photo:

Definitely thought this guy was crazy when we saw him. But as it turns out, there is an island right at the edge of the falls that you can take a little boat ride out to, and go and stand right near the edge. Which we did later in the day...except I skipped the standing-right-at-the-edge part. :)

Livingstone, Zambia.

Large on Black, if you prefer.

mystery long neck

nobody@flickr.com (BrankyGrad) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 04:04:07 -0800

BrankyGrad posted a photo:

I have completely forgotten what kind of bird this is. I love the long neck, though. And boy was it pretty well camouflaged in the burnt grass!

UPDATE: Thanks to pdxsafariguy for identifying this as a bustard.
Also called a korhaan. Thanks piga picha and WISEGuy2!

Kafue National Park, Zambia

Grass does make for some fairly nice details.

baby

nobody@flickr.com (BrankyGrad) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 05:24:22 -0800

BrankyGrad posted a photo:

This cub was SO cute. Wish the light hadn't been behind them. And that I had set the ISO higher. But hey, it was a learning process :-)

This shot felt appropriate to post today b/c I met my friend's 3-week-old son on Saturday. Well worth the 24 hour detour to Canada!

Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana

If you're up for it.

naptime?

nobody@flickr.com (BrankyGrad) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 04:23:59 -0700

BrankyGrad posted a photo:

Off to a wedding today, and somehow this shot felt wedding appropriate :-)

Kind of a strange crop, although I didn't actually crop it at all. But way too cute of a moment to not post it.

Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana

Happy Halloween!

look at me, look at me!

nobody@flickr.com (BrankyGrad) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 04:21:24 -0700

BrankyGrad posted a photo:

Grey crowned crane. This doesn't really do it justice, he looked so magnificent flapping his wings. Believe it or not, he wasn't taking off or anything, just showing off to everyone around him. :-)

If you want, take a better look. He wants you to.