This black-crested macaque seemed to be posing for me as I snapped away. I’ve posted many shots of these monkeys before and as you can see, they can be very human looking at times. Photographed in Tangkoko National Park in Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 75mm) ISO 800, f/2.8 at 1/320th of a second
While in Tasmania, I spent an afternoon driving up to Ben Lomond National Park, which is in the northeast corner of the state. The light wasn’t great, but a fisheye lens can be quite forgiving, and I was able to capture this almost aerial view of the mountainous landscape.
Nikon D800 with Sigma 15mm fisheye lens, ISO 400, f/8 at 1/800th of a second
Interesting fact about the bat-eared fox — the males are the primary care givers to the young, unlike most other canines. The mothers will lactate for about 15 weeks, after which the males take over grooming, defending, huddling, chaperoning, and carrying the young between den sites. I photographed this bat-eared fox in the Masai Mara of Kenya on a rainy afternoon.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 300mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/250th of a second
King penguins can be very comical first thing in the morning. They are extremely tentative as they contemplate actually getting into the water. These guys all seemed to be waiting for someone to take the plunge before joining in.
Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/800th of a second
Genets can be common visitors around camps at night throughout much of Africa. This one came for a visit one night in Botswana. I’ll usually take my camera to dinner with me in hopes of such an encounter. Genets are sometimes called genet cats, but they aren’t cats at all and are more closely related to the mongoose.
Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 640, f/4 at 1/60th of a second, two Nikon SB-900 flash units
I have a lot of tight, frame-filling shots of white rhinos, but I prefer adding a bit of the environment when possible, especially since rhinos have such an iconic shape. This one was taken in the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya. Being November and in the middle of the short rains, the landscape was lush with vegetation and the skies were full of photogenic clouds. Rhinos, of course, are an endangered species, so always great to see them no matter the conditions. White rhinos are doing considerably better than many of their cousins, however, and are currently listed as the more encouraging “near threatened.”
Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 98mm) ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/1600th of a second
This is the colorful, yet odd looking, imperial shag — also known as the imperial cormorant. They were nesting on the southern edge of Sea Lion Island in the Falklands. All day, they would fly out to sea before returning with a beak full of kelp.
Nikon D810 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 175mm) ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/2000th of a second
Also known as the crab-eating macaque, these monkeys have a long history of living alongside humans. In the past, they’ve been seen as both pests, and as sacred. They are now best known for their role in medical research. I met this young macaque just outside my bungalow while staying in Tanjung Puting National Park in Borneo, Indonesia. My next post will be next Wednesday as I’ll be taking a long weekend to go visit family.
Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 800, f/2.8 at 1/250th of a second
This wombat was scurrying along as the sun hit the horizon late one afternoon. I was on Maria Island, a bit of a Noah’s Arc of Tasmanian wildlife, just off the southeast coast.
Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/4 at 1/400th of a second
Always nice to see these giant creatures with plenty of room to roam. The Ol Pajeta Conservancy in Kenya, where I took this photo, is an interesting place. During the colonial days, the 90,000 acres of land were used for cattle grazing (wild animals, at the time, were deemed to have no value to landowners and they were displaced for the most part by ranchers). Elephants, however, always used the land as a transit route. Eventually, cattle ranching became less profitable, and it became too expensive to continually repair the fences that the elephants inevitably destroyed. Over the years, several different conservation groups have helped return the land to its wild origins. Today, it not only is inhabited by elephants, but by many other African plains animals, including the big five (elephants, lions, leopards, buffalo and rhino).
Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 170mm) ISO 400, f/2.8 at 1/1000th of a second