Before you enjoy this amazing story just a note on the photography. Just imagine wildlife living their lives on the short grass of the Topi Plains in the Greater Mara. In the migration season the multitude of wildebeest, zebra and other antelope will mow the grass down to mere centimeters in height. Simply put we can just park the CNP photography vehicle for the light and photograph all subjects against clean backgrounds.
Truly world class opportunities with world class results!
The second group that joined me in February had the luxury of a 10 day stay. These blog images represent their work for a single morning. Just imagine what they shot over their 10 day stay. In short the story line goes something like this:
Hyenas take down African Buffalo Calf at sunrise
Les Penfold – Hyenas taking down Buffalo Calf
Nikon D5 with Nikon 600mm f4,0 / F 11 @ 1/1600sec/ ISO 1250/ EV -1.3
Young pride male takes over the kill from hyenas
Mike Haworth – Pride Male taking over kill
Nikon D810 with nikon 70-200mm F2.8 + 2.0 X Converter / F10 @ 1/5000sec/ ISO 1600/ EV – 1.0
Tawny Eagles scavenge for bits of meat scattered over a large area
Duncan Blackburn – Scavenging Tawny Eagles
Nikon D5 with Nikon 600mm F4.0 + 1.4 X Converter/ F10 @ 1/5000sec/ ISO 3200/ EV -0.7
Another younger male rushes to join the first- no female or cubs allowed at the kill what so ever!
Jeany Heinlein – Young Male Joining The Party
Nikon D500 with Tamron 150-600mm F6.3/ F11 @ 1/2000 sec/ISO 640/ EV -1.3
As the pride lionesses and cubs move across the Topi Plains they are joined by two of the three senior pride males. Miraculously the young males got away with everything!
Les Penfold – Double Crossing Pride On The Move
Nikon D5 with Tamron 150-600mm F6.3 / F14 @ 1/4000sec/ ISO 800/ EV -1.3
Intimate stories as the pride moves across the plains 1
Sorentia Heinlein – You Are Not Serious Dad !
Nikon D500 with Tamron 150-600mm F6.3/ F8 @ 1/8000sec/ ISO 640/ EV – 1.0
Intimate stories as the pride moves across the plains 2
Jeany Heinlein – No bonding please!
Nikon D500 with Tamron 150-600mm F6.3/ F13 @ 1/2000sec/ ISO 720/ EV – 1.3
Intimate stories as the pride moves across the plains 3
Duncan Blackburn – Not A Care In The World
Nikon D850 with Tamron 150-600mm F6.3/ F16 @ 1/1250sec/ISO 3200 / EV -0.7
It is all over so let us find a tree to have our morning coffee. Oh there is an airborne Topi !
Les Penfold – Topi in mid air
Nikon D5 with Nikon 150-600mm F6.3 / F10 @ 1/3200sec/ ISO 800/ EV -1.3
…. and 100meters further an Impala herd doing the same thing!
Mike Haworth – Airborne Impala
Nikon D5 with Nikon 600mm F4.0 + 1.4 X Converter / F5.6 @ 1/3200sec/ ISO 800/ EV – 0.7
After great Kenya Coffee we spend time with a small herd of elephants with some very young calfs. The matriarch accepts our presence and we can photograph amazing calf behaviour.
Sorentia Heinlein – Eternal Mates
Nikon D850 with Nikon 400mm F2.8 + 2.0 x Converter / F9 @ 1/8000sec/ ISO 640/ EV – 1.7
Warm photography greetings from the Topi Flats in the Greater Mara. Lou Coetzer