Wildlife images
A recent facebook post with wildlife images received some generous feedback, so I thought I’d post some more on this blog, along with some commentary.
Before proceeding with the main event, however, please forgive me for some shameless self promotion. Recent blogs on a trip I made around Scotland, primarily on the NC500 road route, also received kind feedback. Well, images and blog extracts have now been collated into an iBook and can be found here —> Scotland and the North Coast 500 for the bargain basement price of £5.99. I also have some merchandise available on the Redbubble store. Mugs, stickers and other tat.
OK, with that out of the way, let’s get on with the show. Now, full disclosure, some of these images were taken in a zoo/bird park. I fully appreciate this can be an emotive issue and I do want to avoid any controversial discussions or heated arguments, but let me share my thoughts.
Without question I believe the ideal place to see birds and animals is in their natural habitat. I have seen whales in the wild, gorilla-trekked in the mountains of Rwanda, photographed wild crocodiles and snapped a little red robin in my mother’s garden. So I get it.
However, I also believe that we do not live in an ideal world and that zoos - if properly run with the goals of preservation, rehabilitation and education - have a place. At least for now. And animal welfare has to be a prime consideration.
Now that is out of the way, just one more observation with regards to wildlife photography. Equipment does matter. I am fortunate to have a good range of camera equipment and lenses and many/most/all of these shots could not have been taken with a camera phone. Yes, you can take good images with smartphones, but sometimes equipment matters, certainly in wildlife photography. I profess no great skills, the equipment helps me.
Now onto the stars of the show - these wonderful birds and animals! We probably all need a touch of nature in these Lockdown Days, so let me share some images I have found in my archives over recent weeks - please enjoy!
Taken in the wild, on safari in Rwanda. These are zebras, in case anyone doesn’t know. :-) This image is a few years old now, 2015, I think.
Common Kingfisher, snapped in Singapore at a local park. Pretty pleased with this one, kingfishers can be hard to catch, fast little devils. Had a long zoom lens on, heavy tripod for stabilisation - not taken with a smartphone. :-)
Taken in Singapore Zoo - it’s an “open concept” zoo, the orang utans are not in cages, they have a large “open roaming” area. Yes, I agree, the world would be in a better place if they could roam freely and safely in the wild.
Singapore Zoo. I don’t think I need to add any words to this one.
An olive-backed sunbird, taken earlier this year - pre lockdown - in a Singapore park. Big camera, big lens, big tripod.
A male mandrill, taken in Singapore Zoo. Not sure he wanted his pic taken. Prob doesn’t want to be in a zoo either. A beautiful animal - those teeth!
OK, back to the wild and one of the most memorable experiences of my life. Several hours of trekking across plains, up mountains and through jungle paths brought is to a family of gorillas. Time with them was limited but truly incredible. Zoom lens used here, social distances had to be kept. Might do a blog on Rwanda at some point.
There were a few youngsters in the gorilla family and they were curious wee devils! This one in particular regularly approached our group, natural curiosity I guess. He would get fairly close - 10 feet or so - and start playing, rolling over, making noises, looking at us all - his mum would then come over and pick him up and take him away. When she wasn’t looking, he’d come back to us again - it was wonderful!
Let’s finish the gorilla images with the Big Fella, the silverback. Huge, powerful, gentle. Wouldn’t make him angry though…
Otters are becoming an increasingly common sight in Singapore - a family was even found using a condo swimming pool just a few weeks ago…
This fella seemed to garner some interest - this prehistoric looking beauty is a Shoebill Stork”. Native to the wetlands of eastern Africa, but this was taken in Singapore bird park many years ago. Listed as endangered, sadly…
A hungry stork…
A golden egret in flight, with a fish for supper…
Let’s throw in a snake. Before lockdown kicked in, I had just started going out to local areas where snakes can be spotted - but i’s not easy, they can be very hard to find. Here’s a juvenile mangrove pit viper…
A whale tale - or “fluke” to give it the proper name…Taken off the Gold Coast in Australia
I think I’ll end this one here before I bore you all too much - but I hope some of these images have been of interest. I may well do another nature collection at some point soon. Nature around us is a joy to see at times and we need to take more care of the living world…and ourselves…
Many thanks for looking at my blog - stay safe, everyone!
Fatman xxx