Away for a while
November 25, 2008
I am currently in Lusaka, far away from the Valley and already missing it terribly. I won’t be returning until early January when the river is full again and we can use the boat to get back to camp. I will still be posting here throughout December with images from the past season although probably not as often.
This is a photo of the largest of the three Mwamba males who seem to have taken over the Hollywoods’ territory. He is just entering into his prime and by next year he will be a very impressive lion with a nice big mane. There was a lot of mating going on in the weeks before I left camp (with random females – some of which swam across the river from the Nsefu side of the park!) so hopefully there will be plenty cubs around next season as well..
Content Copyright Patrick Bentley Photography
Baby impalas
November 18, 2008
It is that time of year again when the impala drop their young in preparation for the lushness of the rains. Unfortunately they are very secretive in this area and run off as soon as a vehicle approaches. I like this photo as it shows what you normally see – mother and baby running away at high speed..
Content Copyright Patrick Bentley Photography
Moon rise over the Luangwa
November 16, 2008
Content Copyright Patrick Bentley Photography
Backlit puku
November 13, 2008
We have had some very windy days over the last week with storms building up and breaking in patches all over the valley. The air is thick with that damp, dusty smell of the first rains and there is a definite tension as we all wait with anticipation for the real rains to arrive. It is certainly an exciting (and extremely hot!) time of year…
Content Copyright Patrick Bentley Photography
Conifer eagle
November 8, 2008
This striking bird is an immature Bateleur. It is sometimes known as the conifer eagle because it’s feathers resemble a conifer or pine cone when fluffed up like this. It takes seven years to attain the red legs and facial skin as well as the black and chestnut plumage of the even more striking adult Bateleur.
Content Copyright Patrick Bentley Photography
Buffalo abstract
November 4, 2008
I shot this abstract photograph of an old bull buffalo at midday today in very harsh light. I underexposed the image severely so that the highlights formed the general outline and the rest of the photo turned to pitch black.
Content Copyright Patrick Bentley Photography
Saddle-billed storks
November 1, 2008
I came across this pair of Saddle-billed storks fishing in a lagoon near here late yesterday evening. I thought their reflections looked quite interesting rotated to give a more abstract image. It is getting extremely hot here now but still not much evidence of rains apart from the odd rumble of thunder in the distance. This time of year is always exciting with the anticipation of the rainy season bringing cooler weather and transforming the valley to lush greenness again..
Content Copyright Patrick Bentley Photography
