Finally, I got to see the Cheetahs!

I arrived at Rietvlei Nature Reserve just after 06:00 on 16 December 2017, and it started like most of these visits do…, seeing zebra.

Three zebras moseying along!

I have been visiting Rietvlei Nature Reserve for many years, and several years ago, Cheetahs were reintroduced to the reserve. Since then I have been hoping that I would be able to spot them. I only once got to see them, and it was very fleeting. I am on the Rietvlei Photographers WhatsApp group, and I started receiving many messages that the cats had been spotted. I made my way over and eventually got to see them. Since that time I had been hoping that I would get to find the cats by myself. That opportunity finally presented itself.

Cheetah mom and cubs (about 80m away) Latitude: 25° 52.983'S, Longitude: 28° 17.646'E

I was on my way to the Otter Bridge (Latitude: 25° 52.888'S, Longitude: 28° 17.722'E) when I looked to my left, and on this mound I could see what I thought was a log. But, as I moved the log kept on changing shape, which is quite logical, since I kept changing the angle at which I saw this log. But then, the log seemed to look suspiciously like it had what to my poor eyesight, looked like cheetah ears. I stopped my car and took my Sony camera with a 150-500mm Sigma lens on it to see what I was looking at, and there it was; not just one cheetah, but FOUR! I moved my car around so that the driver’s window faced them, and settled in for the long haul. I stayed in that position for two and a half hours, until they all moved to the other side of the mound and I could no longer see them. I didn’t want to stay there in case they left on the other side while I waited this side for nothing. So, I decided to move on and then return this way a little later.

On my meanderings I came across dandelions—not a code word for fancy lions—and black wildebeest.

Dandelion

Black Wildebeest

On my return to the Otter Bridge, approaching from the opposite end, the cheetahs were about to cross the bridge. I stopped in one of the parking spots with a good angle to see the cheetahs, and they certainly did not disappoint. They passed within feet of my car. What an amazing experience!

Mom and cubs about to cross the Otter Bridge!

One of the cubs!

Mom and two of her cubs!

After getting this rare opportunity to be so close to them and to photograph them I decided that it was time to go home. My day had just become an amazing day!

To see more of my photographs, please visit my Flickr account!

New Camera Addition

For some time now I’ve been thinking that a second camera would really be nice.  You know, you are out somewhere walking in the bushes with a 150-500mm lens on the camera, and then you see something that would be captured much easier with a small lens. So, off comes the camera backpack, and the swapping of lenses ensues. You take the photograph, and the lenses are then swapped in reverse order. That is simply annoying.

My main configuration is my Sony A37-SLT with a Sigma DG 15-500mm 1:5-6.3 APO HSM lens. I do still use the Sony 3.5-5.6 18-55 SAM kit lens that came with the camera and also a Sony DT 4.5-5.6 55-300 SAM lens, but that happens seldom, since having to swap lenses isn’t always convenient.

This is a problem for many photographers. The problem is that if photography isn’t what pays your bills, then buying a second camera willy-nilly isn’t always part of the budget. And, if it is like my own budget, then a second camera is definitely not on the cards.

As a result, it was always just a dream to have a second camera. Window shopping without ever laying out the money to get it! In other words…, just a dream! And it was never a case of wanting to buy the best there is, because frankly, the best there is will break our family budget into tiny little pieces that will waft away in the first little breeze that comes along!

So, there I was, wondering how many eBucks I had. eBucks are loyalty points associated with the First National Bank here in South Africa. These eBucks can then be used at the many partners that take these points as money, or you could go straight into the eBucks store to buy whatever is in the store. I started browsing around and found that they sold cameras and accessories.

While browsing through the cameras I realized that I had enough eBucks to buy the Canon EOS 1200D. The deal included the body, the EFS 18-55mm kit lens, a Canon bag and a memory card. It was totally unexpected, but there I was, having enough eBucks to essentially get the camera for free. What providence!

At last! Now I had a second camera that I could use for subjects that were close.

According to eBucks it could take up to 10 working days for delivery, so I was very surprised 2 days later when it was delivered.

I am happy with the purchase. It takes very good looking photographs. Of course, it handles very differently to the Sony, and I had to get used to that first.

Here are 2 of my initial photographs that I shot with the Canon…

This was a hand-held shot at Rietvlei Nature Reserve since I didn’t have a tripod with me.
ISO100 – F5.6 – 1/800 – 55mm

 

This was also a hand-held shot at home when it was dusk.
ISO200 – F5.6 – 1/200 – 55mm – Flash

 

Happy photographing!

Moreleta Kloof Nature Reserve - 2014-11-16

This time, when I visited the Moreleta Kloof Nature Reserve on 16 Nov 2014, I was lucky to take a photograph of a Greater Striped Swallow, which is a really pretty bird.

Greater Striped Swallow

Hardware
Camera:	Sony SLT-A37
Lens:	Sigma DG 150-500mm 5-6.3 APO HSM
Photo Settings
Aperture:	f/9
Shutter:	1/640
ISO:	200
Focal Length:	500mm (35mm Eq = 750mm)

Blood lily

Hardware
Camera:	Sony SLT-A37
Lens:	Sigma DG 150-500mm 5-6.3 APO HSM
Photo Settings
Aperture:	f/6.3
Shutter:	1/500
ISO:	400
Focal Length:	500mm (35mm Eq = 750mm)

Hiding Impala

Hardware
Camera:	Sony SLT-A37
Lens:	Sigma DG 150-500mm 5-6.3 APO HSM
Photo Settings
Aperture:	f/6.3
Shutter:	1/1000
ISO:	200
Focal Length:	360mm (35mm Eq = 540mm)

What bird am I?

Hardware
Camera:	Sony SLT-A37
Lens:	Sigma DG 150-500mm 5-6.3 APO HSM
Photo Settings
Aperture:	f/6.3
Shutter:	1/1000
ISO:	200
Focal Length:	500mm (35mm Eq = 750mm)

Yellow Masked Weaver

Hardware
Camera:	Sony SLT-A37
Lens:	Sigma DG 150-500mm 5-6.3 APO HSM
Photo Settings
Aperture:	f/6.3
Shutter:	1/1000
ISO:	200
Focal Length:	500mm (35mm Eq = 750mm)

Yellow Masked Weaver

Hardware
Camera:	Sony SLT-A37
Lens:	Sigma DG 150-500mm 5-6.3 APO HSM
Photo Settings
Aperture:	f/6.3
Shutter:	1/1000
ISO:	200
Focal Length:	500mm (35mm Eq = 750mm)

Yellow Masked Weaver

Hardware
Camera:	Sony SLT-A37
Lens:	Sigma DG 150-500mm 5-6.3 APO HSM
Photo Settings
Aperture:	f/6.3
Shutter:	1/1000
ISO:	200
Focal Length:	500mm (35mm Eq = 750mm)

Ostrich with her chicks

Hardware
Camera:	Sony SLT-A37
Lens:	Sigma DG 150-500mm 5-6.3 APO HSM
Photo Settings
Aperture:	f/9
Shutter:	1/800
ISO:	200
Focal Length:	210mm (35mm Eq = 315mm)

Moreleta Kloof Nature Reserve–18 October 2014

I realized, as I was preparing for this blog post, that I haven’t created any posts between my last post (of Moreleta Kloof Nature Reserve - MKNR), and this one, even though I have been taking pictures all over in between. I will have to rectify that some time!

Anyway, MKNR is one of my favourite places to visit for 4 reasons:

1. It is free to visit the reserve;
2. You can walk through the reserve (many come to do some jogging here);
3. You essentially get much closer to the animals;
4. It is only 7km (4.35mi) from where I live.

So, here are a few of the pics I shot in the 3 hours I spent here.

The pic above is of a Cardinal Woodpecker

 

Impalas checking me out, wondering what their next move should be.

 

Zebra having breakfast.

 

Created with flickr slideshow.

Rietvlei Nature Reserve–4 Jan 2014

I visited the Rietvlei Nature Reserve yesterday. I go there so often because there are so many animals. They have all kinds of animals, from buck, to zebra, to rhinos. They have an array of birds that can be seen at the bird hides.

With the pic below I played a bit with my in-camera HDR. Interesting detail that popped up!

You can see some of the photos I took there yesterday in the slide show below.

I ran into some zebra with a foal. Cute little thing! I was also lucky to pass three huge rhinos. They were within 3 meters from the car.

Enjoy!

Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens–28 Dec 2012

We visited the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens on 28 December 2012.

The gardens are truly beautiful and is well worth the visit. There is lots of plant life to see and a beautiful waterfall. We did not see the whole park, but what we saw was good.

Address	Entrance Fees
Adults: R27 Pensioners & Disabled: R22 Students: R22 Scholars: R12 Children under 6 yrs: Free BOTSOC members: Free Pensioners: Free on Tuesdays Please note: Entrance fees are more on concert days	View on Google Maps End of Malcolm Rd Poortview, Roodepoort Gauteng South Africa Postal Address: P.O. Box 2194, Wilropark, 1731 GPS Co-ordinates: 27°50'40.7"E 26°05'13.8"S Long 27.84463 Lat -26.08716

For more pics, see the slideshow below…

Tukkies - 31-03-2012

Last Saturday I decided to visit the University of Pretoria (Tukkies) at their South Street entrance. That is where their Sport Centre is and also a man made pond in which there is an island and lots of birds.

The GPS coordinates for the Sport Centre:	25°45'16.07"S
	28°14'59.11"E

Here are a couple of pics from my visit:

You can view the rest of the pictures below.

Spring is in the air!

Over the weekend I walked outside and suddenly noticed blossoms on one of our trees and flowers in the garden. I took a couple of pics.

With spring in the air, I noticed the blossoms in this tree in our front yard.

The 'Delicious Monster' in our back yard!

All the pictures have been compressed to about 30-40% of the original. Like I said in my opening post, I am a guy with a camera. Anyhow, hope you enjoy these pics.