Northern Namibia 2011

[tcom]

18 Our two Land Rover Defenders:
645D, FA645 75/2.8, f/7.1, 1/1000s, 100iso


Some kind of cricket in the grass:
19
K-5, DA*60-250, 250mm, f/4, 1/400s, 80iso

[tcom]

In the late afternoon, we enter the "Numasschlucht" at the Brandberg and stop for the night. We bild up our tents in less than 10 minutes, the local guide builds up the kitchen and starts to bake bread.

We take a walk in the region:
20
645D, DFA645 25/4, f/8, 1/400s, 100iso


21
645D, DFA645 25/4, f/8, 1/500s, 100iso

[tcom]

22
645D, DFA645 25/4, f/8, 1/100s, 100iso


The dinner is not as expected, while the food is excellent, the temperatures drop quickly to 12°C and a pretty strong freezing wind comes directly from the south Atlantic.

To be continued...

[tcom]

October 3rd

After this first night under tents, we continue the trip and head in northern direction.

23 Comiphora
645D, FA645 75/2.8, f/3.2, 1/2500s, 100iso


24 Tsiseb Conservancy
645D, FA645 75/2.8, f/6.3, 1/800s, 100iso

[tcom]

25 Desolation Valley
645D, FA645 75/2.8, f/6.3, 1/500s, 100iso


26
645D, FA645 75/2.8, f/6.3, 1/500s, 100iso

[tcom]

27
645D, DFA645 25/4, f/8, 1/500s, 100iso


After the Desolation Valley, we find a place in the shade to enjoy a lunch break
28
645D, DFA645 25/4, f/8, 1/800s, 100iso

[tcom]

29 Gecko
K-5, DA*60-250, 250mm, f/5.6, 1/320s, 80iso


In the later afternoon, we reached Camp Kipwe in the Twyvelfontein region

30 Bugalow Camp Kipwe
645D, DFA645 25/4, f/8, 1/320s, 100iso


31 View on Twyvelfontein
645D, DFA645 25/4, f/8, 1/250s, 100iso


to be continued...

[Ron Kruger]

Love how you used DOF on the lizard. Great  low angle. Great comp.

[tcom]

Thank you Ron.

I do regret a bit having had to take most of the photos in too harsh light. But well, in Namibia, you have harsh light from 8am to 5pm.

[tcom]

October 4th

We leave the lodge on the next morning and continue to head north.

The road brings us first from Twyvelfontein to Palmwag. I took this very same road back in 2009 and it was a perfect tar road, but now, it is more or less a pretty difficult track for 4wd vehicules. The reason is the last rainy season in March/April of this year when this perfect road has simply been washed away. From time to time, there are still short portions of the road, but most is washed away.

We first stop at the Palmwag Lodge to pay the entrance into the Palmwag Conservancy Area. Then, we continue and enter the Palmwag area. Pretty soon, we already see zebras, kudus and oryx, but most run away pretty quickly. I do just manage to get a zebra

32 Hartmann's Mountain zebra
K-5, DA*60-250, 250mm, f/4, 1/800s, 80iso


By midday we stop by the Aoub Canyon inside the Palmwag area.

33 Auob Canyon
645D, DFA645 25/4, f/6.3, 1/160s, 100iso

[tcom]

By the canyon are also some elephants, desert elephants

34
K-5, DA*60-250, 128mm, f/5, 1/640s, 80iso


35
K-5, DA*60-250, 250mm, f/5, 1/320s, 80iso

[tcom]

36 Springbok
K-5, DA*60-250, 250mm, f/5, 1/640s, 80iso


We leave the Palmwag Concession on the other side of the parc and continue towards the skeleton coast.

37
645D, DFA645 25/4, f/7.1, 1/250s, 100iso

[tcom]

But it is not because we are out of the concession area that we are not going to see animals. In fact, we do often see oryx, springboks and even some giraffes as well as quite a few birds as well.

38 Oryx with youngs
K-5, DA*60-250, 250mm, f/5, 1/1000s, 80iso


On one hand, I would have liked to have a longer lens than 250mm for this shot to get the youngs closer to the camera. But on the other hand, one can already clearly see the effect of the over 35°C (measured in the shadow), a much longer lens would hardly have been able to get a sharp shot.

39 Rüppell's Korhaan
K-5, DA*60-250, 250mm, f/5, 1/500s, 80iso

[tcom]

In the late afternoon, the local guide leaves the track and drives towards a group of smaller bushs, this is our place for the night. We are just 27km away from the Skeleton Coast Park (which we are not allowed to enter anyway) and 58km away from the Atlantic.

We build up our tents and enjoy the silence, apart from the wind from time to time, there is absolutely not any single noise.

40
645D, FA645 75/2.8, f/9, 1/60s, 100iso


41
645D, FA645 75/2.8, f/5.6, 1/200s, 100iso


To be continued...

[calsan]

... and for some reason,   almost always know they are your photos,   why is that?  ....

Second this.

Anyway, yet another very impressive series.  I know how hard it is to expose for such bright sunlight, especially with a wide angle lens.