I don't make enough time to get out into areas with abundant wildlife, here in Arabia there is not a lot left after most species have been hunted close to, or beyond, extermination or having habitat covered in shopping malls and concrete. I know a place near Dubai where gazelles still run free, but they're so skittish that the only photos I have are of blurred streaks disappearing over dunes.
I also find wildlife difficult, too many of my images are just plain boring. Impala grazing, Impala standing, warthogs grazing (they do it on bended knees, y'know,) warthogs standing, elephants grazing ... you get the picture. From my collection of images these are a few that are a cut above the rest, not that I think they're prize winners, just images I like. I must get out there more often.
I have the privilege of returning to Africa every now and again and my hometown has the excellent Addo Elephant National Park nearby. On a great day with my brother and our sons this old guy was the last one we saw for the day.
Kudu like to keep to thick bush and can often be hard to spot unless they move. I like the way this one is largely obscured. Also from Addo.
A black & white animal in black & white? How original! But I couldn't resist. Just wish I'd dropped the depth of field more to get rid of that stick thingy that seems to be protruding from its nose. From out first trip to Hluhluwe Game Reserve.
Every now and then we go paddling in the mangroves at Umm Al Quwain. It's one of my favourite places in the UAE, a few short strokes of the paddle and you're away from the hustle and bustle of the city. There's always abundant bird life and the kayak gives you a low perspective on the flamingos. Shot in harsh midday sun, but it works.
The camel dropping was the highest vantage point around, and probably a lot cooler than the sand. These little agamids are plentiful in the desert but you have to move slowly and carefully o approach one as close as this. This was shot on slide and digitized, I kept wondering why pressing the shutter had no effect before realizing that I had to wind the film on between frames. As a result I only got a few frames before this little guy vanished into the sand.
OK! OK! So camels don't really qualify as wildlife seeing as these are technically farm animals. But these were wandering around the desert on their own so they're sort-of feral. Taking interesting, refreshing, non-cliched photos of camels is harder than you think, I like the way they're all looking the same way except one.Craig
sunburnt ... and in need of a shave
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