This post is a follow on from the Black and White challenge given to me by friend and photo buddy, Duncan Blackburn. It is interesting every now and then to stop and take the colour out of an image and just look at the shapes, textures and tones.

“The Earth is Art, The Photographer is only a Witness ”
― Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Earth from Above

Little “big foot” – this newly arrived Chobe Elephant calf hesitantly peers through Mum’s columns!!

Late afternoon stroll through the shallows along the Chobe river – Giraffe style

Mother and daughter watching some Springbok in the shimmering distance at Fischer’s Pan in Etosha.

Group of four watching a fight break out while waiting for water at the waterhole at Andoni Plain in Etosha.

Handsome young Kudu bull spooked by the wind while trying to drink at Mushara waterhole in Etosha.

The raw power of a Martial Eagle was needed to lift this Guineafowl out of a thorn bush.

Thirsty stripes in Etosha.

“A great photograph is a full expression of what one feels about what is being photographed in the deepest sense and is thereby a true expression of what one feels about life in its entirety.”
― Ansel Adams

A few tonnes whirls around to take on the disturbance behind him at a waterhole.

This female Jackal Buzzard flew swiftly and silently up over the rocks at the edge of the cliff at Giant’s Castle in the Drakensberg.

Two female Hippos have it out with intent near Puku Flats along the Chobe river.

Winter decorations in Marievale.

Black-headed Heron turns around with snake-eyes and snake-neck at Marievale, near Nigel south of Johannesburg.

“A photograph shouldn’t be just a picture, it should be a philosophy.”
― Amit Kalantri

Desperate dive into the Mara river in the afternoon darkened by all the dust

Driven by hunger, fueled by terror these Wildebeest plunge into the fast flowing Mara river desperate to avoid the massive jaws of the Nile Crocodiles waiting for them.

Thunder clouds, Iselbergs and Desert Dates provide the backdrop for this bull Elephant who is leisurely foraging along the border with the Serengti.

Whatever moves must be caught – tolerant Lioness with her playful cub next to the road below the Oloololo Escarpment, in the Masai Mara.

The serenity of the late afternoon next to Klein Namutoni waterhole was broken by this fierce fight between these two Helmeted Guineafowl.

Small family group waits patiently in the gathering dust for their turn to drink down at the water’s edge at Elephant Valley along the Chobe river.

Band of brothers on the run from some Namibian fishermen chasing them on the far bank of the Chobe river.

Fish Eagle with large barbel on its way back to its nest along the Chobe river.

No one will mess with this mother and her young son.

Fetlock fight – two Zebras twisting and turning trying to bite each others legs.

Fencing and wrestling – these two Gemsbok sparring rather than trying to kill each other in Etosha.

Tree Squirrel sitting on his favourite stump eating a Bushwillow seedpod in Mashatu.

“There is only you and your camera. The limitations in your photography are in yourself, for what we see is what we are.”

– Ernest Haas

Late afternoon, after a good day’s sleep, this young Leopard was relaxed but very alert and getting ready to start his nocturnal wanderings in Mashatu.

Young Leopard peers out from a fork in a giant Mashatu tree. It was the Impala behind us which caught his attention.

Dawn silhouette of a young Kudu bull in Mashatu.

Spotted at night!!!

Wall of Elephants with the youngsters tucked safely in the middle of the herd in Mashatu.

Explore, seek to understand, marvel at its interconnectedness and let it be.

Have fun

Mike