In celebration of my new website (coming very soon) I’m putting my collection of African photographs together. I captured a series of images over two trips to the Kruger National Park.
The collection will feature animals like lion, elephant, giraffe, wildebeest, impala, white rhinoceros and wild dog to name a just a few!
I can’t wait to share my African wildlife passion with you all. I am always dreaming of my next trip to Africa and have a few ideas in store for the next trip. Maybe I should run a few wildlife workshops over there or do you think the market is a bit saturated? Anyway just thoughts at the moment.
Below is the very first lioness I photographed in the wild.
I can remember my heart pounding so hard I had to put the camera down frequently as I was shaking so much with excitement. The large warming sun was setting and the beautiful last light was fading fast. I watched the big cat walk care free through the golden African grasses almost like a scene out of the Lion King. Stopping suddenly to raise her head she spotted a lone zebra camouflaged within the scrub ahead.
Seeing an opportunity, crouching and crawling low to the ground she covertly stalked the unsuspecting victim. Minutes passed and the lioness ended up within striking distance from the Zebra happily grazing the edge of an open plain. Holding my breath to control my breathing my finger mashed the shutter button. A sweet smile rose upon my face as I watched the preview appear on the back screen. The shot was taken. My first wild lioness photograph. I was proud as punch!
Retiring the camera and heavy lens to my lap I watched the lioness waiting patiently, hidden from the view of the unsuspecting Zebra. I don’t know what the lioness was thinking but her anticipation to launch into a chase was nail biting. I couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen next.
Over the next 10 minutes or so the zebra grazed without a worry and the lioness stayed hidden amongst the grasses. At this point the light had faded and I was wishing I had a camera with better noise reduction. Still with a smile on my face I headed back to camp. I couldn’t resist stopping multiple times on the way back to look at the photo I had just taken – after all I had just successfully photographed one of the animals on my bucket list.
Until next time.
Happy Shooting!
LEIGH DIPROSE 