Puku Ridge with C4 Images and Safaris by Willy Schoots

After meeting most of the workshop participants (Vicky, Barbara, Heike, Isak and Hilton) at the Johannesburg airport, it took us 2 flights and a drive to get to the Puku Ridge Lodge in South Luangwa. The remaining two participants (Judith and Rudy) were already at the lodge when we arrived. That first night during our dinner we already got treated to some leopards. The puku and impala's were very alert on the plains in front of the lodge. One of the leopards went down to the waterhole and gave us a preview of what to expect on this trip.



We got special permission to leave before sunrise so we could utilize the best light in the morning. This meant that our wake up call was at 4.15am every morning and that we left at 5.00am. The first day we got our first impression of the South Luangwa valley and its wildlife. One of the favourites for most if not all of us was the Carmine Bee-eater colony. Hundreds of birds flew on and off the nests to feed their chicks. We got some great tips on how to shoot these very fast birds, the key was to use a high shutter speed (1/2500s) and to use manual metering as the background could change during their flight pattern. We visited this colony multiple times during our stay.

After our morning drives we arrived back at the lodge for our brunch around 11.30. The food at the lodge was excellent and the brunch buffet was no exception. Till about 2pm we had time to sleep, download images, and shower etc. In the afternoon we got some great lectures from Isak about different aspects of nature photography. Topics he covered were technical details (expose, shutter speed, aperture), composition, lightroom basics (library and develop module). Beside these lectures we were also encouraged to share some of our pictures for an informal review. During this review we could see how we each took great pictures at the different sightings. I especially findi it very useful to see the different approaches everyone takes at the same sighting.

At 4pm it was tea time at the lodge and we got ready to go out into the park again. One of the cool things we could do in the South Luangwa park is to extend our evening game drive into a "night" drive as we could stay out till 8pm (sunset was at 6pm). It was a nice experience to drive around in the dark trying to find the more nocturnal animals. We did also see some more elusive creatures like the genet, the porcupine, and some bushbabies.



During the second evening we got our chance to photograph a Leopard drinking with some nice late evening light. South Luangwa is renowned for its leopard sightings and we were not disappointed as in total we probably saw 3 leopards, some at multiple sightings.

Of course while staying at the Puku Ridge lodge we saw our fair share of Puku's but also a lot of Impala's. After seeing a pair of lions starting their mating rituals we drove off and one Puku male gave us a great portrait session. He stood nicely on the top of a little bank and let us shoot as many pictures as we wanted. He even looked in different directions to give us the shot we were looking for. It was the first time I saw Puku's so I was very happy to take his picture with a nice clean background.



Everyone was hoping to see a kill from one of the bigger predators in the park like lions, leopard or hyena's. We did see some feeding on a hippo carcass by a leopard and some lions. However we only witnessed a kill from a much smaller predator as we saw a Yellow-bellied Sand Snake devour a frog. We were focusing on the landscape and we would have missed it if not for our great guide Malemia spotting this grim scene below us.



During the workshop we tried to utilize different techniques to improve our photographic skills. Both Isak and Hilton encouraged us to use things like flash, panning and wide-angle shots. If needed we could borrow flash units or lenses from our tour leaders to get us to try these options. Hilton even ran for one group to give them a target to practice their panning shots!!! I'm still not a big fan of flash in nature photography but I do see the usefulness of it in certain situations. I took a shot of a juvenile Carmine Bee-eater with off camera flash and I must admit I do like the result.



Unfortunately after 4.5 days of game drives it was time to go back home. Luckily we had a bunch of great pictures to remind us of this magical place. The last morning we had a great sunrise with a willing Hippo and we visited the carmine bee-eater colony for the last time. After our brunch we were on our way back to the real world in Johannesburg and beyond.



I had a excellent time during this workshop and I would like to thank my fellow participants Barbara, Judith, Heike, Vicky and Rudy for being great companions. To both Isak and Hilton a big THANK YOU for all the support during the game drives and the lectures. To all the personel at the Puku Ridge lodge for making our stay so pleasant. Especially to Don and Suku for their hospitality and for the excellent guiding by Joseph and Malemia.

Till next time !!!
Read more...

Not just about the Puku - Isak Pretorius

The Puku is an antelope found in wet grasslands in southern Democratic Republic of Congo and in Zambia. It stands about 80cm tall at the shoulders and weigh between 70 to 80kg. Puku are sandy brown in colour with the underbelly a few shades lighter. Males have around 50cm long ridge structured horns. Both territorial and alarm calls are a repeated shrill whistle sound. They are beautiful animals! The recent C4 Images and Safaris Workshop took our guests to Puku Ridge Camp in the South Luangwa National Park in Zambia. There are a lot of puku in the park, but we didn't specifically go there to photograph them! Our objective was to find plenty of game and other photographic opportunities. Not only did we find exactly what we were looking for, but we were also blown away by the incredible beauty and variety that the park had to offer!





The South Luangwa National Park is a photographer's dream - wild and remote it's one of Africa's most unspoiled places with enormous spaces, a wide variety of habitats and a high density of game. It is one of Zambia's largest National Parks, covering an area of over 9,000 square kilometers in the Luangwa Valley. The survival of the valley depends on the winding Luangwa River, crowded with hippos, crocodiles and waterfowl, and its numerous tributaries that course through the park. Just before the big summer rains the bushes have wilted and the earth becomes bone dry, so animals assemble along the river and at the remaining waterholes. This is the best time for game viewing.





The Photographic Workshop was held at Puku Ridge Camp, located in a remote area of the National Park overlooking a floodplain close to the Luangwa River. To reach this camp requires a two-hour flight from Johannesburg to Lusaka and then a chartered transfer to Mfuwe Aiport. It's a small intimate camp with seven luxury tents and a communal area with a lounge, bar, dining area and deck, all overlooking a waterhole on the floodplain. As at all Sanctuary Lodges, the food and service are exceptional and we were especially impressed by the quality of the guides. At the waterhole in front of camp there is a constant flow of animals coming to drink during the day, making it an attractive option to skip the afternoon drive to photograph at the waterhole instead, and this from the comfort of the lounge. When we saw a leopard drinking at this waterhole during dinner on our first night, we knew this workshop was going to be special.





As a photographic workshop our guests were not just keen to visit one of Africa's world-renowned wildlife havens, but also keen to learn all the genres and techniques of nature photography. Our workshops always attract people that have an appreciation for nature and a passion for photography, which by default guarantees the workshop to be a great success. We had great fun teaching everything from light and composition, portrait, action, landscape, slow-shutter panning blur, flash, spotlight-at-night, and HDR photography, to processing photos and managing a large photo library. The theory is put into practice during the morning and afternoon game drives where the photography guides are close by to lend a helping hand.

We were spoiled with excellent sightings of predators and general game, birds and spectacular landscapes. Highlights included three leopards trying to break through the tough skin of a dead young hippo. The cause of death was unsure, but the leopards struggled for hours to get to the meat without success and became very agitated with the whole situation. Later that night we returned to see how four lions eventually chased the leopards off the carcass. Other highlights included photographing at a carmine bee-eater colony, ebony forests, mating lions, elephants walking through the river, pools with hundreds of hippos, and spectacular sunsets and sunrises on the Luangwa River.

A big thank you to camp managers Don and Suku, our guides Joseph and Malemia, and the staff of Puku Ridge Camp who made this such an awesome experience for us all!

South Luangwa Photo Workshops September 2011
South Luangwa Photo Workshop October 2011

Read more...

Mashatu Workshop Trip Report - November 2010 by Villiers Steyn

We arrived at Mashatu Tent Camp on a cold, overcast day. Despite the chill in the air and a few raindrops along the way, our first game drive turned out to be the perfect start to yet another unforgettable weekend in the Land of Giants. Shortly before sunset we came across a mother leopard and her sub-adult cub resting on a branch. With the help of the spotlight we were able to get some stunning shots before the light disappeared completely.



The following morning rain forced us to stay in camp. We used the time to discuss various aspects of wildlife photography, including our equipment, processing techniques and the importance of understanding light. After brunch the clouds finally dried up and allowed us to spend the rest of the day on drive. As always, Mashatu produced some of the best elephant sightings imaginable. We were able to photograph drinking elephants and herds walking in single file, not to mention young bulls play-fighting! On our way back to Tent Camp we got a call over the radio that wild dog tracks were found in the Central Area. In an attempt to keep everyone’s expectations in check, I agreed to eat my cap if we found them the following day…





At 06:30 on Saturday morning we found four highly mobile wild dogs. They were on a mission of note, only stopping briefly every couple of hundred meters to smell, mark or have a drink in one of the many natural pools, which now covered the Mashatu landscape. We followed them for nearly an hour and a half until they settled in the shade of a mopane-thicket. By the way, my cap would have gone down better with some ketchup or chutney!





On the next few drives we focussed our attention on a lioness with three tiny cubs. We found them on numerous occasions, but since the weather had turned back to the more familiar hot, sunny days, we struggled to find the pride in places that weren’t covered in shade. Only after sunset did they become active.

It wasn’t only large cats and wild dogs that made the shutters click. We were able to photograph a great variety of smaller creatures that are less often seen than the large, charismatic predators. African wild cat, African rock python, rock monitor and banded mongoose all made the list of keepers! Some participants were also able to get stunning shots of more common species, such as tree squirrels and white-fronted bee-eaters. One of the most productive sessions was spent with a troop of baboons that allowed us to get some dramatic back-lit photographs, whilst they played in a tree just before sunset.





Personally, the highlight for me was seeing Mashatu transform from a relatively dull, dry reserve into a lush, green paradise in a matter of days! It was impossible not to stop every now and again to admire the changing landscape with all its unique habitats. This photograph of an apple-leaf forest is one of my favourite landscape shots of the weekend!



Thank you to Monty and Hilda and the rest of the Tent Camp staff for making it yet another unforgettable stay! And of course to Richard and Jakes, our guides, for their incredible patience and effort in the field. Last, but by no means least, thanks to all the participants for making this workshop a great success!

Happy snapping!

Villiers Steyn

PS: …when Scotland beat South Africa in the rugby, I had to eat my fleece!



Our Next Mashatu Workhop: March 2011
September Mashatu Workshop Feedback by Villiers Steyn
View our photo workshop video here.
Join C4 on Facebook here

Read more...

Experience Wilderness - By Isak Pretorius

Chiefs Island in the heart of the Okavango Delta is pure wilderness and a land of incredible beauty. Vast open seasonal floodplains with palm tree islands. Herds of animals roaming free and wild exactly like they have for thousands of years. Unspoiled scenic beauty that stretches as far as the eye can see. To experience this and to have it all to yourself to enjoy is pure magic! The recent C4 photographic workshop to Chiefs Camp offered our guests exactly that. This is my favorite destination in Africa.





Our photographic workshop was a great success, especially because we're such like-minded people, having a lot of laughs together, and enjoying the good photography and nature experience that this wilderness had to offer. Game viewing was fantastic with great sightings of the general Delta game, the big five, and a rare glimpse of a leopard carrying a week old cub. This leopard is close to camp and very accommodating towards photographers, a beautiful poser. We are looking forward to seeing her more during the upcoming safaris to Chiefs Island. Although we didn't do serious birding, we unofficially tallied more than 130 species for the trip. This included numerous lifers for most of the guests.



Chiefs Camp is tucked between beautiful big Jackalberry, Sausage and Apple-leaf trees on the edge of the actual island, overlooking a seasonal floodplain. The camp has recently been renovated and the accommodation, food and comfort that the camp offers are exceptional. It's easy to see why this camp has been voted the best lodge in Botswana for three years in a row now!



As a photographic safari our objective was to get top wildlife photos as much as it was to experience this untamed wilderness. Chiefs Island delivered superbly in both categories. Apart from the good photography, we also extended our experience into the air with a flip in a helicopter over the Delta, and an afternoon's mokoro experience on one of the main channels in the Delta.



Thanks to all our guests, my co-host Albie Venter, our drivers Ishmael and Sky, and all the staff at the camp who made this such a memorable experience for all of us!



Albie Venter's Report
Mark Dumbleton's Report
Chiefs Island 2011


Read more...

Chiefs Island Report by Albie Venter

It seems like the bars are continuously raised on the safaris. Not even the heat of Chiefs Island could dampen anyone’s adventurous spirit as we disembarked the Cesna Caravan at Chiefs Camp’s bush airstrip in the middle of absolute supreme wilderness.





Once settled into our quite spectacular rooms it now feels like the adventure never stopped until our return to Jo’ies four days later. Everything from leopards carrying new born cubs to intricate painted reed frogs kept everyone busy with photographic opportunities jumping at you around every corner (if you’ll excuse the wisecrack).





Every photographer has a wish list, often not the easiest of subjects. But when Trevor wished for a leopard on a termite mound you can’t help smiling when one actually peer straight at the lens from atop one. Surreal stuff! The only real problem everyone had was not finding enough time to capture it all and unanimously everyone wished for more time in the Delta. Hopefully this will come in the not too distant future.





All of you, who made our time so much fun, as always from Isak and me, thanks a mill!! It can never be fun without great guests and we are looking forward hosting you all soon when we catch up in the sticks.





Read more...

Okavango Delta - Mark Dumbleton

C4 Images and Safaris has just returned from another successful photo workshop at Chiefs Camp in the Okavango Delta. Here is what Mark Dumbleton, one of our clients, had to say.

Chiefs Island in the Okavango Delta, Botswana was the destination of my previous safari, staying at a camp called "Chiefs Camp". The safari was run by C4 Images-Safaris and all I can say is the delta is one incredible photographic destination.

We caught a flight from Johannesburg to Maun, and from Maun a short 25 minute chartered flight to Chiefs Camp. We would spend the next 4 days exploring and photographing the beauty of the Okavango Delta.



Its very hard to explain to someone that has not been to the Delta before how truly amazing it is. The abundance of life is incredible, and I would highly recommend any nature lover visit the area atleast once in a lifetime.

The camp we stayed at was very well serviced, with very friendly staff and we were very well looked after. The safari was hosted by Isak Pretorius and Albie Venter, and everyone got on great and a super time was had by all.



The photography was superb. We had numerous sightings of Lions, Leopards, Elephant, we sighted a massive herd of about 700 Buffalo, Hyena, huge herds of Red Lechwe, Jackal, Impala, Zebra and many other. The birding was excellent, with many sightings of rare birds and delta specials - Slaty Egret, 4 types of Coucal, Wattled Cranes, and huge amounts of Kingfishers and Fish-Eagles to name a few.

Two highlights of the trip were a helicopter ride over the delta photographing the beauty from above, and also a Mokoro trip down one of the channels at sunset, which gave a very unique perspective on the delta in super afternoon light.



Thanks to C4, the hosts, fellow guests and staff of the camp for a superb photographic safari. Certainly a huge highlight in my life as a naturalist and wildlife photographer. All images by Mark Dumbleton - www.markdumbleton.com



Read more...

Masai Mara Report by Albie Venter

In my opinion October must be the best time to go to Kenya’s Maasai Mara. The weather is generally much drier that a few months earlier while many of the concentrations of people that came to see the migration have already gone. It does however also mean that the chance is good that the migration herds have also gone.





But on our approach to Ol Kiombo airstrip it became apparent that the herds are still around – probably as a result of some late rains on the Mara. Meaning that we get the chance to see crossings! Although there are much more to the Mara than just crossings its understandable that it’s a highlight for many. And none better than a private crossing right in front of camp. In two years living in the Mara and never having this view I made sure to get the eye level perspective I always wanted. The highlights are really too many to mention but one worth mentioning is spending the week there observing the adventures of a mom cheetah and her six cubs. Indeed a privilege to get the chance to spend time with these animals to see what they get up to and not just a mere glimpse as can be the case in other parts of Africa.



Here follows some pics from the trip and I hope it can convey in a small the wonder of this fantastic region. Then lastly to everyone who joined us – thanks for all the laughs!! Below follow some pics of the last C4 images and Safaris trip.



PS Jan I am really sorry I nearly lobbed elephant dung on you and Chris I am really sorry I missed you.







Masai Mara Report By Shem Compion
Counting Wildebeest by Isak Pretorius


Read more...