Antarctica 2016 - By Shem Compion (Part 2 of 2)

Part 2, of Shem Compion’s Antarctica 2016 image gallery. If you would like to take photographic journey with us, take a look at our website for 2016 destinations!

C4 Photo Safaris

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Antarctica 2016 - By Shem Compion (Part 1 of 2)

When you are surrounded by icebergs, glaciers and mountains that dwarf the size of any human built structure on earth you know you are in Antarctica. The sheer enormity of this wilderness prompts an immediate rethinking of your significance on this world.

Then to top it all you take the first cruise down the Lamaire channel for all boats this season on one of the most beautiful days I have ever witnessed in the Polar Regions and all you can do is gasp. Penguins on icebergs scaled by massive glaciers, refection’s so pure you can see your face in them and a sky so clear every photo has a beautiful sun burst in it. Antarctica is a place that never disappoints yet when the sun comes out it shows why it is one of the world’s most amazing destinations. It simply blows you away with its stellar beauty.

A visit to Antarctica would not be complete without visiting a penguin colony; a few times over. It is no secret that the Adelie penguins are my favourite. Their looks, antics and charisma make them perfect photo subjects. Fortunately we had some great opportunities with them and their chicks. Travelling later in the season meant we saw the birds later in the breeding season. The Adelie chicks were huge balls of fluff that were not interacting with the parents and made for some special images. It took a while, but eventually we got the perfect images of these birds and their chicks.

Coming back from Antarctica I have this sensation that the trip was not actually real. Civilisation hits you like a bolt from the blue and all of a sudden you are caught up in life. Yet every few minutes I think back to the dream that was Antarctica and smile inwardly, knowing it was not a dream, it was real.

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The business of wildlife photography Nikon Workshop

Join wildlife photographer, Shem Compion and Nikon South Africa for a talk on what is means to run a successful business in wildlife photography. Shem, the owner of C4 Photo Safaris, is an internationally recognized award winning photographer with an expansive knowledge on nature and brand building. Shem will share his invaluable knowledge of how to successfully combine nature and business with photography.

Come and join Shem as he shares his knowledge on how to run a successful photography business on Saturday, the 20 February 2016 from 09h00 - 13h00. For more information and to make a booking please click here.

Topics to be covered:

• How to start a business
• Brand uniqueness in a saturated market
• Freelance or Full time?
• Selling images vs a brand
• Marketing and branding
• Pro’s and Con’s
• Photographic business etiquette

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Mount Mahale Magic

Africa has many beautiful places in it to visit that many people know about. Yet there are a few places in Africa that are extremely beautiful and offer brilliant wildlife encounters. Recently Shem Compion led a group of photographers into the Mahale Mountains to find wild chimpanzees in the forests and discovered a magical beach called Greystoke.

Situated on the shores of lake Tanganyika, Greystoke beach makes you feel as if you have found a lost treasure island. Clean white sand, deep blue water in the worlds second deepest freshwater lake and palm trees above instantly turn the hardest safari goers into a beach lover. The fact that there are chimps in the forests above you makes for a Jurassic park feel- their pant hoots booming through the foliage in the course of a day. It all adds to a tremendous sense of excitement when you have settled in and waiting to go trekking.

Once you are amongst the chimps the magic becomes a reality. These animals, totally habituated to humans move through the jungle forest with a grace and speed akin to a fish in water. Their expressions endear and their antics fill you with laughter. They are exceptionally charismatic and photogenic. The experience is 100% a natural history experience as well as being a 100% photographically rich one. There are very few places like that in the world.

Mahale has become my new favourite location in Africa. A 4-hour plane flight and 90 minutes boat cruise are now a joy to head towards to as I know that I am heading very far away from the rest of the tourist circuit and very close to the heart of Africa!

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The Season End: Masai Mara 2015

Much to our groups dismay, 7 days in paradise flew by in no time at all. This may have been due to the fact that every single game drive was filled with some sort of action packed wilderness theatre.

To start off the string off exciting events that where to follow our arrival, we were treated to an aerial crossing of about 3000 wildebeest bounding their way through the Talek River. To say the least, the sighting really set the tone for the rest of the trip. Some of our highlights over the next 7 days included:

·         Viewing the famous cheetah Malaika and her three, 12 week old cubs.

·         Watching a female Cheetah kill a Thompson’s gazelle from start to finish, folloed by her 3 tiny cubs practising the art of hunting

·         Lions, lions, and more lions, seen around every bush and on every single game drive

·         4 Wildebeest crossings

·         3 fantastic sightings of Lorian the leopard and her 2 month old cub playing out in the open, of which all 3 sightings where almost exclusively enjoyed by just our 3 vehicles

·         The endless skies and stormy breathtaking sunsets, that seemed to improve by the day

·          Viewing a relaxed bat-eared fox out in the open plains.

·         On our last morning witnessing a clan of 16 Hyena taking down a young wildebeest.

·         Hundreds and hundreds of animals dotted throughout the open plains of the Mara.

·         The incredible and friendly staff of Entim Camp

·         Traditional Masai song and dance around a campfire on our last night

·         Mostly, the fantastic group of clients that we had the privilege of guiding in this magic destination

To top off the incredible time we had whilst on game drive we were always welcomed home to the friendly faces of Entim Camp. With the private camp to our selves we spent our afternoons editing images, sharing stories and just relaxing to the chorus of birds around camp.

The following is a selection of images from the trips photo guides, Shem Compion, Andre Cloete, Kyle de Nobrega and Ruth Nussbaum:

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Svalbard Photo Tour - By Astrid Bluemel

MS Stockholm

We’ve arrived in Longyearben on Svalbard. This island, which is about the size of Ireland, and at latitude 78°N, is only 1338km from the North Pole! We are here to photograph polar bears.

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Antarctica Photo Gallery 2014 - By Peter Scheulfer

As our travellers from our recent trip to Antarctica eventually start settling back into milder climates and the going on’s of everyday life in the city, the reams of images snapped during the expedition start making an appearance on social networks and some in publications.

C4 traveller Peter Scheufler managed to snap a mere 20 000 images on the trip, this number being a tribute to the sheer beauty we were exposed to during our weeks at sea.  Here are a few photographs from Peter’s gallery that serve as an indication to the beauty of which we speak. Well done Peter, we look forward to seeing more of your work!

 

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Brandy the Leopard

Brandy the much publicised female leopard has been the subject of research by the North West Province’s conservation department’s ecologist, John Power, for the last two years. Brandy remains one of the few free roaming leopards in South Africa’s Magaliesberg Mountains, hence the reason for the department’s endeavour to keep her monitored and protected. The findings from such a study can have significant impact on the success of free roaming leopard in other more developed parts of Africa too. Although the project has been predominantly state funded, some aspects have required private funding, owing to a constrained fiscus. C4 Photo Safaris has been a proud sponsor of the leopard project collars, and this has allowed the department to monitor the progress and movement of Brandy on a day to day basis.

In September 2014 John noticed that Brandy’s signal had remained static for a few days, so he and his team set off to investigate why this was so – mindful that this was concerning. Sadly they found that Brandy had been captured in a snare and was severely injured. John and his team snapped straight into action, and found that due to the rugged terrain they could not drive up to her, and it was also too dangerous to approach her on foot, so they opted to dart her from the air via a hovering helicopter. Afterwards, while immobilised, her wounds were flushed, and she was subsequently airlifted to Johannesburg from whence she was stabilised for a fortnight. It is thanks to the satellite collar that this was all possible. After extensive medical attention from at least three veterinarians at the Joburg Zoo, she was released back into the Magaliesberg in a much improved physical condition. This was such that she could have the chance to rear her cubs – as X-rays revealed three cubs!

For a few months afterwards there was no sign of denning behaviour, until the middle of November 2014, when camera traps were placed at a suspected den – and a few days later – one cub was revealed! This was great success in that considering the ordeal that she had been through, she was still able to reproduce, which is the gauge of success for any conservation efforts. The department’s conservation efforts are visible through Brandy’s remarkable comeback. This is a significant addition of genetic material as well as valuable scientific data that is being received firm Brandy and for the somewhat dwindling free roaming leopard population in parts of South Africa. This is one step towards saving the leopards of the Magaliesberg and maintaining the populations of free roaming leopards in Africa as a whole. Well done to the department and the team for their positive impact n wildlife conservation as a whole. C4 Photo Safaris is very happy to help with initiatives that have such a positive conservation result. Since C4 Photo Safaris ultimately benefits from the photographic appeal of leopards in many of Africa’s game reserves, we see his as an opportunity to give back to leopards that are in trouble in the more disturbed parts of the continent – such as the outskirts of the metropolis of Johannesburg, which is where the Magaliesberg is situated.

We look forward to watching the developments of Brandy and her cub over the months and years and also look forward to further sponsoring of more collars for this and other projects.

Magaliesberg Biosphere, blue dots indicate Brandy's location

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Maasai Mara Photo Trips 2015

This year marks C4’s 7th consecutive year with Entim Camp in the Maasai Mara. The Mara never comes with disappointment, hence our successive photo trips to this wilderness region of Kenya over the past years.

 

Not only does the Mara provide photographers with an unlimited supply of phenomenal wildlife sightings and suburb lighting conditions, we are also fortunate enough to be guided by some of the Mara’s finest field rangers. Over the years C4’s professional wildlife photographers have provided the field rangers at Entim Camp with photographic training and tutoring, to ensure that our clients are provided with the best possible photographic experience.

 

C4 run two types of safaris to Entim Camp in the Mara, the Classic Photo Safaris and the Premier Photo Safaris. On both safaris, unless designated, you will have a personal, qualified guide that will conduct you through your safari with information and knowledge on the ecology of the habitat. The Classic Safaris can host up to 12 guests per trip with two photographic guide’s hosting the trip. The Premier Safaris are designed to give you the highest possible photographic safari experience; hence we have minimized the group size to no more than 6 guests per trip accompanied by three highly experienced photo guides.

 

Between our professional photographic guides Shem Compion, Greg du Toit, Isak Pretorius, Albie Ventre and Andre Cloete over 20 seasons have been spent in the Mara, giving the guides ample time to map out their favourite spots as well as the most productive game viewing areas on the reserve. Over this period strong working relationships have been built with the local field guides at Entim Camp, making our guided experience seamless.

C4 will be hosting 7 trips to Entim Camp in the Maasai Mara this year, to read more on these trips take a look at our photo calendar for the year here:

http://www.c4images-safaris.co.za/photo-safari-calendar-dates.asp

 

Here are some images taken during our 2014 Maasai Mara photo trips, we look forward to having you join us in this wilderness paradise soon!

 

 

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C4 Photo Vehicle

 

Designed and built by the same wildlife photographers who built the world famous underground photo hides at Mashatu, the C4 photo vehicle is a fully customised vehicle built exclusively for Mashatu Game Reserve. Its design and concept stem from wanting to give clients unparalleled access to the excellent wildlife of Mashatu and allow them to photograph uninhibited and unconstrained. Our many thousands of hours on safari vehicles have been the best research and combined with our photographic experience we have produced a specialist photo vehicle that is simply the ultimate experience in photographing from a vehicle.

C4 Photo Safaris has been hosting photo safaris across Africa since 2005. Over this time we have seen thousands of game drive vehicles, each one with its advantages and pitfalls. No one vehicle was ideal for photography, so we went forth and built the definitive photo vehicle that caters perfectly for wildlife photographers. Using our extensive experience of driving on vehicles in the field whilst taking photos, we used this knowledge to design a vehicle that is unique in its kind and that offers you unparalleled photographic ease, speed, stability and comfort. No element of design was left out. We designed this vehicle to be our perfect photographic vehicle and we demanded perfection based on our many years photographing in the field.  Only once it was good enough for us, did we allow it to be enjoyed and used by our clients.

C4 Photo Vehicle

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C4 Photo Tour - Antarctica 2014 (Part 2)

How does one show a destination that's gives the viewer an overall impression of what life is like in a true wildlife heaven? Do you go in close and make your images intimate? Or do you go wide and give the overall impression of the scene, but then remove yourself a bit from the scene?

South Georgia island was part of our recent Antarctica safari and it is the most overwhelming scene a naturalist can ever encounter. Having master photographers art Wolfe and Frans Lanting travelling with us ensured that we were adequately prepared for what the islands were to offer us. They even covered how to use your tripod to defend yourself against the aggressive fur seals as you walk by them!

South Georgia is definitely quite overwhelming but because we were well prepared for what to expect, we were ready to capture the magical scenes in all their glory, and more importantly, we knew what areas to head to.

 

This resulted in images that give an intimate, yet a wonderful overall impression of what life is like on South Georgia island.

 

I can assure you that it is the greatest wildlife experience in the world. Enjoy the images.

 

 

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C4 Photo Tour Antarctica - 2014 (Part 1)

 

Over the last few years C4 has begun taking its excellent reputation in leading photo tours into the Arctic regions. This was based on demand from our clients who wanted to travel to new destinations and wanted to do it with C4. The Arctic trips were so successful that we have now done 4 trips in our own chartered boat. In May we will do our 5th Arctic charter. But the demand did not stop there and Antarctica was the next polar region being demanded. Maintaining our goal of always delivering the best photo workshops and tours on offer, we negotiated to run a photo workshop to Antarctica with Art Wolfe and Frans Lanting to join C4’s Shem Compion and Iconic Images International’s Denis Glennon.

From the moment everyone stepped on board our vessel the spirit was one of highly charged anticipation having such wonderful photographers to help run our workshop in such a magnificent location.

The results were not disappointing as we had brilliant weather at all the major landing sites resulting in world class photography and sightings. 

The sheer numbers of wildlife on South Georgia and the vast ice scapes of the peninsular offered all our cameras a continuous buffet of photo options. Art and Frans helped immeasurably in the field with their experience, tutoring and deep knowledge of the locations we were visiting.

 

18 days moved very quickly and before we knew it we were back on land with bags and bags of images to work over. 

Antarctica and South Georgia are both places that make you realise the true potential beauty of our planet. Everyone on this C4 trip was touched many times by being in such close commune to a wilderness area and such close proximity to so many animals.

 

These images will give you an idea of just what Antarctica is all about.

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Svalbard Trip Review, September 2014

20 days in one of the last true wildernesses of the world is quite a sensation. When was the last time you travelled out and saw no other person other than your small group for more than 10 days?

This is one of the overwhelming emotions that hit you when you depart to the northern reaches of Svalbard. Here you are on the edge of the world at the mercy of nature, the ocean and the weather in a small vessel. Luckily that small vessel is one of the strongest kinds in the archipelago and can take you almost anywhere.

This is the nature of Svalbard and why we run our voyages here as "expedition style cruising". We go where we want to, exploring the many faces of this wonderful land searching for landscapes, glaciers and of course, polar bears and other wildlife. This was C4's third trip to Svalbard and once again it did not disappoint. Walruses, foxes, bears and magical landscapes all were part of the magic that was lit up by the arctic light. 

Svalbard grips you with a polar bug that is hard to shake off. I will be hosting our 5th voyage to Svalbard in May 2015. Unfortunately there are other clients who also have the polar bear bug; the voyage is already sold out with all berths filled.

 

If you would like to join us on a future voyage to Svalbard please contact us and we will put you on the wait list for 2016.

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Getaway Wildlife / Natural History Photography course with Shem Compion at the Photo and Film Expo 2014

"Wildlife/natural history photography has changed considerably over the last fifteen years. Shem has navigated these years to emerge as one of the most successful. Shem's invaluable experience and expertise will guide you through this course for you to emerge as a successful photographer."

 

This is a once in a life time opportunity where Shem Compion will be speaking about how Wildlife/Natural History Photography has changed in association with Getaway Magazine. Join Shem Compion and Getaway at the Photo and Film Expo 2014 for a Wildlife/Natural History Photography Course on the Friday( 31 Oct.) and Saturday (1 Nov.).

Please contact Sue on suew@ramsaymedia.co.za for bookings and additional information.

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Getaway Wildlife / Natural History Photography course with Shem Compion at the Photo and Film Expo 2014

"Wildlife/natural history photography has changed considerably over the last fifteen years. Shem has navigated these years to emerge as one of the most successful. Shem's invaluable experience and expertise will guide you through this course for you to emerge as a successful photographer."

Join Shem Compion and Getaway at the Photo and Film Expo 2014 for a Wildlife/Natural History Photography Course on the Friday( 31 Oct.) and Saturday (1 Nov.).

Please contact Sue on suew@ramsaymedia.co.za for bookings and additional information.

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Client feedback on our Premier Predator Tour...

Tom and Pam Holmes recently joined Greg Du Toit on C4 Images & Safaris, Premier Predator Tour and had this to say about their experience:

"Our safari exceeded our expectations! Greg Du Toits companionship, leadership instruction was outstanding. It was clear that he engaged the best drivers in Bashi and Roan. They amazed us in their ability to find wildlife the lengths to which they go to ensure we were in the right spot. We appreciated Gregs bush school where he reiterated basic photography techniques. Gregs reminders of the starting point settings while on location was also very helpful. We also had great fun photographing predators by spotlight flash. Greg even taught us to photograph the night sky. Mashatu and Mala Mala were outstanding in all aspects. The variety quantity of wildlife could not be bettered! We greatly appreciated Vernon Swanepoel in Sossusvlei. Vernon is very adept at dealing with the park bureaucracy. He also willingly shared his in depth knowledge of natural human history. At the end of 3 days we had our fill of dune photography from the road so on the 4th day we took two walks into the dunes for a closer look. This was fun showed a very different side of the Namib Valley. We were pleasantly surprised at the amount of wildlife we saw in the dunes oryx, jackal, springbok, ostrich many bird species. We even saw a bat eared fox family an aardwolf. Of course the photo opportunities were much better on safari. Shems recommendations assistance for our independent travel were invaluable. He even helped us obtain a rented ball head because Pam left hers at home. If hopefully when we return to Africa, we will certainly choose C4 Images & Safaris and Greg Du Toit again."

 - Tom & Pam Holmes -

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C4 Guides Top Shots from the Mara

This year C4 spent 6 weeks in the Masai Mara leading photo tours. It was our 6th consecutive year of hosting these photo tours. Our camp ran beautifully, the location as always, was perfect and we had exceptional sightings.

Our guides are Mara specialists who have all spent many seasons leading photo tours in the ecosystem.

When on safari we believe in quality over quantity and get out guests to take images at excellent sightings in beautiful light.

These are a selection of the C4 guides' images from this year in the Mara. Enjoy and please share amongst your friends.

On the next blog post we will be putting up our clients images from their experiences in the Mara.

Albie Venter (www.africa-unlocked.com)

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Svalbard Client Feedback

"Once again C4 Images and Safaris delivers a photographic trip beyond belief! Polar Bears, walruses, seals and Arctic foxes in their natural environment in one of the most beautiful regions on Earth. Great light, sightings, information, both about the environment/wildlife and how to photograph it - what an awesome trip! Topped up with great company and superb organisation - I am very lucky to have been on this trip, thank you again Shem and the team at C4". Words and images by Cristine Chong.

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Photo Hides at Mashatu

I have just spent the last 5 days at our photo hides up at Mashatu. My one main goal was to build another hide, which we did very successfully. So expect more unique and exciting images from our clients at the new hide soon. (Click on the images to enlarge)

The other reason for my visit was to get as much time and photography in the underground elephant hide as possible. This was a very easy feat as the animal action was continually impressive all and every morning. I was fascinated by the diversity of subjects to photograph. Every morning offered something different and each morning there was at least two or three photographic highlights.

I was very happy to be a wildlife photographer again and the low angle in the hides is so conducive to great images that each morning I was gunning to get going from camp to the hide! I even spent a night with Mike Dexter inside the hide, hoping to photograph the elephants in the moonlight. Unfortunately none came the night we overnighted, but as luck would have it, every other night (we had a camera trap set up). I think it must have been Mikes snoring... Here is a selection of some images from my 5 days in the hide. Enjoy. Shem Compion

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C4 Guides portfolios in Go/Weg magazine.

At C4 Images and Safaris we strive to be the best in what we do. It is often difficult to gauge where you stand without having an outsider compare you to the rest.



Click here to view Greg du Toit's portfolio


Each month the excellent and extremely popular GO/WEG magazine publishes a portfolio of images featuring a certain photographer. It has become quite prestigous to be featured and all the top photographers aspire to have a portfolio of their images published by GO/WEG.
In the first half of 2011, the magazine picture editor independently contacted four of C4’s photography guides to feature them in their magazine.
It so happened that for the months of February, April, May and July 2011, all the portfolios were by C4 Images and Safaris photographers.
It is good to know that while we at C4 plan to associate only with the best photographers and guides, magazines such as WEG/GO feature four of our guides in 6 months; giving us and you the security of knowing you are dealing with the best.


Click here to view Shem Compion's portfolio




Click here to view Isak Pretorius' portfolio



Click here to view Hougaard Malan's portfolio

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