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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Guest Gallery, Premier Predator Tour, June 2015 - By Joy Thomas

In June 2015, Joy Thomas joined award winning photographer, Greg du Toit on a C4 Photo Safari Premier Predator Tour. The tour saw the small and exclusive group of 3 clients travel to Mashatu Game Reserve, Mala Mala Game Reserve and finally end off at Tswalu Kalahari.

What a fantastic combination of wildlife destinations, which are all hugely active wilderness areas, each holding their very own uniqueness and highlights.

Thank you to Joy, for sharing your beautiful collection of images from this evidentially successful tour with Greg du Toit and C4 Photo Safaris!

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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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C4 Private Guided Safaris, Tswalu Kalahari Game Reserve- By Trevor Kleyn

Recently photo guide Trevor Kleyn returned from a private guided safari to Tswalu Kalahari. 

An incredibly unique safari experience can be had Tswalu, with the opportunity to view and photograph some of Africa's rare species including meerkats, aardvark, pangolin, cape fox, aardwolf, brown hyena and the endangered african wild dog.

The following gallery is a selection of images by Trevor from the trip, enjoy!

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Premier Predator Tour - November 2015 - By Charlotte Blanchet

A wonderful image galley by C4 Photo Safari guest Charlotte Blanchet. Charlotte, recently traveled with C4 and Greg du Toit to Mashatu Game Reserve, Mala Mala and finally ended off at Tswalu Kalahari.  

These are a selection of images from Mashatu Game Reserve, allot of which where captured at the C4 Photo Hides. We had the most unbelievable hide activity for the month of November yet, as the reserve was so extremely dry animals and birds (including all the migrants), where flocking on mass to the waterhole. 

Thanks to Charlotte for sharing this beautiful collection of images from your trip!

If you would like to join Greg du Toit on a Premier Predator Safari next year, see our website for more details HERE!

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Mashatu Photo Workshop - November 2015, By Kyle De Nobrega

With the threat of drought and the presence of its unforgiving hand, the reserve is stuck in the middle of a transformation. The early rains in September have conned the trees into prematurely using up vital energy, and the contrast of the barren soil lying lifeless beneath a canopy of sprouting leaves has created drama on Mashatu. 

Dynamics have shifted to adapt to drier times and the scarcity of water is putting pressure in dwindling pockets of life across the reserve. The threat of rain is present, but the joy of its power has only been unforgiving. Life has carried on and birds abound competing for nest sites, or protecting ones that have already been in occupation. Impala ewes are heavy bellied awaiting the signal of rain to lamb, predators constrict in ambush near the remaining pools of water and elephants cover the breadth of ancient valleys in search of valuable resources.

Harsh and unforgiving, this unique time of year and its present circumstances is rare and special on its own terms. Life abounds yet around the next corner it merely hangs on with only faith for rain.

The 6 days during our last C4 Photo Workshop and Private Photo Vehicle extension for the year has been nothing but diverse and truly spectacular. Some of the highlights have been:

. Incredibly productive hide sessions

. Elephants at the hide with cloud formations as the backdrop

. Mating pair of leopards

. 2 cheetah kills in the same day

. A huge but brief dust storm followed by a spout of rain whilst out on drive

. Multiple Jackal den sites

. A nest of little bee eaters

. The milky way over an ancient Baobab tree

. An exceptional group of guests who walked away with exceptional images

As I post this, the rains have fallen heavily leaving the dry riverbeds swelling and bursting their banks with water. The time of struggle and drought has passed and may saplings sprout and grass seeds germinate to transform the reserve into true summer full of life.

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C4 Photo Hides October - By Trevor Kleyn

Recently, photo guide Trevor Kleyn spent some time manning the C4 Photo Hides. We have come to realise that October, being the buffer month between winter and summer, is the month that the wildlife pluck up the courage to get themselves properly involved at the waterholes. To escape the soaring temperatures of the day elephant, warthog and hyena spend  allot of their day submerged in the water, we also have unusual sightings such as monitor lizards and mongoose who eventually have to ditch their fear of being out in the open all for a sip of water.

Here are a few images from Trevor Kleyn of some of the interesting sightings he had from the hides over the 2 weeks he spent at Mashatu Game Reserve.

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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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Wild Shots Event 2016

With the Cape Town event going down a huge success, the bar has been set high for the Johannesburg Wild Shots Event which will be held later this month.

The day was truly inspirational, show casing a wide variety of topics including our very own C4 Photo Safaris Underground Hides, fine art in wildlife photography, exciting new destinations, marine and landscape photography, to name a few.

I think I can speak on behalf of all the delegates who attended that Cape Town event that we left the day feeling excited, inspired and full of motivation to pick up our cameras and start channeling our own personal creativity through imagery.

Be sure to not to miss out on the Johannesburg event, which will be show casing some more fantastic speakers such as Obie Oberholzer, Kim Woulhuter, Heinrich van den Berg and C4's Shem Compion.

Book your tickets HERE!

Cape Town's keynote speaker, Art Wolf "Earth is my Witness"

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