Six images out of Africa from our readers
Africa’s premier photography competition
FINALIST A Prince at Dawn
While everyone was admiring a leopard further down the road on the popular Marula Loop near Skukuza in Kruger, my husband and I sat captivated by this magnificent juvenile bateleur surveying its kingdom. It sat perfectly still, stoic and statuesque. I chose black and white to accentuate the texture and patterns of the bird.
– By Christy Horner, Durban
Canon 200D, Canon EF 100-400mm, ISO 500, f/5.6, 1/400sec
FINALIST Star Troopers
I was keen to try out some astrophotography for the first time when friends and I did the hike through the Fish River Canyon. The final day rewarded my efforts. It was windy so I dug the legs of my tripod deeply into the sand, set my lens to infinity and, voilà! This is our group, swept away in a sea of stars. The photo is a panoramic stitch of two images. – By JoAnne Lynne Brand, Windhoek Nikon D810, Nikkor 24-70mm, ISO 5000, f/2.8, 1/20 sec
FINALIST Patience at Feeding Time
In the Kruger Park, at Lower Sabie rest camp’s Sunset Dam, I spent an hour observing and photographing this little bee-eater coming in with a variety of insects with which to feed its fledgling. I love the display of parental devotion and sacrifice, since the adult gives up a meal, which is difficult to catch, to its young.
– By Ingrid Sellschop, Johannesburg
Canon 1D MkIV, Sigma 150-600mm,
ISO 1000, f/6.3, 1/1250 sec
FINALIST Bleeding Hearts
In the Simien Mountains of Ethiopia, almost all mammals are highly endangered – this includes the gelada (or bleeding-heart monkey), the only grazing/grass-feeding primate species left. Because of this, they are being intensely studied and are habituated to people, so you can walk among them all day and take good portraits.
– By Hesté de Beer, Kroonstad
Canon EOS 1D MkII, Canon EF 100-400mm, ISO 2000, f/6.7, 1/350 sec
FINALIST Springbok Fire
We were following a cheetah on the hunt in the Nossob River, close to Rooiputs in the Kgalagadi. It was late afternoon and, in trying to stay ahead of the cat, we had the sun in front of us. Suddenly, she started chasing a group of about 50 springbok. They kicked up so much dust that the cheetah got lost, but it resulted in a shot that looked like this springbok was jumping through fire.
– By Michiel Duvenhage, Bloemfontein
Nikon D850, Nikon AF-S 600mm f/4,
ISO 110, f/4.5, 1/2500 sec
FINALIST Behind Sossusvlei
My friends and I had spent the morning exploring Sossusvlei and the surrounding area. Now we were kicking back at our accommodation, watching a herd of oryx on one side and this wonderful view on the other. At one point, there was a double rainbow stretching between us and the mountain. Minutes later we watched a downpour race across the desert. – Juliette Bisset, Cape Town Canon 5D MkIII, Canon 24-70mm f/2.8, ISO 1250, f/8, 1/640 sec