Getaway Gallery
Our last finalists of the 2020/21 competition
FINALIST
The sun collectors
The sunflower has the unique ability to follow and collect the sun’s rays. It starts with its head turning to the east and ends at sunset with its head to the west. The phenomenon is called heliotropism. The honey bee taps into this stored sun energy and is a welcome pollen spreader/collector. We humans benefit from these sun collectors in terms of sweet golden honey. For me, the deep yellow colours resemble summer, sun and a vibrant nature.
By Peet J van Eeden, Welgemoed
Canon EOS 5DS R, Canon 600EX-RT speedlite, EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM, ISO100, f/32, 1/200 sec
FINALIST
Nature’s gift
The beautiful contrast of a Cape white-eye almost concealed by the vibrant colours of the agapanthus flower that the little bird is resting on at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.
By Braeme Holland, Cape Town
Canon 5DMK4, Canon EF 500mm f4i IS USM mk2, ISO: 800, f/4, 1/800 sec
FINALIST
Intimate first moments
This newborn zebra was still wet and shaking; we were told it was born a few hours before. Then the baby started looking for milk and it really struggled, spending a few minutes looking around its mom’s back. It was an amazing photo opportunity so I sat there for half an hour taking hundreds of pictures. The one I kept was from the baby’s very first milking.
By Matthieu Tardan, Komatiepoort
Nikon D810, Nikon 600mm f4G, ISO: 400, f/4, 1/640 sec
FINALIST
Crafty camo
We came across this crafty creature – a monitor lizard – hiding in the bark of a tree where it was perfectly camouflaged.
By Zander Rautenbach, Richards Bay
Canon 7D MkII, Sigma 150-600mm, ISO: 2500, f/6.3, 1/800 sec
FINALIST
Mother and child
At Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in Uganda we were tracking various groups of habituated gorillas. After some time we found the Oruzogo gorilla group, with about 22 family members, in the Ruhija sector of the park. This gorilla mother carrying her baby was walking closeby. Although the local guides advise you to keep a certain distance to the gorillas, chances are they will curiously approach humans, after all, they are some of our closest relatives. Visitors are only allowed to spend an hour with these incredible animals but this experience is a life-changing adventure. Light conditions for photography in the dense jungle are very tricky at times so camera settings and adjusting ISO are essential.
By Ernst A Hegenbarth, Knysna
Canon EOS 5D MK III, Canon EF 70300mm f/4-5.6 L IS USM, ISO: 3200, f/6.3, 1/100 sec