READER PHOTOS
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An ellie asking for a piggyback ride, a deserted dirt road near Calvinia and a curious tortoise… Did your photo make the cut this month?
TONY CRONJÉ Canon EOS 650D Canon 75 – 300 mm lens
TONY WRITES: I took this photo at the Gwarriepan waterhole in Addo Elephant National Park. It was a hot day in January and there were elephants of different ages all cooling off in the water. I watched these three romp around for about half an hour, hoping that a good photo opportunity would present itself. Eventually I got what I was waiting for. This scene reminds me of the games we used to play as children, like bok-bok. Although I live relatively nearby in Morgan Bay, I don’t visit Addo often enough. The elephants there are more docile than in the Kruger Park or Etosha, for example, especially when there are small calves around. It’s a great place to practise your photography.
TOAST SAYS: What a fun photo! Tony was patient and his patience paid off. You’ll sometimes see one calf climbing on top of another, but a third asking for a piggyback ride is special – it’s not something you see every day. The more time you spend in a particular park – even if it’s a small provincial reserve near your home town – the better you’ll get to know the behaviour of the animals that live there. You’ll also figure out which waterholes offer the best photo opportunities, both in terms of the animals that visit and the quality of the light at certain times of the day. Tony wins a StevensonHamilton leather hat for best picture this month. Wear it next time you visit Gwarriepan, Tony!
Canon PowerShot A460
SUE WRITES: I took this picture during a weekend spent on a farm in the Greyton area. The horse had come down for a drink at the dam. I love the horse’s reflection and the way the sun pours into the frame. I’m thrilled with the result!
TOAST SAYS: There are similarities between Sue’s photo and Bruce’s photo of the impala. Here, back light makes the horse stand out in the relatively dark landscape. A reflection also makes a great addition to a photo because it doubles the beauty of a scene. But photography is not all about technique. It’s about capturing a moment – something special that caught your eye. By taking a photo, you frame the moment. It’s like magic: Sue can carry this joyful moment with her forever.