Last blog of 2014!

DCIM\101GOPRO

So as we enter into the last hours of the last day of 2014, its time for me to pen a final few words for the year...

It is now 1 year since I started online endeavours with a dedicated website and Facebook page focused on showcasing my wildlife photography journey. Thanks to all of you who have followed my photographic adventures. My main aim of both the website/blog and the Facebook page is to share my experiences. It is my way of giving back to the community. Whether you are a seasoned wildlife photographer, just starting out as a beginner, or someone who is passionate about wildlife in general, I hope you have found something of interest from the content I have generated...

In 2014 I got to visit Madikwe, Ngala and Sabi Sands Game Reserves. I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to visit these reserves and experience the wildlife there. Once again the hospitality in South Africa was out of this world, and I have nothing but found and happy memories of my time there. I have to admit I have a real soft spot for Sabi Sands. The experience at Madikwe was incredible and I would happily return there; the elephant sightings and incredible landscape backdrops were truly magnificent. But in Madikwe I didn't see a leopard. And each time I have been to Sabi Sands I have been spoilt (I know I have been really spoilt) with leopards. 2014 didn't disappoint. In both Ngala and Sabi Sands I had incredible leopard sightings.

A young male leopard at Ngala Private Game Reserve

A male leopard marking territory in Sabi Sands (Leadwood & Exeter sectors)

In 2015 I will continue to share my experiences, learnings and knowledge. I have no plans for 2015 at all with respect to wildlife photography. Since my return from Sabi Sands at the end of November I have been unfortunate to have fallen ill for some weeks. It would appear that I picked up something via an infected insect bite whilst out there, and European Doctors have had a hard time diagnosing what I have. I have therefore been trying to recuperate at home with the family. I am happy to report that I have turned the corner and am on the road to recovery. But as a result I have not planned any trips for 2015. I have some rough ideas in my mind; I hope (but no guarantees) to return to Africa, and if I do, I hope it is on a dedicated Wildlife Photographic Safari. I also hope to spend some time photographing wildlife in the UK. I am also thinking about how to continue to generate content for my blog and Facebook page. I have some ideas in mind and in the first quarter of 2015 I might start to put a few of those ideas into practice. 

In terms of my own photography, I can sleep easy knowing I have come a long way in a short space of time. When I look at my images from Madikwe in April this year, they were already starting to stand out compared to the images I took in 2013. When I look at the images I took in Ngala and Sabi Sands in November this year, again I made lots of progress. I have started to get much more comfortable anticipating the shot through better reading of animal behaviour and backing off on the shutter count of each sighting (something we all need to do!). I have continued to develop my own style and expanded my portfolio of wider angle shots depicting the animal in its environment. I will continue to do this in 2015. I am at the very early stages of exploring more creative aspects such as motion blur and intentional camera movement. I have some ways to go in this area, but in 2015 I hope to gain the confidence to explore further with these techniques to deliver more creative imagery. 

Getting creative: Playing with depth of field at a hyena den in Ngala Private Reserve.

I hope you have enjoyed all my contributions this year and wherever you are reading this I want to wish you a very happy, healthy, safe and prosperous 2015! 

cheers

Jon