A Short, unexpected KNP visit

[BluTuna]

As I was saying.........

Even more grandiose than a Bell's Hinge-Backed Tortoise, it's only our second ever sighting of this incredibly shy and seldom seen animal in the KNP.

(Cue the Trumpets again)





The deliberate omission was that I didn't identify this rhino.
1/500 @ f/9, ISO 400

When it lifted its head out of the grass.....
1/500 @ f/9, ISO 400

What a brilliant sighting to end our short and unexpected KNP visit.

[JustN@ture]

WOW great sighting of the blackie BT
love the tree Agama and close ups

[Bushcraft]

Awesome BT

I have also only ever seen 2 in KNP

[steamtrainfan]

What a visually and verbal enhancing TT.

Thanks very much for posting your camera settings as well. This is of geat help to appies such as I.

Hopefully, in August when we go, we will be able to publish pics of this quality.

[Flutterby]

Awesome way to end your trip!!!

[Toko]

Nice to brighten this grey day here

[BluTuna]

WOW great sighting of the blackie BT
love the tree Agama and close ups

Thanks JN, we were really thrilled to see the Blackie, our other sighting was many years ago and not nearly as good.

It was nice of the Agama to pose for me - I only had to chase him half way around the tree!

[BluTuna]

Awesome BT

I have also only ever seen 2 in KNP

Thanks BC We've seen a few in Pilanesberg but that doesn't count as a real game reserve.

[Flutterby]

We've seen a few in Pilanesberg but that doesn't count as a real game reserve.

-O -O

I feel the same way!

[BluTuna]

What a visually and verbal enhancing TT.

Thanks very much for posting your camera settings as well. This is of geat help to appies such as I.

Hopefully, in August when we go, we will be able to publish pics of this quality.

Thanks for the kind words STF.

Don't take the camera settings too seriously, as I said, I have a bad habit of picking the camera up and shooting without checking the settings. Set your camera on Aperture priority so you can control your depth of field and adjust your ISO to get the desired shutter speed. A good rule of thumb is that the shutter speed should be faster than the focal length of your lens, especially if hand holding - i.e. 1/500 for a 500mm lens although image stabilisation can allow slower speeds. Rest your camera on something if you can. If you want to take birds in flight, you need to practice panning which can be difficult to master.

Take lots of pictures. On a normal day in the park I take around 500 shots. Get a couple of 8 or 16Gb cards for your camera and download them onto a laptop or notebook. Taking digital pictures costs nothing once you have the hardware. No film or developing costs to worry about.