As a wildlife photographer, I’ve always searched for that experience that goes beyond filling a hard drive and fills the heart. There is without a doubt that Sharon and my experience this last two week in Africa, Maassi Mara to be exact filled our hearts. It’s hard not to be effected when you sleep next to a river full of hippos and hear their antics all night long. Or wake up to the road of a lion that a few moments later you are staring at through your lens. Who you’re staring at here is #3 of the Marsh Pride on the Mara. Ya, he’s just #3, there are bigger and badder and we were with them as well. He’s cruising Rhino Ridge here, following the lionesses who were on the prowl for an easy meal but had no success. We had seen up a long, long ways off and were able to watch him walk literally right down the lens barrel in what seems like minutes. It’s hard to express in words the feelings when you’re able to witness such a magnificent critter as this big male lion with total freedom walk right up to where you’re seating, look you right in the eye, rub against your vehicle and then go on his way. Wow!
This shot was taken with the D4s / 800mm and all I took for gear was this, Df, 300PF and 24-120VR, that’s it (oh ya, very excited to carry all my gear in our new MP-1 V2 which is KILLER!). This alone brought back 23k filed images but more importantly, memories of an experience that has sincerely moved Sharon and I. There is no doubt we’re going back, working on those plans already. I have a lot more to share, working on doing that in a number of ways with this being only a start. Our safari just reinforces what I’ve come to say a lot this year, I love my life!