As April winds down, I’m thinking how happy I was to see so many Earth Month and Earth Day events by individuals, organizations, businesses…
Let’s remember that every month needs the same attention. We still need to do our best to care for the planet, to keep it healthy and beautiful.
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The greatest waterfalls for photography.
Why? Spanning 2 miles from Brazil…
To Argentina, this collection of waterfalls has everything from powerful roaring falls to delicate cascades.
From colorful rainbows to moody light, compositions and techniques abound.
We even photograph the falls by full moonlight. Join us for this adventure and use all of your photo skills, plus learn more.
Link to our Iguazú Falls Photography Adventure in March 2023
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Toucans are fun! To watch and photograph them is a real treat.
We find plenty of toucans to photograph in Central and South America, from Belize to Northern Argentina, our favorite location Ecuador. Join us on one of our adventures and we will introduce you to some toucans.
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Puffins of Iceland in July – nesting in the cliffs
Join us for our Iceland Photography Adventure, and you will be amazed at the opportunities to get great action photos of puffins. And we’ll photograph waterfalls, glaciers, exciting landscapes, and other birds! Click here to see our adventure webpage!
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In Tanzania in February/March, millions of Wildebeest migrate to have their babies. They follow the rains to the Southern Serengeti to feast on special grasses, rich in nutrition.
© Diane Kelsay
The predators are well aware of this and follow the migration. The cheetah was awakened from a nap by wildebeest running by – food!
© Diane Kelsay
This cheetah is hungry and has a hungry little one to feed. I’ve seen 2 cheetahs take down a calf, but this one is going alone to get an adult!
© Diane Kelsay
© Diane Kelsay
© Diane Kelsay
Defeated, time to look for something smaller.
© Diane Kelsay
She leaves her little one behind for another chase and gets lucky.
© Diane Kelsay
She carries the kill along while trying to reunite with the little one but can’t find the kitten.
© Diane Kelsay
Unheard of for fear of losing it, she puts the kill down and calls and calls while searching. Finally reunited, they look for a safe place to enjoy their meal.
© Diane Kelsay
Looks good, time to eat.
© Diane Kelsay
They take turns eating while the other one guards.
© Diane Kelsay
We were all worried that the little one was lost. It was stressful. They were miles apart from each other. We stood watch over the kill until they came back. We all cheered when we saw them.
Link to our Tanzania Photography Safari, timed to intersect with the “birthing” of a million baby wildebeest and a host of predators!
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Okavango Delta – a wealth of wildlife and scenery in waterways and savanna.
© Diane Kelsay
Lesser Jacana
© Bob Harvey
Carmine Bee Eater
© Diane Kelsay
Hornbill
©Bob Harvey
Bushbuck
© Bob Harvey
Serval, usually a rare find but promising here.
© Bob Harvey
Wild dog, also good chance to find here.
© Bob Harvey
Lion cub doing “cute Kitty”
© Diane Kelsay
Same lion cub practicing “fierce”
© Diane Kelsay
The cubs at play
© Bob Harvey
Daddy’s paw
© Diane Kelsay
© Diane Kelsay
Saddleback stork fishing
© Bob Harvey
© Diane Kelsay
Leopard at twilight
© Diane Kelsay
Link to our Botswana Photography Safari
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The Chobe River is a special place for nature photographers and nature lovers. One side of the river is Botswana, the other side, Namibia. Beautiful birds are nesting along the both shorelines.
Malachite Kingfisher
© Diane Kelsay
Malachite Kingfisher
© Bob Harvey
White Fronted Bee Eater
© Diane Kelsay
Pied Kingfisher
© Diane Kelsay
And the nest robbers go after the eggs.
Water Monitor Lizard
© Diane Kelsay
The Southern Red Bishop searches the reeds for building materials.
Southern Red Bishop
© Bob Harvey
He builds several nests for his home show and invites the female for a look.
Inspection of the nest.
© Diane Kelsay
Elephants love the water, where they drink, eat, cool off and play.
© Diane Kelsay
© Diane Kelsay
Riverbank mud bath.
© Diane Kelsay
And sometimes their life ends in the river. Dozens of Nile Crocodiles feasted on this elephant for a day – and then for some reason, moved it about a half mile upstream during the night, and then cleaned up what remained.
© Diane Kelsay
© Diane Kelsay
© Diane Kelsay
And of course, the mighty Fish Eagle. Sometimes the call is the first sound of the morning.
© Diane Kelsay
© Bob Harvey
© Bob Harvey
Along the riverside, lions like to roam in and out of the trees, along the sandbars…
© Diane Kelsay
The roar was the loudest we ever heard.
© Diane Kelsay
Clearly she was busy grooming and didn’t want to respond.
© Diane Kelsay
Looks like he is waiting for her.
© Diane Kelsay
© Bob Harvey
The river is loaded with hippos. Lots of action!
© Bob Harvey
© Diane Kelsay
Hippo looking for trouble!
© 2018 Diane Kelsay
It’s a beautiful river.
© Diane Kelsay
© Diane Kelsay
Link to our Botswana Photography Safari
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© Bob Harvey
It’s time to celebrate our moms. They feed us, then teach us how to feed ourselves by grazing, browsing, fishing, hunting… They protect us from predators and teach us how to get along in our environment.
© Bob Harvey
© Diane Kelsay
© Diane Kelsay
© Bob Harvey
© Diane Kelsay
© Diane Kelsay
© Diane Kelsay
© Bob Harvey
© Diane Kelsay
© Diane Kelsay
© Diane Kelsay
© Bob Harvey
© Bob Harvey
© Bob Harvey
© Diane Kelsay
© Diane Kelsay
© Diane Kelsay
© Diane Kelsay
© Bob Harvey
© Diane Kelsay
© Diane Kelsay
© Bob Harvey
© Bob Harvey
© Diane Kelsay
© Bob Harvey
© Diane Kelsay
It’s really special to watch and photograph moms and their young. Do take the time to study the behavior, not just catch a quick photo. You will end up with many choices of great moments.
© Diane Kelsay
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The local village of the Wa Arusha tribe are cousins of the Maasai, but unlike the Maasai, are a farming community. We offer a visit to this village as a pre-tour for our Tanzania Adventures. This time, I went with Kristie and we had a great experience. This is not a show, this is real village life.
We walked several miles through the village through banana and coffee plantations. These ladies walked uphill about 3 miles from the market with heavy loads on their heads. And we were tired from carrying our camera bags?
© Diane Kelsay
© Diane Kelsay
We visited a traditional healer and she showed us her collection of medicinal plants. It was very dark, only an open door. I asked her to hold up the pretty plant into the light and caught some light on her face too.
© Diane Kelsay
The healer’s house with a pile of cornhusks.
© Diane Kelsay
Drying the corn.
© Diane Kelsay
© Diane Kelsay
© Diane Kelsay
© Diane Kelsay
Lunchtime for the goats.
© Diane Kelsay
We asked for a demonstration of how to process the coffee beans (the coffee they served us was amazing)
Shelling coffee beans.
© Diane Kelsay
Tossing the beans into the air for the shells to fly off. The shells are light skins and she assists by blowing them as she tosses.
© Diane Kelsay
Then they are dropped into the roaster. She stirred them over the fire until roasted just perfectly. We could see why this coffee was so great. Everything is done on the farm.
© Diane Kelsay
Many people like to search for the chameleon while walking down this road.
© Diane Kelsay
It was Saturday but some of the village children were in school. Others were not. I’m not sure how the system works. When we approached the doorway, the noisy kids milling about all went to their seats and looked like model students.
Listening intently to the teacher. Then they sang us a song.
© Diane Kelsay
Kristie really loved the children. See her quote below.
© Diane Kelsay
“These kiddos stole my heart from the very first. How I wish I could be in Tanzania today. Something in my soul is telling me to get back there as quickly as I can. I miss the people, the animals, the landscapes and the rhythm of life”. She posted this on facebook and I asked permission to copy it here. Kristie is right on with everything she said. We have many friends in Tanzania and look forward to every visit. When I go back to this village, I will bring a print for the healer. She was amazed to see her photo on the back of the camera. I’ve emailed the guide so he can show her but they love getting prints. Everyone appreciates our visits and the few dollars we bring to the community.
Consider joining us on a Tanzania adventure in the future and we will introduce you to the people, the animals, the landscape.
Link to our calendar
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Tired of being inside? It’s spring outside! We are usually gone during spring, so we are making the most of our lockdown with daily walks and finding lots of new life to photograph around our place.
View from the deck. I took my time moving around and arranging the greens and lavender. In the past I’ve been in a hurry and just took documentary shots.
© 2020 Diane Kelsay
Same tree, cardinals frequent. NOT an easy shot. I had to open the door to the deck and hide inside. There were many misses – out of focus, branch in front of his face, oops he flew away (they are fast).
Cardinal in the redbud tree.
© 2020 Diane Kelsay
Flight abstract. Things you can make with “misses”
© 2020 Diane Kelsay
The bees are working hard! Yay, honey!
© 2020 Diane Kelsay
I enjoyed sitting by the stream, lush green mosses everywhere.
© 2020 Diane Kelsay
Daffodils are up.
© 2020 Diane Kelsay
More abstract opportunities.
© 2020 Diane Kelsay
New growth poking through last year’s dead stuff.
© 2020 Diane Kelsay
I hope you will go outside and find things. Even if you have a small yard or apartment common space, there are insects, new growth, blossoms, birds, even reflections in rain puddles and drops on leaves. Have fun creating and take good care of yourself. Post your photos on facebook, send them to me at diane@naturephotographyadventures.com.
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