DOLPHIN DELIGHT
Wild Bottlenose dolphins around the world are often seen surfing the breakers with seemingly great delight. Dolphins surf from behind and under the swell as it begins to break and then turn, punching out the surface into the air as the wave rolls in toward the beach or rocks. They often continue this behaviour as they travel along a coastline and in this photo can be seen training a juvenile alongside its mother.
Inshore Bottlenose Dolphin - Tursiops truncates
Inshore Bottlenose Dolphins are small cetaceans that have long, beaklike snouts, falcate (sickle-shaped) dorsal fins, and sharp teeth. They are Odontoceti (toothed Whales) and have one blowhole. They live in small groups called pods and grow to be at most 3.7m long, sometimes weighing more than 635kg. Dolphins can dive down to more than 300m and can jump up to 6m out of the water.
Nikon D7000, Sigma 150-500mm f5-6.3 APO DG OS lens @ 230mm, F10 @ 1/800th sec, ISO 640
Taken from the shore off De Hoop Nature Reserve and marine protected area, Western Cape, South Africa.
Photograph by Andrew Woodburn
GIRAFFE 360
One can do a lot with such a long neck – like turn your head completely around to see what’s biting your back. This giraffe swung his head 360 degrees; from inside a tree that was lunch to see what the oxpecker bird was up to at the base of its mane. It provides us with a unique view of its thick mane hair as well as the flexibility of the long neck that makes it the tallest animal on the planet.
Giraffe - Giraffidae giraffa (South African giraffe)
The giraffe is a large African hoofed mammal belonging to the genus Giraffa. It is the tallest living terrestrial animal and the largest ruminant on Earth. Traditionally, giraffes were thought to be one species, Giraffa camelopardalis, with nine subspecies. Most recently, researchers proposed dividing them into up to eight extant species due to new research into their mitochondrial and nuclear DNA, as well as morphological measurements. Seven other extinct species of Giraffa are known from the fossil record.
The giraffe’s chief distinguishing characteristics are its extremely long neck and legs, its horn-like ossicones, and its spotted coat patterns. Their food source is leaves, fruits, and flowers of woody plants, primarily acacia species, which they browse at heights most other herbivores cannot reach.
Nikon D4, Sigma 150-500mm f5-6.3 APO DG OS lens @ 500mm, 1/2000th sec @ f11, ISO 7200.
Photograph by Andrew Woodburn
STRANGE SHARK
The bowmouth is quite a rare sight for divers in our African waters but this one seemed very curious. It approached me a number of times, staying near the ocean floor with its attendant remora and cobia fish in diligent accompaniment. It had a prehistoric look to it with the ridges resembling the back of a dinosaur, matched with large upward facing eyes. After a few passes it calmly vanished into the blue.
Bowmouth Guitar shark - Rhina ancylostoma
The bowmouth guitarfish, shark ray or mud skate is a species of ray. This rare species occurs in the tropical coastal waters of the western Indo-Pacific, at depths of up to 90m (300 ft). Highly distinctive in appearance, Rhina ancylostoma has a wide and thick body with a rounded snout and large shark-like dorsal and tail fins. Its mouth forms a W-shaped undulating line, and there are multiple thorny ridges over its head and back. It has a dorsal colour pattern of many white spots over a bluish gray to brown background, with a pair of prominent black markings over the pectoral fins. This large species can reach a length of 2.7m (8.9 ft) and weight of 13kg (298lb). Usually found near the sea floor, Rhina ancylostoma prefers sandy or muddy areas near underwater structures. It is a strong-swimming predator of bony fishes, crustaceans, and molluscs. This species gives live birth to litters of two to eleven pups.
Nikon D300 Nikkor 10.5mm F2.8 Fisheye, F10 @ 1/50th sec, ISO 200, Sea & Sea Housing and Two Sea & Sea YS250
strobes on power. Taken on scuba at 25m at Amazon dive site, Tofo, Mozambique.
Photograph by Andrew Woodburn
INQUISITIVE PAIR
Late afternoon in the Ngala Private Game Reserve, part of the greater Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga, these two mongooses scurried across the ground and peered out from behind a termite mound.
Slender or Black-tipped Mongoose - Herpestes sanguineus
Long, lithe, with short legs and black-tipped tail, often seen darting across roads and paths. Tail: nearly as long, tapering to a thin tip. Pointed snout with wide, low ears. Teeth adapted for meat eating. Colour: Grey to dark brown, eyes red. The form of the English name (since 1698) was altered to its “goose” ending. The plural form is ‘mongooses’.
Nikon Z9 with Nikkor 100-400/4.5 – 5.6 VR 5 lens with Nikon Teleconverter 2.0x,
effective focal length 800mm, 1/2500 sec @ f11, ISO 2200.
Photograph by Trevor Woodburn
SOFT CORAL KALEIDOSCOPE
There is a special reef called Amazon located north of Tofo beach in Mozambique, best accessed by dive boat. The current and clean water carry nutrients that feed a host of soft coral on top of the north wall of the reef. Goldies and other reef fish live between the coral and reef cracks waiting for giant manta rays to visit. The rays hover above the reef allowing the fish to swim up and clean them of parasites, the essence of a symbiotic relationship. This results in a busy cleaner station covered in colourful coral and a diverse fish community.
Sea goldie - Pseudanthias squamipinnis
The sea goldie is found in the western Indian Ocean, living around coral outcrops in clear lagoons, patch reefs, and steep slopes to a depth of 35m and often found in very large schools above the reef. The sea goldie feeds primarily on zooplankton. The sea goldie is a protogynous hermaphrodite; a male retains a harem of five to 10 females, but when the male dies or leaves, the largest and most dominant female will undergo hormonal and physical changes to become the harem’s new male.
Nikon D300, Nikkor 10.5mm F2.8 Fisheye lens, F9 @ 1/50th sec, ISO 200.
Photograph by Andrew Woodburn
LEARNING TO KICK
Late afternoon in the Ngala Private Game Reserve, part of the greater Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga, a herd of elephants were foraging for food with a number of baby elephants close to their mothers. This young elephant raised his right leg into a pose which looked as if he was about to kick a ball.
African Elephant - Loxodonta
The African Elephant is a genus comprising two living elephant species, the African Bush Elephant and the smaller African Forest Elephant. Loxodonta is one of two existing genera of the family Elephantidae, the other being Asiatic Elephants. The name refers
to the lozenge-shaped enamel of their molar teeth. African Elephants are the world’s largest land animals and can weigh up to
seven tons in weight. Elephants roam across much of sub-Saharan Africa, but face increasing threat from poaching, habitat loss
and conflict with humans.
Nikon D5 with Nikon VR80 – 400mm, f4.5-5.6G lens with Nikon 1.4 x Teleconverter,
effective focal length 250mm, 1/1250 sec @ f8, ISO 5600.
Photograph by Trevor Woodburn
TRANQUILLITY
Early morning in the Ngala Private Game Reserve, part of the greater Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga, a family of giraffe came down to a dam to drink and then set off gracefully with their bodies reflected in the water, creating a very tranquil scene.
Giraffe - Giraffidae giraffa
The biggest ruminant and the tallest mammal, very long neck with short, upstanding mane, high shoulders sloping steeply to hindquarters, long legs almost equal in length. Weight between one and two tons. A giraffe has just two gaits: walk and gallop, The long legs and short trunk decree an ambling walk with the entire weight supported alternatively on left and right legs, the long neck moves in synchrony to maintain balance.
Nikon D5 with Nikkor VR80 – 400mm, f4.5-5.6 GED lens with Nikon Teleconverter TC14E III 1.4x,
effective focal length 112mm, 1/640 sec @ f8, ISO 280.
Photograph by Trevor Woodburn
PROUD AND PROTECTIVE MOTHER
Late afternoon in the Ngala Private Game Reserve, part of the greater Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga, this female zebra and her foal were found in an open clearing. The foal stood very close to its mother who looked proudly on while keeping a protective eye on their surroundings.
Plains or Burchell’s Zebra - Equus quagga burchellii
African version of the horse. Portly build, weighing around 250kg. Colour: no gender difference; background white to buff colour; striping varies geographically and individually. Juvenile coat longer with brown stripes. One of the most numerous and successful large herbivores, adapted to a broad range of grassland habitats. First to enter tall or wet pastures, followed by wildebeests after the zebras have trampled and cropped the grass.
Nikon Z9 with Nikkor 100-400/4.5.-5.6 VR S lens with Nikon Teleconverter 2.0x,
effective focal length 380mm, 1/2000 sec @ f10, ISO 5600.
Photograph by Trevor Woodburn
GROOMING TO “PURR-FECTION”
Late afternoon in the Ngala Private Game Reserve, part of the greater Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga, this magnificent Leopard was found carefully grooming itself on the banks of a dry river bed.
Leopard - Panthera pardus
Leopards embody feline beauty with stealth, infinite patience and power. A leopard will get to within 5m of its quarry before pouncing, taking it completely by surprise. Tremendously strong, these cats can carry a 70kg impala to a feeding position up a tree. The most secretive and elusive of the large carnivores, the leopard is also the shrewdest. Kilogram for kilogram, it is the strongest climber of the larger cats and is capable of killing prey far larger than itself. The colouring of the leopard varies from white to bright golden brown, spotted with black spots and rosettes. The rosettes consist of groups of five to six spots arranged in a tight ring. This fierce animal has small round ears and long whiskers growing from dark spots on the upper lips. Although leopards are shy and elusive, they are found all over sub-Saharan Africa. They occupy grasslands that have trees in which they can hide and sleep during the heat of the day.
Nikon D5 with Nikon VR80-400mm f4.5-5.6 G lens with Nikon 1.4x Teleconverter,
effective focal length 450mm, 1/640 sec @ f9, ISO 5000.
Photograph by Trevor Woodburn
BLUE HEADED AGAMA LIZARD
This male Agama lizard was quite visible with his bright iridescent head sitting on a cairn of rocks in the De Hoop Nature Reserve enjoying the late afternoon sun. He was fearless in his position as I approached, nodding his head up and down but capable of darting into the cracks of the rock pile if threatened by an eagle or other predator. His head colour was extraordinary and very eye catching, just what he needed the females to see.
Southern Rock Agama lizard - Agama atra
The southern rock agama is a species of lizard from the family Agamidae that occurs in Southern Africa. It lives in small colonies on rocky outcrops, and the males are very conspicuous for their bright blue heads. This rather sociable agama is normally found in small groups or colonies. It grows up to about 25cm and has a thin dorsal crest that runs the length of its body. During the breeding season, the heads of the males become bright blue. The males also take to sitting on top of prominent rocks and are therefore a common sight in mountainous areas of South Africa. These active, diurnal lizards normally hunt small insects such as ants and termites. They have some ability to change colour, although not to the same extent as chameleons.
Nikon D7000 Nikkor 105mm F2.8 Macro, F32 @ 1/640th sec, ISO 2500.
Taken by hand on the Whale Trail in De Hoop Nature Reserve, South Africa.
Photograph by Andrew Woodburn
MANTA RAY FLY-BY
The group of remoras hitches a ride underneath this ocean-going Manta Ray as it glides past the group of divers – close enough but not too close. They are gentle creatures and will often approach divers in order to satisfy their curiosity. They are so big that when they swim overhead it’s as if a cloud has blocked the sun, they move like a magic carpet in the water with unparalleled grace and speed. This one was still fairly far off, hence the blue haze in the image, but still majestic in its presence.
Manta Ray - Manta Birostris
Manta rays are large rays. The larger species, M. birostris, reaches 7m (23 ft) in width, both have triangular pectoral fins, horn-shaped cephalic fins and large, forward-facing mouths. Mantas are found in warm temperate, subtropical and tropical waters. Both species are pelagic;
M. birostris migrates across open oceans, singly or in groups, while M. alfredi tends to be resident and coastal. They are filter feeders and eat large quantities of zooplankton, which they gather with their open mouths as they swim. However, research suggests that the majority of their diet (73%) actually comes from mesopelagic sources; that is, they are actually deep sea predators, feeding on fish and other organisms that inhabit areas of the sea between 200–1,000m below the surface. They are listed as vulnerable, threats include pollution, entanglement in fishing nets, and direct harvesting for their gill rakers for use in Chinese medicine. They are protected in international waters.
Nikon D300, Nikkor 10.5mm f2.8 Fisheye lens, 1/160 sec @ f8, ISO 200, Sea & Sea Housing and
Two Sea & Sea YS350 strobes on power. Taken on scuba at 27m at Amazon dive site off Tofo, Mozambique.
Photograph by Andrew Woodburn
“JOE-COOL” – CHILLING OUT AFTER A HECTIC YEAR!
Early morning in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, part of the greater Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga, this very young leopard cub was found on a tree branch resting up in a very casual pose while its mother was away hunting.
Leopard - Panthera pardus
The leopard is one of the five extant species in the genus Panthera, a member of the Felidae. It occurs in a wide range in sub-Saharan Africa, and small parts of Western and Eastern Asia. The leopard’s colour varies between individuals from pale yellowish to dark golden with dark spots grouped in rosettes. Its belly is whitish and its ringed tail shorter than its body. The pattern of rosettes is unique in each individual. Cubs have fuzzy coats with indistinct, close-set spots. Offspring become independent at around 22 months, but remain in the natal home range for some time and often get maternal handouts while struggling to become proficient hunters. Leopards are the embodiment of feline beauty, power and stealth, being long and low slung, with short muscular limbs.
Nikon D5 with Nikon VR80-400mm f4.5-5.6 G lens with Nikon 1.4x Teleconverter,
effective focal length 190mm, 1/1000 sec @ f10, ISO 9000.
Photograph by Trevor Woodburn
“Beady Eye Bass”
This Bass was found maintaining station under a ledge out of the strong current on the north-east undersea ridge on Aliwal Shoal. This individual is territorial and although wild, has had exposure over time to divers and just eyed the photographer as he slowly approached the dome of the camera to the eye of the rock cod. The ledge provides protection and also a base for the Goldie’s and Cleaner Wrasse to approach the Bass and eat the parasites and algae that might be growing on its skin. Whilst it is very large it doesn’t have teeth like sharks do but rather a large mouth that it sucks food into and then crushes and swallows.
Potato Bass or Grouper – Epinephelus tukula
The Potato Grouper, also called the Potato Cod or Potato Bass, is a native fish to Australia, Indian Ocean and Asian countries. It can reach a length of 2.6m and can weigh as much as 110kg. Mainly found in deep reef channels and seamounts, in current prone areas. Juveniles may be found in tide pools. They feed on reef fish, skates, crabs, and spiny lobsters and are considered to be exceedingly territorial and very aggressive towards intruders. They can be vulnerable to spear fishermen, and although hand fed by divers in certain areas, they can be potentially dangerous to the inexperienced
Nikon D300 Nikkor 10.5mm f2.8 Fisheye lens, 1/80th sec @ f11, ISO 200, Sea & Sea Housing and Two Sea & Sea YS250
strobes on ¼ power. Taken on scuba at 20m at Aliwal Shoal, South Africa
Photograph by Andrew Woodburn
"Laughing Leopard"
Late afternoon in the Mashatu Game Reserve in Southern Botswana, this young leopard was savouring the late afternoon sun on the soft sand of a riverbed when it suddenly rolled over several times enjoying the process and appearing to be laughing hilariously at its own antics
Leopard - Panthera pardus
Leopards rest by day and part of the night in the trees or dense undergrowth and usually only become active at dusk.
Nikon D2x 12.4 megapixel resolution, AF VR Nikkor 80-400mm f4.5-5.6 D lens, focal length @ 400 mm - effective with high speed crop mode
800mm @ 6.8 megapixel resolution, 1/400th sec @ f5.6, ISO 400
Semi-finalist Image: Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Photograph by Trevor Woodburn
“Finding Nemo”
When diving, it’s quite easy to find Nemo, since as you pass over a coral reef they will find you if you come too close to their home. You will know it since the largest of the pair, the female may actually charge you and even take a small bite at you, quite a surprise if you aren’t ready for this diminutive ball of energy, far smaller than a human. These two share their anemone home and can be seen taking protection among the stinging tentacles and getting ready to charge the photographer’s camera dome port.
Two bar Anemonefish - Clownfish Amphiprioninae
Clownfish or Anemonefish in the wild, form symbiotic mutualisms with sea anemones and are unaffected by the stinging tentacles of the host Anemone. The Sea Anemone protects the Clownfish from predators, as well as providing food through the scraps left from the Anemone's meals and occasional dead Anemone tentacles. In return, the Clownfish defends the Anemone from its predators and parasites. Clownfish are small-sized, 10–18 cm, and depending on species, they are overall yellow, orange, or a reddish or blackish colour, and many show white bars or patches. Colour variations occur between species, most commonly according to distribution, but also based on sex, age, and host Anemone. Clownfish are found in warmer waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans and the Red Sea in sheltered reefs or in shallow lagoons. In a group of Clownfish, a strict dominance hierarchy exists. The largest and most aggressive fish is female and is found at the top. Only two Clownfish, a male and a female, in a group reproduce through external fertilization. Clownfish are sequential hermaphrodites, meaning they develop into males first, and when they mature, become females.
Nikon D300 Nikkor 10.5mm f2.8 Fisheye lens, 1/30th sec @ f18, ISO 200, Sea & Sea Housing and Two Sea & Sea YS250. Taken at 18m on scuba at Sodwana Bay, South Africa
Photograph by Andrew Woodburn
“The Long and Short of it”
Early morning in the Phinda Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, this mother and juvenile Rhinoceros stopped briefly to show off their respective horns.
White Rhinoceros – Ceratotherium simum
A gentle giant, the biggest land mammal after Elephants (though outweighed by the Hippopotamus). Almost double the weight of a Black Rhinoceros, with pronounced shoulder hump. Males weigh in the region of 2 040 to 2 260 kg, females in the region of 1 600 kg. Newborns weigh only 65 kg, equal to 4% of mother’s weight. Mothers are equipped to protect them against all predators except Lions. Calves run in front of mother during flight. Head: massive with wide, square mouth, big ears.
Horns: The front horn averages 60 cm in males and is longer but thinner in females. The back horn is much shorter and more triangular.
Colour: slate grey to yellow-brown. Due to the increase in demand for Rhino horn, (for dagger handles, medicine, and aphrodisiacs) they are now more precious than gold.
Nikon D2xs, AF VR-Nikkor 80-400 mm, f4.5-5.6 D lens, focal length at 80 mm, equivalent to 120 mm, 1/125th sec @ f5, ISO 800
Photograph by Trevor Woodburn
“Turtle time”
This turtle was found happily munching away on a sponge growing on an undersea ridge on Aliwal Shoal. The ridge creates strong water flow delivering food which the sponge uses to grow and the turtle seemed to have no problems holding his breath while tearing pieces off the sponge for a meal. One diver was even able to take a selfie next to the turtle whilst he continued his meal. After what seemed an age he lazily headed for the surface for his next breath only to descend and continue where he left off.
Green Turtle – Chelonia mydas
On the Green Turtle there are only four shell plates either side of the central row and plates do not overlap – the loggerhead has five. Females are usually darker than males, the shell appearing almost tie-dyed in rich browns and ochres. The forelimbs have a single claw each and the bill is not hooked. Green turtles are resident in southern Africa however, they do not nest on our shores. The nearest breeding grounds are on the islands of Europa and Tromelin in the Mozambique Channel. The females lay only 600 eggs each season in batches of 150 every 12 days. Adults feed almost exclusively on algae and marine plants often entering estuaries to do so. Green Turtles are under threat from hunting and egg collection.
Nikon D300 Nikkor 10.5mm F2.8 Fisheye, F10 @ 1/50th sec, ISO 200, Sea & Sea Housing and Two Sea & Sea YS250 strobes on ¼ power. Taken on scuba at 10m at Aliwal Shoal, South Africa.
Photograph by Andrew Woodburn
“Colourful Cuttlefish”
While diving deep on Giants Castle reef off Tofo, Mozambique, the photographer glided along a sponge-encrusted reef wall hoping for Manta Rays to swim overhead. This Cuttlefish was curiously investigating the photographer, while blending with the background of the reef. The Cuttlefish is able to flash different colours and designs and uses this, plus its well-known intelligence and good eyesight, to remain undetected or, if need be, using jet propulsion to make a rapid getaway.
Cuttlefish – Sepia latimanus
Cuttlefish are marine animals of the order Sepiida belonging to the class Cephalopoda (which also includes squid, octopuses and nautiluses). Despite their name, Cuttlefish are not fish but molluscs. Recent studies indicate that Cuttlefish are among the most intelligent invertebrates. Cuttlefish also have one of the largest brain-to-body size ratios of all invertebrates. The origin of the word Cuttlefish can be found in the old English term cudele, which derived in the 15th century from the Norwegian koddi (cushion, testicle) and the Middle German kudel (pouch), a good description of the cephalopod’s shape. Cuttlefish have an internal shell (the cuttlebone), large W-shaped pupils, and eight arms and two tentacles furnished with denticulated suckers with which they secure their prey.
Nikon D300, Nikkor 10.5 mm, f2.8G fisheye lens, 1/40th sec @ f11, ISO 200
Photograph by Andrew Woodburn
"Confrontation"
Early morning in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, Mpumalanga, this mating Lion got a major surprise when the Lioness took exception, snarled and snapped at the Lion in disagreement. The Lion jumped and grimaced at the unexpected attack.
Lion - Panthera leo
Call of the African Wild, King of African Carnivores. Low, but large and powerful, weighing between 190 and 260 kg.
Coat: short except for tail tuft and male's mane, appearing during his third year, maximum development at five years.
While prey is plentiful, Lions spend 20 hours out of 24 conserving energy, becoming active in late afternoon, hunt most actively early and late at night and for a couple of hours after daybreak. Lions can become active at any time, day or night, hungry or gorged, so that when easy opportunities to catch prey present themselves, they react immediately and take advantage. Lions kill and often eat all the other carnivores, including Leopards and Cheetahs, but rarely Hyenas.
Nikon D3s, 12.1 megapixel resolution, FX format, AF VR-Nikkor 80-400 mm f4.5-5.6 D lens
focal length at 160 mm 1/2000th sec @ f8, ISO 1800
Semi-finalist Image: Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2011, Natural History Museum, London
Photograph by Trevor Woodburn
“Bottlenose Dolphins and Bubbles”
Wild Bottlenose Dolphins have become habituated to humans in their environment.
Dolphins swim right up to snorkellers with intense interest and even looks of curiosity and a faint smile at how un-coordinated and helpless humans are in water. As they rise to the surface they blow bubbles as signatures or splash around on the surface as a form of communication.
Inshore Bottlenose Dolphin - Tursiops truncates
Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins are small cetaceans that have a long, beak-like snout, a falcate (sickle-shaped) dorsal fin, and sharp teeth. They are Odontoceti (toothed whales) and have one blowhole. They live in small groups called pods and grow to be at most 3.7 m long, sometimes weighing more than 635 kg. Dolphins can dive down to more than 300 m and can jump up to 6 m out of the water.
Nikon D70 10.5 megapixel resolution, AF Sigma 10-20mm D lens,
housed in Sea & SEA D70 housing, 1/160th sec @ f6.3, ISO 200, at 20mm, taken while breath-holding at a depth of 2m about 2km from shore in Southern Mozambique.
Photograph by Andrew Woodburn
“Resting after the hunt”
Shortly after sunrise near Kirkman’s Camp in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve, Mpumalanga, South Africa, these two Cheetah brothers were resting after their strenuous hunt for a young Impala.
Cheetah – Acinonyx jubatus
A cat with a greyhound chassis. Built for speed: light-boned, swaybacked, long, thin legs and short neck, weighs between 35 kg and 65 kg. Colour: tawny, with small solid black spots; white underparts; outer tail ringed black and white; black ear backs, lips, nose and distinctive “tear stains”. Hunting Cheetahs employ several strategies to approach Antelope, depending on terrain, species and behaviour of the animals. Although top speed is an incredible 112 km/h, a Cheetah can on ly sprint 300 m before rising temperature and oxygen debt force it to quit. Average speed during a chase is around 64 km/h
Nikon F5, AF Nikkor 80-200 mm f2.8 lens, Fujichrome Velvia 50.
Photograph by Trevor Woodburn
“Getting in a good look”
Big eyes move around underwater almost like a cloud of interested youngsters, swirling with little energy as can be seen in the background whilst those with more courage come up in a group to get a good look. They were quite accommodating, allowing the photographer to join the school provided no sudden moves were made, or vast amounts of noisy bubbles were exhaled. the photographer loves photographing these fish since when you see them first they look like a school of black and silver fish, but when the strobe lights them up, the black turns out to be vivid red, a perennial crowd pleaser contrasting with the cool blues of the water. When beginner divers see the photos they ask where the bright red fish were since they only saw black and silver ones.
Crescent-Tail Bigeye – Priacanthus hamrur
Priacanthus hamrur is a reef-associated species, living in tropical marine waters on outer reef slopes and rocky areas as well as in lagoons at depths of 8 to 250 meters. The body of the Crescent-Tail Bigeye is relatively deep, strongly compressed laterally. The eyes are very large and red (even in case of silver livery). The mouth is oblique with a protruding lower jaw and small conical teeth. The bodies of these fish go through various phases of colour, which may vary from orange to entirely red, entirely silver, or silver with six broad red bands.
Nikon D300 Nikkor 10.5mm f2.8 Fisheye lens, 1/400th sec @ f11, ISO 200, Sea & Sea Housing and Two Sea & Sea YS250 strobes on ¼ power.
Taken on scuba at 25m at Manta Reef, Tofo, Mozambique
Photograph by Andrew Woodburn
"Evening Stroll"
Early evening at the Pafuri bridge in the far northern region of the Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga, this large Elephant strolled across the river as the golden rays of the setting sun bathed the river water in a golden glow.
Elephant - Loxodonta africana
The largest land animal, Africa's true King of the Beasts, weighs up to 6 000 kg (male) and 3 500 kg (female), and height up to 3.3m (male) and 2.5m (female). The trunk is a muscular extension of the upper lip containing the nostrils, and the tip is equipped with two fingerlike projections for handling small objects. The Elephant has huge ears, measuring up to 1.5m, and it flaps its ears on still, hot days which helps cool blood flowing through a network of veins on the back surface of the ears. Elephant's tusks grow continuously, can weigh up to 130 kg each and can reach a length of about 2.5m.
Nikon 2x, 12,3 megapixel resolution, DX format, AF-S VR-Nikkor 200-400 mm, f4G lens with Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E11 1,4x, focal length 550 mm, equivalent to 825 mm, 1/2000th sec @ f5.6, ISO 800
Semi-finalist Image: Wildlife Photographer of the year 2010, Natural History Museum, London
Photograph by Trevor Woodburn