I decided to feature cats for this month's Photo Challenge, subject animals.
Perhaps my kitties are far removed from the domestic cats we usually enjoy
photographing, but seeing these splendid animals in their natural habitat raised
my love of cats to a new level. I no longer have a pet cat…but a very special one
did share my home for 21 years - I still miss her.
Lazy lionesses relaxing at the edge of the trail in Botswana - not at all
concerned by our close proximity
These photos were taken on my first African safari trip in 2010.
Needless to say I hardly stopped to take a breath,
or shut my mouth which stayed open in awe when I
realized just how close we were to Africa's 'Big Five'.
I took so many photos and realized that if I ever I
was fortunate to take another safari - and I did
in 2012 - I would definitely require a DSLR with a
big lens and a fast speed for capturing wildlife.
For these shots I used that trusty, still loved,
Olympus SP-590UZ which, although slow, did get
me some wonderful photos of animals resting
when not chasing down their next meal!
A young male leopard watching a herd of grazing impala from his tree branch in Botswana
The leopard is my favorite African cat - beauty,
movement and strength are so amazing.
Adults have been seen dragging huge kill - such as
antelope and young giraffe weighing over
200 lbs - up into trees where they often store their kill
to feed on for several days.
Elderly male lion relaxing in the afternoon shade in South Africa
The lion has been known as the King of Beasts for
centuries due to its majestic appearance.
In more recent times, wild animals have been called
jungle animals, hence the lion's modern title
"King of the Jungle".
The majority of lions live however not in jungles but
on open savannah…the huge grasslands of Africa.
All photos edited in iPhoto and PicMonkey.
Joining Donna's Personal Photo Challenge - always fun and inspirational to those of us who love taking photos no matter our equipment or level of expertise. Remember, we are all photographers in this digital age!
Donna's tips, and participants' excitement at sharing their great pics, add to making this a great time enjoyed by us all - so join in if you're not already part of this monthly challenge…..we'd love to see your fabulous photos.
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