Sidestream, Siberia valley

In January last year we walked part of the track along the Siberia Valley. This small stream crossing the track in the beech forest called out to be photographed, but it and the enormous number of similar scenes throughout the mountains of Aotearoa have been photographed so many times it's hard to know whether adding to the complement can reasonably be justified. Consequently, I played around with the photo to make it (very) slightly resemble an illustration rather than a straightforward photo; in doing so, I trust it'll encourage at least some of you to imagine what might have happened, or might happen, somewhere around that bend where the stream issues from the unseen.

[13 January 2010, Canon 20D, 10–22 mm f4 at 10 mm, ISO 400, 1/20 at f11]

All content © 2010 Pete McGregor

Te Awaoteatua Stream

The stream that flows near my place. It rises in the southern Ruahine, passes through farmland (where it collects a load of bull shit and other "nutrients") and meets the main Pohangina a couple of hundred metres beyond the road bridge. When I photographed this from the bridge, the stream was still turbid after rain. You can see a couple of other recent photos on the latest Pohanginapete post.

[25 September 2010, Canon 20D, 300 mm f4 L IS, Canon EF1.4x teleconverter, ISO 100, 1/10 at f16]

All content © 2010 Pete McGregor

Reedbuck, South Luangwa NP

We saw many southern reedbuck (Redunca arundinum) at South Luangwa, their slightly redder and distinctly shaggier pelage making them easy to distinguish from the ubiquitous impala.

As I said in a comment to Barbara on the previous photo, South Luangwa's a wonderful place and I wouldn't hesitate to go back there if circumstances allowed. 

[11 May 2007, Canon 20D, 300 mm f4 L IS, ISO 400, 1/200 at f4]


All content © 2010 Pete McGregor

Sunset, South Luangwa

Evening by the Luangwa River appeared idyllic, but not all was as it seemed. The river's home to crocodiles — some enormous — and hippos. We were instructed not to walk around unaccompanied after dark, as hippos grazed the grounds, and on both nights I woke and enjoyed the sight of a hippo cropping the grass outside my tent. A trip to the toilet would have required me to call out to the night watchman, who would have come and chased away the hippo with his catapult. Yes — really. No 375 H&H magnum: instead, a forked stick with a piece of inner tube and whatever stones happened to be lying around.

But the real danger was much less obvious: an estimated three quarters of the mosquitoes in the region carry malaria.

[11 May 2007; Canon 20D, 24–105 mm f4 L at 35 mm, ISO 400, 1/6 at f7.1]



All content © 2010 Pete McGregor

Pirogue on the coast of Ghana

At the small village at the mouth of the river, pirogues lay hauled out on the banks. They didn't look too stable, but I trusted the skills of our guides.

[8 April 2007; Canon 20D, 24–105 mm f4 L at 32 mm, ISO 400, 1/50 at f8] 



All content © 2010 Pete McGregor

Dawn on the coast of Ghana

Thunderstorms every day; heat; humidity; the sound of surf. The beach pocked with burrows — the homes of hand-sized crabs — and rumpled by the feet of still-sleeping humans.


[8 April 2007; Canon 20D, 10–22 mm f4 at 10 mm, ISO 400, 1/100 at f8]



All content © 2010 Pete McGregor

Mountain weather: at the foot of the Otira Face of Rolleston

The day before Jono and I climbed the Otira Face of Mt Rolleston we'd walked to its foot, hoping the weather might clear and allow an ascent. It didn't, but the following day proved perfect and we climbed the face in perfect conditions.

[5 February 2006; Canon 20D, 10–22 mm f4 at 10 mm, ISO 400, 1/250 at f8] 


All content © 2010 Pete McGregor

Bushbuck, Nyika Plateau, Malawi

Bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus) were common around Chelinda Camp. At dawn they grazed near my tent and seemed relatively accepting of my quiet movements. This one, however, I photographed from the open window of the ute.

[23 May 2007, Canon 20D, 300 mm f4 L IS, ISO 400, 1/100 at f4]


All content © 2010 Pete McGregor

Boehm's bee eater, Liwonde NP, Malawi

At Chinguni Hills In Liwonde National Park, Jo, Parry and I took a walk on foot with a guide early one morning. These brilliantly coloured little birds (Merops boehmi) were one of the highlights for me.


[31 May 2007, Canon 20D, 300 mm f4 L IS, ISO 200, 1/400 at f5.6]



All content © 2010 Pete McGregor

Tailorbird, Kileshwar

These little birds seem continuously on the move. Add to that their fondness for the shade beneath the foliage, and they weren't easy to photograph. While this is less than technically excellent (this is better), I like the way it conveys something of the bird's character.

[18 February 2007, Canon 20D, 300 mm f4 L IS, ISO 400, 1/250 at f4. Built-in flash at -1 EV]

All content © 2010 Pete McGregor

Khijadiya bird sanctuary at dawn

We left the car and started walking as dawn broke. A nilgai bull waded through shallow water to one of the small islands; a francolin ran ahead along the dusty path; cranes called as they flew overhead.


[14 February 2007; Canon 20D, 24–105 mm f4 L at 40 mm, ISO 400, 1/15 at f5.6]



All content © 2010 Pete McGregor

Rabari woman near Bhuj, Gujarat

When we met her in a grim concrete village somewhere near Bhuj, she was looking after a young girl who seemed inconsolably sad. What was this woman like when she was the same age as the little girl? Although she seems slightly pensive here, she seemed delighted to meet us (although at least largely because of Parbat, I suspect), and I find it hard to imagine she would have been as full of sorrow as the little girl.

I hope she's retained her joy, and the girl's found hers.

[8 February 2007; Canon 20D, 24–105 mm f4 L at 105 mm, ISO 400, 1/100 at f6.3]



All content © 2010 Pete McGregor

Block printer, Gujarat

Near Bhuj, we visited Khatri Musa's dyeing and block printing business. Everything seemed to be done with the exceptional skill that comes from a lifetime of practice and leaves the workers with time to smile at the strangers, even as their hands carry on with the work.

[8 February 2007; Canon 20D, 24–105 mm f4 L at 40 mm, ISO 800, 1/100 at f4]


All content © 2010 Pete McGregor

Bunker

An old bunker on the Lyttelton harbour side of Godley Head looks out over dry grass, lichen-covered rock and the far-below sea. Inside, echoes from the graffitied concrete walls sound like the past, unable to escape.

[18 January 2010; Canon 20D, 10–22 mm f4 at 10 mm, ISO 200, 1/60 at f11] 



All content © 2010 Pete McGregor

Mallard hen

An early Saturday morning on the Massey University campus. Few humans around, but the birds were enjoying the sun. I've titled this "mallard", but I suspect most of the ducks there have more than just mallard genes.

[31 July 2010, Canon 20D, 300 mm f4 L IS, ISO 400, 1/1000 at f5.6]



All content © 2010 Pete McGregor