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National and Regional Management Gordon Longmead - England - CEO Peter Hogel - Uganda - Deputy CEO Scott Hurd - Namibia Tom Coetzee - South Africa Paul Welch—Australia Steve Cook - USA
Robert Murray - Scotland Tina Andreasson - Sweden and Mexico Jack Glisson - Kentucky USA Rodger Lee - Steam Punk Events
Contents:4 6 7 8 12 14 16 18 20 22 26 28 34 36
A Study in Greyscale - Structure by Alan Griffiths Greyscale verses Black and White verses Mono Macro Magic - Close-up and Closer An Interview with Photographer Louise Bradt Kabaka’s Lake, Ugandaa - Ben Oleni Ntale A Splash of Colour by Tony Sparkes The Close Up World Freebee or Not to Freebee? That is the question. Travel Photography – Snaps or Images by Geoff Bowers Gardening - The Challenge of the Attention Seekers Photo Spot - Robert Murray Fire and Burning and some common Trees of the Kruger. Ian Bales-Smith Wildlife Borneo - Another Day in Paradise - Sabah Reef by Gary Bridger Photospot
© Please remember that all articles and images published in this magazine are copyright protected Cover picture - Tiger by Gordon Longmead Website = photosociety.net
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Picture by Matthew (A true photographer, he could not resist)
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Greyscale come seen landscape greyscale and in
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s in many shapes and sizes. We have s in previous issues both in normal frared, each style has its own merits. is an important aspect of pictures, raphers do it all the time to present the ages to their bride and groom. er providing images for a paying client e, these are no exception. It will be bserver that the sky in three of the images pulated to add further impact to the
tant aspect of any image is that the end e photographer wanted to create, we can likes and dislikes of others, we can only ves.
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One aspect of photography has always interested me and that is the differences in interpretation of the basic styles of photography and its effects.
Soon we had the 286 shades of grey which gave us the true greyscale pictures. Exposure meters were already set to 18% grey which gives us the ‘perfect’ exposure.
So here we have my own interpretation of the effects as I saw them , or at least remember them. I have included the original colour image as a reference, the rest are digitally modified to as close an approximation as possible to my memories.
This picture shows how the camera sensor sees the colour image … in greyscale.
The first images I ever remember seeing were called Soot and Whitewash. There was no grey in the picture. This was how photography started out back in the 1860’s and how my father introduced me to photographic processing in the darkroom. As time went by the advances in film and paper technology meant that the intermediate colours in a picture could be recorded in shades of grey, although they still retained much of the soot and whitewash aspect as only a few shades of grey were accessible.
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Mono used to mean any of the three styles already mentioned, but lately it has come to mean any image produced in shades of one colour.
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Macro Magic Close-up and Closer
Agate Rock by Georgene Bergstrom
Baby Pine Cones by Georgene Bergstrom
Trio (above and right) by Peter Hogel
By Martin Clarke
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An Interview with Photographer Louise Bradt
In light of our development of the magazine I managed to squeeze some time from her busy schedule to interview Photographer and volunteer Fire-fighter Louise Bradt. Louise has been a member of the Peoples Photographic Society since November 2013 which qualifies her as one of the founder members and a society stalwart. As many people move around as they progress through life, I asked Louise “What part of the World do you originate from and where are you now?” I was born and raised in Congleton, Cheshire, England, but now live in NW Arkansas in the US. My husbands job brought us to the States in 2011, and we started out in a Los Angeles suburb which I hated. Thankfully he was head-hunted by Wal-Mart and we made the decision that rural NW Arkansas was a much better place to bring up 2 teenage boys – so we moved in December 2012, and hubby managed to escape Wal-Mart after 12 months (phew) As we all need to begin somewhere I asked “What made you start out in Photography?” Not sure really, I remember as a kid just loving taking photographs at silly angles and of people when they least expected it. It progressed from there really. I guess I didn’t really start to take it more seriously until around 2006 when I got my first digital camera though.
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“I am always interested in what equipment we started out with, what was your first camera or what were your first cameras?” The first camera I remember owning was a little instamatic 110, then I had no camera for the longest time and then I was lucky to have one of the first Sony Cybershot point and shoot camera’s. Eventually I found my way to Nikon with a D40, which I still own, then a D90 and now I have a D610 and now generally use a D4s, it’s awesome! “Ok, so you are out on a countryside walk with your D4s, what would be your favourite or preferred lens to be using?” On a countryside walk at the moment I would take my 24-70mm f/2.8. It is the most versatile lens I have. “Have you done wedding photography and on a shoot such as weddings or parties, do you prefer to be the main or the candid photographer?” No I haven’t and I never intend to – that is something I plan to leave to the stress junkies! I prefer candid to posed images so at parties and events I would always be the candid photographer. “Some people have a studio setup either at home or as a professional studio, how about you, do you prefer studio or natural photography?” I do have a studio setup, I have Bowens lighting but also a Profoto D1 strobe, but natural photography is always my preference. “How often do you try and get out to take pictures, and do you make special photographic trips?” I usually have my camera with me – you never know what you might see and where you might see it. I have not made any special photographic trips. I take photographs of wonderful places we visit, but have never worked it the other way around. Of course if the Rogers Fire Chief consents to let me retry my project with the Rogers FD, I will be making special trips to go and hang out at the various fire departments around the city. “When on holiday, do you just take holiday pictures or also look for ‘specials’ from a photographic viewpoint?” I am always looking for the best angle/vantage point for a shot. If I am taking snaps, I use my phone camera. “Photographers have a love hate relationship to post processing, what extent do you use it?” I would love to say that I never post process, but that would be a lie. I try to keep it to a minimum by getting my shot as clean as a I can when I take it, but there is usually a little tidying up, here and there. “What software do you prefer to use?” I am a Photoshop lover and have been since the days of Photoshop CS3.
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“In light of the current trends, do you consider yourself to be a professional, ProAm, or Amateur?” Hmmmm…..I try not to label myself….So much I have learned so much still to learn – always a new adventure to follow……I will say ProAm because I know a lot more than some and way less than some too…..I am certainly not arrogant enough to think I know it all ! “How would you describe yourself as a photographer?” I see myself as an Adventurer when it comes to photography. I have developed a lot of skills over the years but there is always more to learn and to explore, so it is like a giant adventure I am on, always seeking to improve and discover new and exciting things! “What journey did you take to get the style you adopt today”? I am still on the journey…I have a passion for contrastly black and white portraiture this much I know, and huge ocd’s about horizons being straight, and I have a keen eye for specks of ‘stuff’ that shouldn’t be on a finished image, and once you see you can’t unsee again! But as for a specific style, I don’t think I have one. I can tell you that I am never going to be the person producing those overly exposed wedding images that people love so much, and I am never going to be the person you come to when you want a photographer to take 20lbs off you…. I guess my style is ‘real life’ if I have to put a label on it…I love people, as they are, warts and all – to me that’s character and photographing people which is what I do most of, is all about finding that character and bringing it out. “So what sort of things give you inspiration when looking for your images and what would be your ultimate project”? I am inspired by the world and its occupants around me, overloading my senses! My ultimate project is one I secured a year ago and then did nothing with! I am a Volunteer Fire-fighter. Here in the US the are approx. 1.1 million fire-fighters – approx. 300,000 career firefighters (paid) and approx. 800,000 volunteer firefighters. The paid department that my department is attached to – Rogers Fire Dept is one of only 64 depts. in the whole of the US to have achieved an ISO rating of 1 (the highest possible). I contacted the Fire Chief at Rogers FD to ask his permission to write an article on their amazing achievement and to follow the firefighters around photographing them doing what they do best, putting out fires… As a fire-fighter myself, this meant that I would be able to get myself into positions that photographers are not normally permitted to get themselves into because of the obvious dangers involved. This could have been a career changing event for me. I let my realisation of the scale of the task and my fear as a female having to hang out through long nights with male shift units stop me from even starting the task.
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Now I am in a position where I am going to have to re-contact the Fire Chief, eat humble pie and ask him if we can start again on this project – I have no clue if he will say yes. I can only hope that the reputation I have built for myself as a volunteer fire-fighter within the county (people do talk about me, including the fire marshal), will stand me in good stead and persuade him to give me a second chance!
“If you could only take one image and never use a camera again what would be the subject?” A fire-fighter exiting a burning building, tired and exhausted, but successful in his task…It is a truly awesome sight and to capture it perfectly would be a dream.
“Do you have a favourite genera if so what?” I love to photograph people, but I am always exploring new ideas and subjects. I also love photographing wildlife and have recently started to take an interest in landscape “Have you ever taken courses on photography or are you self taught”? For the most part I am self taught. I have taken a few course more recently to confirm to myself that what I believed was correct is actually correct and I am pleased to say, I have not taught myself anything wrong, which is always a relief. I did consider doing a Masters in Digital Photography, but I was advised by several very successful photographers that with my skill set it wasn’t really going to ‘do’ anything for me other than drain our bank account. “What is the most satisfying image you have ever taken”? There are two – this one is what we call the Shakespearean shot of my husband Steven and the other is of a fellow fire-fighter, Ed Dawson.. Both these images have achieved most acclaim on various photographic websites etc which is always good for the ego
“What was the most difficult image you have taken”? The most difficult shot I have ever taken so far was probably the landscape shot I did from the front of our home at dawn on New Years Day in 2013. I was out in the freezing cold for what seemed like hours before I got what I believe is the best landscape shot I have taken to date.
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“What was the most dangerous situation you have placed yourself in to get the picture”? Burning buildings are pretty dangerous – In full turnouts it is easy for me to take my camera a lot closer than is safer for it, rather than is safer for me. I can also been seen dangling off the side or back of our bowrider out on the lake taking photographs of my son or hubby while they are water-skiing…That can be a little hairy at 40mph – especially if you hit a wake or something! “Do you admire any particular photographer and why”? Alan Shapiro – he produces the most stunning black and white portraiture I think I have ever seen. Clay Patrick McBride – the man is totally nuts, creates some wacky images but he goes with what he feels inside and people love that. The guy photographs lots of superbly famous people and I admire his ability to stay true to himself. When people used to tell me that I would have to conform to what society wanted if I was going to be successful, I would look at Clays work and say “nah, I don’t think so…I think being Lou Bradt works pretty well” “Do you operate a business relevant to the art of photography”? I am currently working on building Lou Bradt Photography…..softly softly catchy monkey as my Mum always says….I am getting there.
Rooster Tail by Louise Bradt
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Kabaka’s Lake is situated within a few kilometers of the city centre in Kampala the capital city of Uganda.
Although the lake has no major tributaries, the water levels remain constant throughout the year. This lake was dug by hand on the orders of King Mwanga II from 1885 to 1888 to create a channel wide enough for him to travel by boat to Munyonyo where he had built another palace at Mulungu hill near Lake Victoria. There are two excavated lakes in East Africa,
Kabaka’s Lake is one of the biggest lakes in Africa covering approximately two square km and 200 feet deep.
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Kabaka’s Lake is a beautiful with two islands in the middle of it and has developed into a sanctuary for many rare aquatic animals and plants.
Although history taints him as the worst of the Kabaka's (Kings) Buganda Kingdom ever had, especially for execution of early foreign religions converts dubbed the Uganda Martyrs. However, Kabaka (king) Danieri BasammulaEkkere Mwanga II Mukasa is the reason this beautiful lake exists!
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Malaysia and the Long-tailed Sibia (Heterophasia picaoides) again. This time a vertical 'portrait' version
I took in South Africa a while ago, a male Marico Sunbird (Cinnyris mariquensis) these colourful birds are found in Southern and Eastern Africa.
I captured this fleeting glimpse of an adult male Black-throated sunbird (Aethopyga saturata) whilst on our recent trip to Fraser's Hill, Pahang, Malaysia. Website = photosociety.net
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The Forked-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus adsimilis) also has a striking red eye similar to the Long-tailed Sibia from Malaysia posted a few days ago. The Drongo was taken in South Africa's Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
A nice portrait showing off the gorgeous colours of the beautiful little Violet eared Waxbill (Uraeginthus granatinus) at a waterhole in the Western Cape, South Africa
Malaysia and another bird species, nothing as colourful as before but a new species for me, I like that red eye.. The Long -tailed Sibia (Heterophasia picaoides) Wiki says its distributed through central Nepal and North east India, Bhutan, Southern China, Laos, Malaysia (where I saw it), Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as Sumatra.
A juvenile Oriental Magpie Robin (Copsychus saularis) captured at the bird bath at Stephens Place ( ReallyWild Place) Fraziers Hill, Malaysia. Website = photosociety.net
It is found in evergreen forests, oak and pine forests, secondary growth, scrub with large trees and forest edge habitats
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Our recent Malaysia trip....Another view of my Purple Femur Tarantula (Coremiocnemis hoggi) coming out of her h in the bank. A night walk under taken under external 'flash' so warmed it up a little.. Tony Sparkes
Stinkhorn, one of those close-ups that you do not want to to.16 Gordon Longmead Website = photosociety.net get the nose close up Page email = magazine@photosociety.net
Dragon fly taken at my local RSPB reserve. - Rodger Lee
ole
And some you just can’t resist Gordon Longmead Website = photosociety.net
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Freebee or Not to Freebee? That is the question. And a very good question it might be, if it was not so silly. So let us begin with the arguments. Allowing a magazine to use your pictures without payment is not acceptable. This is fine if you are a recognised professional but it needs to be remembered that most magazines do not accept anything other than commissioned pictures. If they commission them they need to be paying for them, no question. So in the very unlikely event that a mainstream ‘for profit’ magazine contacts an amateur to use one of their pictures for their articles, should they pay? Yes they should, after all the magazine is only interested in making profits and it is only right that the photographer should share in those. The only reason they contact the amateur is probably that they can’t get a suitable professional image before their deadline. Allowing a magazine to use your pictures without payment is damaging to the photographic profession by depriving photographers of an income. Really? Less than 0.01% of photographers are true professionals, the vast majority are aspiring amateurs, and those really good amateurs are by definition not in the photographic business and thus not professionals. What this argument is really stating is that no one should offer their images to a magazine because that 0.01% might lose their income. Since as stated previously, most magazines commission photographers, that aspect is very unlikely. Fact is that if we are expecting to get paid for our pictures we are no longer enjoying it as a hobby. It is this last fact that is the most important of all. As a hobby or amateur photographer, the greatest thrill of all is to see your image in print or winning a competition. As a Professional, competition is irrelevant unless it is of global interest and then only as a means of getting noticed. Getting into print is the pay check, like the commissions, it is where your money comes from. So I will leave this section with a thought for you to ponder, if a mainstream magazine publishes an amateurs picture, paid or otherwise, over yours as a professional, it means theirs was better suited to the task. Can you do better for the next time? Now let us focus on the second part of the task. If you are one of the 5000 (yes it varies) reading this magazine, then you are doing so for free. If you belong to the Society, you do so for free. Those who are supporting the magazine with articles and pictures are doing so because they believe in the magazine. They also believe that although it is unpaid, it showcases their work, it encourages others to realise that they can also produce the quality images and not be put off by the ‘well they are professional, they should be good’ attitude. While we do have the support of professionals, most of what is on these pages is written and produced by ordinary people with ordinary cameras and even camera phones. The most important part of the whole statement is that ‘THEY BELIEVE IN THE MAGAZINE’. If those supporting the magazine or the society suddenly wanted to get paid for their images and stopped sending them in, it would cease to exist. But perhaps that is what the mainstream magazines want, perhaps they are realising that if magazines like this one were allowed to flourish and cater for the ordinary photographer, their own empires might take a hiding.
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At this point we should also perhaps look at the other side of the arguments that are getting lost in the hype about the professionals as previously discussed. We are all in this to be noticed, either by those who just enjoy seeing the pictures and images of places they will probably never be able to visit, our piers who offer constructive comment, (destructive comment is not worth anything and only shows the makers poor intelligence), and possibly, just possibly, by those looking to buy images for mainstream press (he he) or for their walls. For the people involved in safari or travel businesses, showing pictures on the internet in chat rooms and other social media is not only welcomed, but actively encouraged, why? Because those images are a shop window to show others what they might see if they visit. My own visit to Uganda was inspired by the images presented to me by Peter Hogel of Eden Adventures (who happens to be vice-chairman of this magazine and of the peoples Photographic Society). Would I have considered going there otherwise? No, my home range is the Alps. Beyond the kudos there is no other reward for showing our pictures to those who enjoy or our piers, most of us would be quite pleased if someone thought our pictures good enough to warrant copying from the internet for personal use. Most internet images are low resolution and not really any good for commercial use. My own are generally about 1mb and many are 500kb neither of which are much use above postcard size, or A4 for the 1mb files. If you want to upload 5mb or larger files then the fault and the risk is yours. Many sites reduce those files to thumbnail files, others have a built in defence against general copying although even that is not totally secure. You could apply a copyright mark but poorly done it will spoil the picture and viewers will simply skip past them. Meta Data is no protection as it can be removed by anyone with processing software. But what of those who take your image from the internet and use them for profit making purposes? Or worse still, take your image and represent it as their own and offer it for sale? That is both illegal and immoral. The worst culprits are the Chinese and there is nothing you can do about it until the products they make from your pictures hit the open market place. Then you can take action against the sellers, unfortunately those people probably have no idea that the images on the products are stolen. There has over recent years been a number of incidents of this type of theft that can and should be dealt with the most severity, and that is when a person steals an image and then claims it as their own. It is unimportant if that is done for commercial purposes or just personal credit, it is not acceptable. It is my view that such people should be ejected from any form of photographic society or club, banned from entering any photographic competition, and, in the case of formally recognised ‘professional’ photographers, should also be rejected as a photographer by all media outlets. On a strictly personal level I would also turn my back on them in my social life. Whilst we applaud the actions of the professional photographic bodies for taking actions against those stealing images for profit and kudos, we must speak out against the fear such actions are generating in the millions of photographers who just post to be seen and for others to enjoy what they do. If someone wishes to buy your image for their home or office, or a mainstream ‘for profit’ magazine wants to publish your image, they will contact you and pay you for the high quality picture file. The magazines only want files of 20mb or more, and anything less than 5mb will not put a good image on the office wall. As there are no pictures I doubt anyone will take the time to read this article properly, but it has to be said. If you made it this far … well done. Gordon
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I love to travel and I love taking photographs, but sometimes I have to choose which I’m doing. To state the obvious travel means moving from place to place. Often photography involves lingering in one place. It seems to me the trick is combining both. So snap while moving and linger for the images? Well yes that’s what I try to do.
The great advantage of travelling with digital cameras and large memory cards is that I can shoot lots of frames, so I do. Deleting once I have them on the computer is easy. All I keep are the memory shots, the ‘been there seen it’ ones. The problem I find is which lens to put on the camera. My best lenses are Olympus Pro ones. 7-14mm ultra wide angle of St Marks square un edited - verticals not corrected
I have a wide angle 7–14 mm, a 12–40 mm, and a 40-150mm with a 1.4 extender. These all offer a fast aperture of F2.8 or F4 for the long one with the extension fitted. It often seems to be a rule that which ever one I have on I wish I had a different one fitted. This is especially true when outdoors. I either can’t get close enough or far away enough. My usual solution is to fit my 1512 - 40mm wide angle at Singapore's Gardens 150 travel lens.
15 - 150mm Monkey and baby in Gibraltar
by the bay watching the light show
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This is a lower cost lens with apertures of F4 to F5.6. It is also a lot lighter in weight so good when touring around and getting in and out of vehicles. This lens is great for snaps and some serious stuff, but does not quite have the clarity of the Pro lenses, nor is it so good in low light. When I go away in the car I can easily take all my stuff. There’s my older camera, tripod and other lenses I accumulated over the past few years plus the bits and pieces like filters, cleaners, bean bags etc. It’s when I fly that I have to make the decisions. 15 - 150mm intermediate action shot
The Kilograms soon add up. One camera – with the 12-40mm fitted (good for snaps in the airport and not to bulky) tripod, travel lens, ......... Damn it, pack it all, and take fewer clothes. Makes sense to me if not to the rest of the family – and I am the senior.
Then there’s the problem of changing the lens on the moving locations. Crowded places, wind blowing the dust or its raining all making things difficult. Other people on a tour move on and I’m getting left behind. So my trusty travel lens does more work. I get the snaps for the memories and they are only just for me and the family. When we stop I can find time to change the kit and take a few minutes to 40-150mm pro long lens with 1.4 extender zoomed out to get a view of the bottom of Grand Canal shoot some different stuff.
So just to give an idea of my 15-150 travel lens, the first image is zoomed to 14mm, then out to 25mm for the second and finally I zoomed out to 150mm for the dragonfly.
This does make for some rushed lunches and accusations of being unsocial but what the heck – I’m just an eccentric old guy. Geoff Bowers.
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Gardening - The Challenge of the Attention Seekers Gordon Longmead
When working in the garden as a photographer on a warm summers day, it is sometimes difficult to focus on the task in hand due to the constant demands of the attention seekers. I do not refer to the other members of the family or even intrusive neighbours, but more specifically to the flowers, birds and insects that predominate the garden. With a few exceptions, they are going about their normal business of life so why are they making the demands? Well try digging the garden with a spade in one hand and a camera in the other and you will know what I mean.
ISO 250 F8 and 1/400th sec FL 300mm
While working I see the beauty intruding on my task and wish I had the camera with me, it takes a very conscious effort to forget the camera and get on with the work. The really sad part is that I prefer taking pictures to gardening, so sooner or later the tools go back into the shed and the camera comes out. So I hear you say, “nothing wrong with that�, except that the attention seekers are more interested in the gardening (and the bugs and worms it uncovers) than the camera. I have started to notice that the birds and dragonflies are getting more interested, often investigating what I am doing. The birds after the aforementioned bugs and the dragonflies investigating the new addition (me) to their territory. So the solution I have come up with is simple, when I go out to the garden to work the camera comes with me. I start to dig a flower bed and stop after five minutes, leaving the spade bedded in the ground I go and sit down for ten minutes with the camera at the ready.
ISO 250, F8 and 1/640th sec FL 300mm
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For this task I am using the Canon 7D and the EF70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens, it has become one of my favoured lenses for this type of photography. The weight gives more stability for hand held work so long as you have the arm strength to hold it, and the varying focal length allows for the flexibility needed to get the spur of the moment pictures as it eliminates the need to change lens every time the creature moves to a new position.
Red Admiral - ISO 320, F9 and 1/300th sec FL 190mm
Of course it is not all about the dragonflies and butterflies, the attention seekers come in all shapes and sizes. Usually, like this group, they have no idea that they are attracting the attention of a photographer, but they do none the less. The birds are a different matter, they seem to be very interested in what we are doing even when not actually doing anything. They also are worth watching to see what antics they will get up to next, sometimes the things they do will change a simple record image into the shot.
Red Admiral - ISO 320, F9 and 1/320th sec FL 300mm
We do not always need livestock to be included in a picture to make it happen, we nearly all have flowers in the garden or at least near-by, and they can be used to generate some really special images. Sometimes we have to work a bit harder to get the picture to look right, but it is worth the effort.
Red Rose - ISO 100, F11 and 1/125th sec FL 165mm
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Small Tortoise Shell ISO 320, F9 and 1/250th sec FL 300mm
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For me the flowers are a great source of inspiration, there is something about them that makes me want to use the camera. I will say at this point that apart from some very minor tweaking, mainly cropping, all the images in this article are as taken.
Pink Rose - ISO 200, F11 and 1/1000th sec FL 250mm
Even when taking the pictures of the flowers we still get the interlopers as in the spider that was sunning itself in the flower. Really I am only jealous, what a great way to spend the day.
Arachnid Interloper ISO 100, F11 and 1/160th sec FL 300mm
It helps to get a good picture if the sun is shining, which brings me to the next point about these pictures, they were all taken between 14:35 and 17:00. We always speak about the golden hour, the hour after sunrise and before sunset, but during the summer months, and to a certain extent, autumn and spring, that golden hour is extended into a much longer period. I was taught to avoid taking special images between 10am and 4pm to avoid the ‘flat’ lighting in landscapes and harsh shadows in other subjects, but just occasionally the lighting can be perfect at other times. As the afternoon passed by the clouds diffracted the sunlight created a false sunset and the effect was to change the light quality.
Rose - ISO 200, F10 and 1/400th sec FL 190mm
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I believe that it is this change we look for during the golden hour, it is what makes the pictures special.
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Having packed up the tools and taking one final walk round the garden with the camera, the Norfolk Hawker Dragonfly decided to land on a leaf nearby, he stayed for just a few seconds, so this was a reaction shot.
Norfolk Hawker Dragonfly ISO 800, F8 and 1/500th sec FL 300mm
I never had the chance for a second go so it had to be right first time. Cropped in we see it is not perfect, but it is passable.
Red Admiral - ISO 320, F9 and 1/320th sec FL 300mm
So when out gardening the advise is to keep the camera handy. I have missed many great shots by forgetting this rule, the birds on the garden tools and even the fighter jet doing a slow pass over head, would have been a brilliant picture, but sadly no camera so not taken. Gordon
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Photo Spot - Robert Murray
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Fire and Burning and some common Trees of the Kruger. Ian Bales-Smith Most visitors want to see mammals, carnivores and the big five, they should not lose sight of other nature that sustains life and adds to the biodiversity of the Kruger. This article discusses fires and burning and some common trees that you may see in the Southern section of the Kruger. The grasses of the Kruger are described as Sweetveld grasses. This diversity of grass species supports many herbivorous mammals and reptiles and invertebrates and provides shelter to many species of the animal kingdom. Sweetveld is nutritious and palatable and occurs in the lower frost free areas. Grasses cover more than 60% of the Kruger`s surface. There would be no Kruger without its savannah grasslands. Trees supply us with oxygen and store carbon and other gases. Trees stabilise the soil and give life to the animal kingdom. They provide shelter, fibre, building material, paper and many of the world’s important medicines. Trees play an important part in the “water cycle”. While touring the Kruger, and searching for the big five and other mammals, also look into the bush to appreciate the vegetation that supports its wildlife. The World Health Organisation reports that up to 80% of the World`s population relies on plants directly for some aspect of primary health care. A Field Guide to the trees of the Kruger will prove useful.
An early morning managed burn. Note that trees are not seriously burnt; the moribund grass is burning well. Natural fires have always been part of the ecosystem. Managed burning is essential for maintaining and restoring ecological balance. With managed fires there should be no, or only limited mortality, because burn days are selected when winds and temperatures are low. If on your tour you come across a fire, it is worth stopping and observing what happens, it can be very rewarding. Make sure you are a safe distance from the fire and that you can exit the area if necessary. Most animals, sensing fire, will retreat or move into holes in the ground or trees to find cover. Many insects take flight and attract insect eating birds such as drongo, flycatchers and rollers. Tortoises take cover against large trees and termite mounds. Managed burns are made to:
Fires. Visitors are often upset and concerned to see large areas of the Kruger burning or recently burnt out. Managed burning is an essential tool and has valuable benefits.
· · · · ·
Remove excess plant material and debris. Prevent the encroachment of woody species. Create fire breaks to protect other grass areas from non managed fires e.g. lightning. Encourage rotational grazing. Destroy parasites.
The most active periods for burning are from late winter to early spring, evidence of burns maybe seen at any time of the year.
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Baobab North of Tshokwane en-route to Satara. There is another at the Timbavati picnic site to the West of Satara Camp.]
In this fire it is mainly the old and moribund grass that is burnt.
Baobab in winter. You can see why some of the local people refer to it as the upside down tree – it`s roots are in the air? The Baobab is an iconic tree of the bushveld. Legend says it was planted upside down by the Hyena. The fruit of the baobab is pear shaped, covered in green- brown hairs. Burning of woody species and moribund grass. Trees. The Zulu word “umuthi” has two meanings: tree and medicine. The big five trees of the Kruger are: The Baobab, Fever tree, Knob thorn, Marula. Mopane. You are unlikely to see the Baobab and Mopane unless your tour takes you to the North of the Oliphant’s river.
The fruit is high in tartaric acid, [Cream of tartar] the high vitamin C makes a refreshing drink. The young roots are nutritious and edible. The wood is fibrous and has little use. The bark is fibrous and harvested to weave sacks, mats and fishing nets. Very large and naturally hollowed out trunks have been used for various types of shelter. In the southern area of the Kruger look out for the trees described below: Leadwood, Jackal berry, Marula, Apple leaf, Knob thorn, Sausage tree, Sycamore fig, the Lala palm and the Sabi star.
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Leadwood between Skukuza Camp and the Mkulu Picnic site. Leadwood [Combretum imberbe] is a very hard wood; it is easily recognised by the silvery grey bark. It was used for fencing poles and heavy construction. It is an excellent slow burning wood for braais. Owls are often seen in these trees near the banks of the Sabi River. The trunk of an old Leadwood [Combretum imberbe] is an eco-system supporting small animals: squirrels, mongoose, and birds: barbets and woodpeckers and insects. Note this was growing on a termite mound. Photographed on the savannas near the Satara Camp.
Jackal berry on the Maroela loop north of the Sabi River bridge en-route to Tshokwane. There is a very impressive and easily identifiable tree at the Tshokwane picnic site. The Jackal berry can be very large and impressive; it grows along rivers and on termite rich mounds. The edible fruit is eaten by humans, primates and the Jackal [Hence its name] Euphorbia, growing out of the trunk of an old leadwood tree which is home to a squirrel family. It is in the Skukuza Camp. The Euphorbia has very toxic milky latex used to poison fish. Website = photosociety.net
The botanical name is Diospyros mespiliformis. {Diospyros means pear of the Gods} The fruit is used to make beer, preserves and porridge. In spring, the leaves are in shades of brown-green and red.
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A Marula tree on the left side of the Maroela Loop road, with a Knob thorn tree to the right of the road. These are common and important trees of the Kruger. The Marula is known for its nutritious fruit and and Amarula liqueur. The fruit is enjoyed by many animals including elephant. The Marula is the host plant for the lunar moth. Indigenous people use the cocoons of the moth to make ankle rattles. Some indigenous people refer to the tree as the “elephant tree”, the size and shape of the tree trunks; particularly when there are many together, often appear like elephant legs. There are male and female trees. It is also known as the “Marriage tree”. Getting married under the shade of a marula tree brings vigour and fertility to the married couple. The dried pips/nuts are strung together to make a necklace symbolizing love.
The Apple leaf [Philenoptera violacea] This is commonly called the rain tree, because of spittlebugs, that suck sap from young stems to get nutrients and causing froth to drip down creating “rain”. It is bad luck to cut down an Apple leaf tree as it may cause a split in the family of the person cutting the tree and it may bring on a drought. In some rural area this tree is left standing in lands prepared for crop farming, because if cut down, a drought may follow.
Knob thorn [Acacia nigrescens] The Knob thorn gets its name from the knobs that cover the young stems. The knobs are thorn tipped and are a defence against browsers. As the tree grows, the knobs on the trunk disappear. The usefulness of trees is illustrated in this photograph where a leopard is storing its food out of reach hyena. The tree is a nesting site for many of the raptors of the Kruger, probably because of the protection provided by the thorny knobs on the branches. The leaves of the tree carry hooked thorns which is a further protection from browsers. The knobs are crushed into a powder and used by indigenous people for various medicines and cures In spite of the hooked thorns, the tree is favoured by giraffe which are thought to be important pollinators of the tree.
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The figs are carried on the main branches. Wasps breed inside the figs and play a role in pollination. The dried fruit is popular with local people and are fairly long lasting. The tree produces milky latex used by young local boys to make birdlime for trapping small birds. The tree creates a complete ecosystem and is habitat for many species of birds, small mammals and lizards.
Sausage Tree. [Kigelia Africana] The flowers grow on long stems that carry the large sausage like fruit. The fruit is used for many traditional medical treatments and is not edible by humans. The fruit can weigh up to about 12kgs. The fruit is used traditionally to assist young men with manhood! It is known as “Umvongothi� in Zulu. The leaves are browsed by elephant and kudu. The wood is easily worked and was used to make small dug out boats.
Trees play a critical role in the environment.
The canopy of sausage tree at the Tshokwane Picnic Site gives a good idea of its size; it probably shades an area of about 900 Sq.m.
A mature elephant will consume more than 50 tons of vegetative matter in a year. The dung produced is a very effective way of seed dispersal. This picture shows digested marula fruit.
Sycamore fig [Ficus sycomorus] Sycamore fig occurs along the banks of the rivers of the Kruger. They can be massive trees and are a rich source of food for bird and primates. The tree`s roots are extensive and help bind the soil to prevent erosion and wash aways.
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The Lala palm fruit, with its very hard ivory like skin, will germinate after digestion by elephant. Lala Palm [Phoenix reclinata.] The dried leaves are used for weaving various crafts, baskets, sleeping mats and brooms. The palm grows near water and is an indicator of underground water.
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The hard internal part is a vegetable ivory used to carve ornaments and buttons. Impala lily [Adenium multiform.] Also known as the Sabi Star. Extracts from the bulb of the plant are used for fish and arrowhead poison.
· The Silver cluster leaf, very common near Pretoriuskop. · The Buffalo thorn, strong associations with spiritual and cultural traditions. · The Fever tree with its light, almost lemon coloured bark. Grows near water. · Tamboti, normally grow in thickets. Not to be used for braaing or barbeques · Bush willow, various bush willow species occur throughout the Kruger · Sjambok pod with its long bean and very colourful yellow flowers in early spring. For information about this brief article or tours to the Kruger please contact me:
Other trees to look out for in the southern area of the Kruger include: · The Weeping Boer bean with its colourful display of reddish flowers. Website = photosociety.net
Ian Bales-Smith of Afrika Tourism and Training. Email: ibs22dec@gmail.com
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Wildlife Borneo - Another Day in Paradise 9 Sabah Reef by Gary Bridger The underwater world of Sabah Reef is threatened by development and irresponsible tourism. Here is just a glimpse of the fragile beauty that may soon disappear.
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Sometimes it is the Simple Things - Reflections by Gordon Longmead
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The structure at Goole docks is called the pepper pot and was used to load ships with coal for export. Rodger lee
Kuyimba means 'to sing' in the Zambian Chinyanja language and this site is a celebration of the sights and sounds of southern Africa. Join us to experience it for yourself.
Derek & Sarah Solomon www.kuyimba.com
We hope you like the magazine, the size and content of future issues depends on you. Submissions for the next issue are being accepted
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