Hi All: I am a "newbie" on the block and am excited to have found this site...
I live in Kwa Zulu Natal - South Africa and am very fortunate to have done all the "hard yards" in life, which leaves my wife and myself the time to follow our passion.
We move around sub-Saharan Africa in the pursuit of animals and birds with cameras.
We spend quite a lot of the time camping in the awesome wilderness areas with our little camping trailer and 4x4, but also spoil ourselves by visiting various lodges where camping is not permitted.
About four years back, our thirst for more knowledge about our environment and everything that lives there, caused us to go back to "school" and study for our FGASA Field and Trails Guide qualifications ( www.fgasa.co.za ) which gave us the initial boost to continue with our specialised subjects such as Snake Handling and Treatment of snakebites in the wild. We have also been most fortunate to have done a four day Elephant Workshop with Dr. Johan Marais who is considered an authority elephants and rhinos in sub-Saharan Africa.
Strictly in terms of the very high ethical and safety standards demanded in our training, we maintain the highest bush ethics out in the wilderness areas. We will not bait, try to attract, disturb or alter the behaviour of any bird or animal in the pursuit of trying to get that ultimate shot, but we do put ourselves where the animals are, which sometimes may present us with the odd anxious moment or two... ;-)
I try to avoid simple "portrait" shots of birds and animals, unless they are documentary shots, specifically required for a particular purpose....
In my efforts to achieve my photographic objectives, I accept that my technical ability is sometimes rather "challenged" , but I always try to find an element of anthropomorphism ( The attribution of human characteristics in birds and animals ), emotion, expression and action in the subject matter of my images.
I live by the motto: " Growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional......One day when my body can no longer keep the appointments which my brain makes, only then will l think about growing up...."
I hope that my contributions will be as intersting to those who view them, as they have been in the making...
All my images are shot in the wild, spontaneously and in the moment that they occure.
Location: The Munyawana Game Reserve - Northern Kwa Zulu Natal ( South Africa )
This image was taken at ground zero...
Canon 1DMkiv / Canon 500f4
1/400th sec
F9
ISO 800
Best regards to all.
Last edited by Tim Driman; 01-21-2015 at 05:04 AM.
Welcome to BPN, Tim! Sounds like you have amazing opportunities to be around wildlife and follow your dream. Looking forward to your participation here!
It did take many years of hard toil and grind, but it was worth it... Yes we are very spoilt to be so close to these wilderness areas, but also to have the health and time to pursue our dreams.....
A BIG welcome here Tim!! You couldn't have picked a better forum to share your passion and grow your photographic and processing skills.
I am looking forward to your participation in the Wildlife forum
Big, warm welcome to you, Tim. Looking forward to seeing those images of yours in the wildlife forum. Maybe you'll drop into the avian forum from time to time too!
Hi Marina. Thank you for the warm welcome which is really appreciated..
I am seriously technically challenged and have been really scratching to get my head around the way this site works....
I am having some teething problems and I think have posted in the wrong space ( I put up a baby baboon today and am sure it is in the wrong place ) so am just waiting for some kind person to clip my wings and hopefully point me in the correct direction.
I am really looking forward to making a contribution if I can just get my head around it all...
Hi Tim and welcome from Arkansas, USA! I just visited your website and you have a beautiful site with an incredible story - I truly admire and respect the conservation work you are doing with the Black Rhinos, and so happy you have found your way to BPN :) I love both of your images that you have posted, and I feel that you absolutely have nailed capturing the human expression element of these amazing creatures. I am truly looking forward to seeing your images and participation in the future :)
Thank you so much for your kind words which are really appreciated.
Conservation is one of my passions and unfortunately when you become involved in such a thing, it opens it's vast jaws and swallows copious amounts of money.... But hey, what the ****... The rewards far exceed the efforts and resources spent in trying to preserve a world heritage asset...
Without wanting to appear blase`, after years of just taking random shots of animals and birds ( Everyone has images of lions, elephants etc... ) I have become quite "picky" and try to be selective when choosing only images which display elements of anthropomorphism ( Human-like behavior )
This occurs in expression and behaviour, especially in baby animals which are favourite of mine. Not to forget always a first prize action shot of birds and animals doing something...
I hope that I will not disappoint you, and especially now under the careful scrutiny of some pretty darned fine 'togs, I just have to bring my "A" game under the microscope and will happily accept input which will help me to improve... That's really why I am enjoying this site and the great folks who have commented already.
Always happy to correspond with any folks who are keen and want to know more about conservation and the efforts which we in Kwa Zulu Natal, put into preserving a world heritage asset....
I am seriously technically challenged and have been really scratching to get my head around the way this site works....
I am having some teething problems and I think have posted in the wrong space ( I put up a baby baboon today and am sure it is in the wrong place ) so am just waiting for some kind person to clip my wings and hopefully point me in the correct direction.
I am really looking forward to making a contribution if I can just get my head around it all...
Looks like you got it figured out. I deleted the post that ended up in the wrong space for you. If you have any other questions, just ask.
Ahhh :) Thank you so much for sharing your RhinoArmy.org site - you now officially have a new follower on Twitter and Facebook :) And, I agree with you wholeheartedly on the anthropomorphic approach, which is something I strive for in my work as well - now, I have a new visual inspiration friend :) Soooo happy you are here :)
Hi Everyone,
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Looking forward to your participation here!
Originally Posted by Tim Driman
