Pre-IFA 2009: Leica has today revealed that we will know about 'the next generation of Leica Cameras' in just over a weeks time. According to an official video (presented by Rudi Spiller, CEO) there will be a live webcast at 9.00 AM EST on 09/09/09, there could be some numerical hint there. We will of course be reporting this live and bringing you full details on the day. Click through to watch the video.
Leica to unveil new products on 9.9.09
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Pre-IFA 2009: Leica has today revealed that we will know about 'the next generation of Leica Cameras' in just over a weeks time. According to an official video (presented by Rudi Spiller, CEO) there will be a live webcast at 9.00 AM EST on 09/09/09, there could be some numerical hint there. We will of course be reporting this live and bringing you full details on the day. Click through to watch the video.
The Magical Magaliesburg
With views stretching forever and a day across the North West Province and some of the most magical sunsets anywhere in South Africa, it’s no wonder that the Magaliesburg is one of Gauteng’s top weekend getaways, the Magaliesburg is a truly magical place. South African Photographer Mitchell Krog who resides in Magaliesburg has spent the last four years photographing the beautiful environments of Magaliesburg and has achieved much acclaim with his photography.
You Can See Forever and a Day. The views from Magaliesburg stretch far into the North West province. From Mitchell Krog's Magaliesburg Photography Portfolio. (Copyright Mitchell Krog - All Rights Reserved)
The Magaliesberg Range has a very long geological history. Its quartzites, shales, chert and dolomite were deposited as sediments in an inland basin on top of the 3 billion year old Archaean Basement Complex. This process of sedimentation lasted for about 300 million years. About 2 billion years ago a massive upwelling of molten magma resulted in what is now known as the Bushveld Igneous Complex. The enormous weight of this intrusion depressed the sediments that lay beneath and tilted the sediments along the edges so that the broken scarps faced outward and upward, and the gentler dip slopes inward. During the same period these sediments were fractured and igneous intrusions of dolerite filled the cracks. With the passage of time these intrusions eroded, especially on the dip slopes, forming deep kloofs or ravines providing excellent rock-climbing potential to modern man. This large dogbone-shaped area is now termed the Transvaal Basin and includes the lofty escarpment of the Transvaal Drakensberg overlooking the Lowveld in the eastern part of the country. Massive outpourings of igneous material of the much younger Karroo System later covered the Transvaal Basin, but this was subsequently eroded so that it only remains along the Transvaal Basin’s southern rim.
The Beautiful Golden Winter Colours of a Winter Sunset Over the Magaliesburg Mountains. From Mitchell Krog's Magaliesburg Photography Collection. (Copyright Mitchell Krog - All Rights Reserved)
The Magaliesburg Mountain range forms a natural barrier between the lower lying Bushveld to the north and the cooler Highveld to the south. The range receives rainfall in summer in the form of thunderstorms, with an average of 650mmm annually. In winter frost occurs frequently in the valleys on the southern side of the mountain, but almost never on the northern slopes. Mitchell Krog, a specialist and award winning lightning photographer has produced some incredible lightning images from Magaliesburg.
Fire and Ice. The First Electrical Storm of Summer Sets The Grass Lands Alight. From Mitchell Krog's Lightning Photography Portfolio. (Copyright Mitchell Krog - All Rights Reserved)
Watch our for more in photos and articles in this series about Magaliesburg.
International Space Station ISS Photographed Across South African Skies
South African Photographer Mitchell Krog tonight captured the International Space Station (ISS) fleeting across the night skies of Southern Africa. Mitchell, an award-winning photographer and specialist in Astro-Photography had selected his location for the shoot several days beforehand and planned things well in advance. At exactly 6:51pm the ISS appeared as a bright star low on the horizon and in a matter of a minute was already directly overhead and out of the frame. Through his past experiences with photographing astronomical events Mitchell had everything in place to pull of the image below which shows the International Space Station almost like a shooting star across the sky.The Space station was moving at an incredible speed and those people who did not take the time of viewing this event seriously would have missed it had they come outside a minute later. It moved across the sky from horizon to horizon in under 2 minutes. The conditions for this particular glimpse of the ISS were nothing short of perfect, the moon is currently waxing around a half moon phase giving just enough light to illuminate the foreground. The Space Station moved from the horizon in the S-S-W to the horizon in the N-E in approximately 2 minutes.
The International Space Station Fleeted Across the South African Night Skies on The 30th of August 2009 at 6:51pm. From Mitchell Krog's AstroPhotography Portfolio. (Copyright Mitchell Krog - All Rights Reserved)
International Space Station ISS Photographed in South Africas Night Skies
South African Photographer Mitchell Krog on Sunday 30th of August 2009 captured the International Space Station (ISS) flying across the night skies of Southern Africa. Mitchell, an award-winning photographer and specialist in Astro-Photography had selected his location for the shoot several days beforehand and planned things well in advance. At 6:51pm, a time specified by the Johannesburg Planetarium, the ISS appeared as a bright yellow star low on the horizon and in a matter of a minute was already directly overhead and out of the frame. Through his past experiences with photographing astronomical events Mitchell had everything in place to pull of the image below which shows the International Space Station like a shooting star across the sky. Says Mitchell, the Space station was moving at an incredible speed and those people who did not take the time of viewing this event seriously would have missed it had they come outside a minute later. It moved across the sky from horizon to horizon in under 2 minutes. The conditions for this particular glimpse of the ISS were nothing short of perfect, the moon was currently waxing around a half moon phase giving just enough light to illuminate the foreground. The Space Station moved from the horizon in the S-S-W to the horizon in the N-E in approximately 2 minutes.
The International Space Station Fleeted Across the South African Night Skies on The 30th of August 2009 at 6:51pm. From Mitchell Krog's AstroPhotography Portfolio. (Copyright Mitchell Krog - All Rights Reserved)
Spring in South Africa has arrived
After a rather cold winter in South Africa, Spring kicked into full force. The peach, plum and apple blossoms are out, the bees and butterflies have returned to pollinate and the birds have returned to nest. It should not be long before the first rains and thunderstorms arrive on the South African highveld and settle down the dust, smog and smoke from the winter grass fires.
It’s a beautiful time of year for Macro photographers especially. There is a whole universe of life taking place right under your nose, so get those macro lenses out and start crawling around your garden and discover what’s waiting for you. For Bird Photographers there are equal opportunities at this time of year as the bird’s return to start nesting and preparing new homes for their young.
It’s time for the South African Photographer to get out of Winter mode, get those lenses dusted off and start shooting.
As spring returns a whole new world of life returns to our gardens. From Mitchell Krog's Macro Photography Collections. (Copyright Mitchell Krog - All Rights Reserved)
An African Hummingbird Moth in Flight. From Mitchell Krog's Macro Photography Collections. (Copyright Mitchell Krog - All Rights Reserved)
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Landscape Photography of South Africa and Scotland
South African Fine Art Landscape Photographer Mitchell Krog has quickly risen to become one of South Africa’s top Landscape Photographers. His breathtaking images have captured the attention of audiences around the world and he never fails to produce bleeding edge photography no matter where he travels to. Mitchell has been published on a number of occasions and has become a regular contributor of article and images to photographic and lifestyle magazines.
Mitchell regularly travels to all corners of South Africa and abroad to keep bringing high class quality images to the Photographic Market Place. He is regularly featured on a number of internet forums and communities and has contributed thousands of hours to helping budding photographers to improve their game.
The Wild Waters of Kogel Bay in the Western Cape. From Mitchell Krog's Western Cape Landscape Photography Series (Copyright Mitchell Krog - All Rights Reserved)
Mitchell has also developed a very fine eye for black and white photography and has produced a number of spectacular black and white seascape images on his trips around South Africa. Black and White photography, says Mitchell, despite this colourful world we live in, remains to be one of the most powerful mediums of photography. When the colour is stripped away we get down to the basics and simplicity of life. Black and white photographers have to have a keen eye for tones, contrasts, textures and especially light, without which a black and white image would be dull and dreary. Black and white or sometimes referred to as Monotone or Monochrome, captures the very soul and essence of nature.
Secluded. A fisherman braves the cold morning weather. From the South Coast Landscape Photography Series by Mitchell Krog. (Copyright Mitchell Krog - All Rights Reserved)
Mitchell also travels abroad and captured a variety of magical images on his trip to Scotland earlier in 2009. Covering over 2700 kilometres by vehicle and approximately 30-40 kilometers on foot, well lets just say this trip was not one of resting and Mitchell showed his total dedication to going the extra “mile” to find those incredible images he keeps producing. Mitchell was awarded First Runner Up for his image Sentinels in the first South African PIX Awards of 2009.
Sentinels. Ancient Trees stand guard over the Forest Floor. From Mitchell Krog's Scotland Landscape Photography Series. (Copyright Mitchell Krog - All Rights Reserved)
Miles from Nowhere, Isle of Skye, Scotland. From Mitchell Krog's Scotland Landscape Photography Series. (Copyright Mitchell Krog - All Rights Reserved)
This is the first edition of a series of articles on Landscape Photography by Mitchell Krog.
The Mapogo Lions of Sabi Sands
Mitchell Krog on a recent photographic safari to the Sabi Sands Reserve, had the pleasure of meeting some of the infamous Mapogo Male Lions of the Sabi Sands. Based at the luxurious Elephants Plains Game Lodge and hosted by Wim van den Heever and Greg du Toit of OutdoorPhoto, our photographic safari was nothing short of spectacular and an experience that will be quite hard to top.
Our group first encountered two of the male’s and three of their females catching a late afternoon nap and then shortly after dark we followed the two males to a water hole and captured some magic images of the one Mapogo male drinking. Mitchell’s image “The Ghost in the Darkness” below was born.
Mr T of the Mapogo Male Lion Coalition At a Drinking Hole At Night, Appearing like a Ghost in the Darkness. (Copyright Mitchell Krog - All Rights Reserved)
The following morning on our 6am game drive we arrived at a different water hole to find the two Mapogo male’s again with their three females but this time we were in real luck to find all their cubs around for their morning play time too. Arriving on this sighting just as the sun was rising gave us some magical “golden light” photographic opportunities.
Two of the Mapogo lion cubs of the Sabi Sands at a water hole in the golden light of the sunrise. (Copyright Mitchell Krog - All Rights Reserved)
Shortly after returning from his trip, Mitchell did some more online research into the Mapogo Male Lion Coalition and came across some great information. First off this group of lions has their own Facebook Group Page and it has already attracted a bit of a fan base. Through finding this group Mitchell learned that the image of the Mapogo male below is one of the coalition called “Mr T”.
A male lion of the Mapogo coalition of the Sabi Sands Reserve who has come to be known as Mr T. (Copyright Mitchell Krog - All Rights Reserved)
The Mapogo are a coalition of 6 male lion warriors. They are known in some areas of the reserve as The Eyrefield Males, the Sparta Males and in some areas as “The Cannibals”. It is said they were named Mapogo after a security company that utilizes rather harsh methods in dealing with offenders. There appears to be several different meanings for Mapogo. Ulusaba refers to it as meaning “Vigilantes“ and Savanna Lodge refers to the Mapogo name being a Zulu word meaning “Rogues”. Whatever the meaning, they are Bad News! The Mapogo males have been known to kill and eat other lions, even cubs that they have fathered. They seem to kill and eat just about anything in their path which may sound rather gruesome but nature has its ways and some things we will never understand. I can say one thing you certainly do not want to be on foot and cross paths with these guys.
You can read more about the Mapogo Lions here.
Another insert from this Photographic Safari coming soon.
New SA Wildlife Photography Site Launched
Mitchell Krog from Living Canvas Photography launched his genre specific web site on Fine Art Wildlife Photography from South Africa today.
The site can be accessed here Fine Art Wildlife Photography South Africa or by typing http://www.wildlife-photography-south-africa.com/
New SA Photography Sites Launched
Mitchell Krog of Living Canvas Photography today launched three new sites highlighting different genre of his photography.
Check them out:
Lightning Photography South Africa
Fine-Art Landscape Photography South Africa
Black and White Fine-Art Photography South Africa
Sony DSLR-A550 hands-on preview
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Just Posted: Our hands-on preview of the Sony DSLR A550. The recently announced (and reviewed) A380 and its A330/A230 variants were not met with universal approval. With the launch of the DSLR-A500 and A550, the bigger picture starts to become clearer, with Sony producing five sub-$1000 DSLRs tailored to a variety of needs. The Alpha 5 series is much more clearly aimed at the photography enthusiast, so we have prepared a 10-page preview detailing its specifications, features and changes. Is this the camera to put smiles back on the faces of the Alpha crowd?
Sony announces 28-75mm F2.8 SAM lens
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Pre-IFA 2009: Sony has released a full-frame 28-75mm F2.8 SAM lens to accompany its new Alpha DSLR-A850 digital SLR. The constant F2.8 lens offers a less expensive alternative to the Sony Zeiss 24-70mm F2.8 ZA for A850 and A900 owners looks for a fast standard zoom. Construction is made up of 14 elements in 16 groups, including four aspherical elements. It features the SAM (Smooth Autofocus Motor) in-lens autofocus technology, rather than the SSM system used in the ZA lens. Priced approximately at around $800 USD, it will start shipping from November 2009.
Sony unveils DSLR-A550 and DSLR-A500
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Pre-IFA 2009: Sony has also added to its consumer-level DSLR range, with the A500 and A550 taking the count to five cameras. The DSLR-A550 and DSLR-A500 digital SLRs are based around new CMOS sensors and add a manual focus confirmation live view mode using the main imaging sensor, in addition to Sony's secondary-sensor Quick AF live view system. Both cameras feature Sony's better noise reduction, include an Auto HDR mode and offer sensitivity of up to ISO 12800. The 14.2 MP A550 features a high resolution 921k dot 3" tilt-angle LCD, while the 12.3 MP A500 comes with a 230k dot resolution 3"tilt-angle LCD.
Sony launches DSLR-A850 full-frame digital SLR
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Pre-IFA 2009: Sony unveiled its second full-frame digital SLR in the shape of DSLR-A850. It offers almost all features of the company's flagship full frame DSLR A900, but at a more affordable price. It is built around the same 24.6MP CMOS sensor and incorporates A900's 3.0 inch 921k LCD, sensor-shift image-stabilization and Dual Bionz processors. The only compromise is a 98% viewfinder coverage against A900's 100% and slower continuous shooting. To complement the A850, Sony has also announced a mid-priced 28-75mm constant F2.8 SAM lens to fit with the A850's affordable full-frame ethos. The A850 will start shipping from September 2009 with the 28-75mm lens available from November 2009.
The Ghost in the Darkness
Mitchell Krog, on a recent photographic safari took the image below of one of the notorious Mapogo male lions of the Sabi Sands area. Greater Kruger National Park, Southern Africa.
One of the Mapogo Male Lions Coalition At a Drinking Hole At Night
The Mapogo are a coalition of 6 male lion warriors. They are known in some areas of the reserve as The Eyrefield Males, the Sparta Males and in some areas as “The Cannibals”. It is said they were named Mapogo after a security company that utilizes rather harsh methods in dealing with offenders. There appears to be several different meanings for Mapogo. Ulusaba refers to it as meaning “Vigilantes“ and Savanna Lodge refers to the Mapogo name being a Zulu word meaning “Rogues”. Whatever the meaning, they are Bad News! The Mapogo males have been known to kill and eat other lions, even cubs that they have fathered. They seem to kill and eat just about anything in their path which may sound rather gruesome but nature has its ways and some things we will never understand. I can say one thing you certainly do not want to be on foot and cross paths with these guys.
You can read more about the Mapogo Lions here.
Welcome to AfricanPhotographyBlog.com
Just launched, we welcome you this new blog aimed at promoting South African Photography. On this site we will cover all aspects of photography from reviews and news to articles and tutorials. Brought to you by www.livingcanvas.co.za
