I just returned home from Namibia. It was a great trip, and I enjoyed my time there with my clients very much. The trip home started off with glitches and frustration but ended with me in an upgraded seat with the entire row to myself. I was able to get lots of work done and finish up editing some of my photos.
While in transit, I learned that my grandson Jaxson (the one with cp) had fallen on his street outside his home and did some real damage. It turned out he fell in a pothole with his walker. He broke his shoulder, chipped his growth plate, cracked his two front teeth-with one being completely shattered. Multiple stitches under his chin, bruises, and a black eye. I was and am totally sick to my stomach… the kid is so innocent, and he has never caught a break.
An elderly woman in the bank saw me crying on my way out and asked what was wrong. That was when I had just learned that Jaxson’s orthopedic doctor confirmed that his shoulder was broken. I told her about Jaxson, she put it in perspective, she said, “at least he is still here with you.” I thought about what she had said, and she is right, he will mend, and we still have him to hug and hold. It was then that my pity party was over. BUT I am still hurt that he has to endure any more pain and suffering.
I am leaving for Patagonia on Sunday; it is a fast turnaround, but I have to work hard until all of the postponed trips are completed. This means a lot of overlap for everyone. Still, I am excited to see my friends in Patagonia and to have another chance with the beautiful pumas that live there. Not to mention that majestic mountain scapes!
Back to my Namibia trip report…Our trip started in Windhoek where we stayed in a friendly, quiet lodge off the beaten path that we have been going to since I first started visiting Namibia.
Our first photo shoot was at the Quiver Tree Forest followed by the ghost town in Luderitz. See my past two blog posts to read my thoughts about that portion of the trip and see a few images.
Next, we headed to Swakopmund, which is a city on the coast of western Namibia. In Swakopmund we photographed desert creatures that live in the large dunes near the ocean. Flamingos feeding at the shoreline and the salt flats found along the shore. We also take a boat tour customized for us to photograph the sea lions, pelicans, cormorants, whales, and dolphin, etc.… After we spent our time in Swakopmund in a nice beach front hotel with scrumptious dinners (with hot lava cakes for dessert) at local restaurants we headed to Etosha. There we stay in basic huts near the famous watering hole at Okaukuejo. There we were able to see and photograph rhino’s, giraffe and many other animals that come in at night to drink from the watering hole.
We made lots of stops along the way and enjoyed seeing so much of Namibia. I am sharing a few of my favorite shots below.
Just as the sun began to set the colors became so intense. You can see a few stars starting to show up. I love this tree-we call it Devil’s Fork.
I photographed the Milky Way from the back porch at my lodge and added it to a tree image. Not the exact same tree image as above but taken around the same time.
The dunes never disappoint, depending on the time of day the colors can be so striking.
We had a magical night with these Oryx as the entire herd walked past us to stand in front of these dunes-as if we had directed them! I’ll share my favorite dune/Oryx shat once I have had time to process it.
Our first night photographing the dunes, it was quite windy. I concentrated on photographing the dust and sand as it swirled and lifted across the dunes.
I wish that the bottom row of grasses were a bit sharper but I liked the way the sand was saltating over the top of the dune.
Patterns, patterns, patterns. I could not get enough of them!
The Flamingos at Swakopmund.
More Flamingos at Swakopmund, slow shutter speed close-up.
A flock of Red-billed Quelea. I liked how the trees showed through.
Drinking Red-billed Quelea.
Backlit Blue Wildebeest in Etosha.
Backlighting can make a drab scene look interesting. Etosha