On leaving Samburu, we visited Buffalo Springs Reserve, which is to the south on the other side of the Ewaso Ngiro river. The two parks were originally one large park but were divided along either side the river in 1985. Animals can range throughout both parks with no limitations. It is a small reserve, 131 sq. km. but has over 350 types of birds and a large variety of animals.
White Headed Buffalo Weaver
Superb Starling
As I was searching for the names of these birds, I came across a funny quote. The only way you couldn't see a Superb Starling in Kenya would be if you kept your eyes closed the whole time! They were quite plentiful. Them, I came home with a lot of photos of, unlike the poor warthogs!
We left Samburu via the highway, and within 15 minutes crossed the Ewaso Ngiro and entered Buffalo Springs. We couldn't believe the difference in the topography. We hadn't seen water for a couple of days, being the end of the very long dry season, it was, well, dry. We'd seen holes dug by the elephants searching for water and everything covered with dust. All of that changed when we entered Buffalo Springs.
The first thing we saw was a large well type structure, filled with water. Our guide, Marcos, told us it had been created when Italy was trying to bomb the English in Nairobi (about 200 miles away) during WWII but missed. Their bomb created this large crater which happened to be right over the natural springs and this water hole was created. Locals even swim in it I was told. There is no way I'd have swum in it, ever. Nope. So here's the thing. This was only day 3. What I learned as we went along, is that sometimes Kenyan truth is not always truth as some of the rest of us would tell it. So I'm unable to find anything, anywhere, which corroborates this story, but I'm sticking with it, I like the story, I definitely wouldn't quote me however!!!! Apologies if you're Kenyan and take offense, but more likely you're agreeing with me, 'ndiyo, we do have our own versions of things, and those crazy tourists, they will believe anything...' Personally, I'm a fan. Of everything about Kenya, the people, the stories, the birds, the animals, the smiles, the singing.... well, you get the idea!
The grass was so green, the vistas were new, the entire feeling of the park was completely different from what we'd just been traveling in a literal stone's throw away. Even the soil was different, it was white instead of the red we'd been seeing and much more alkaline. It was funny to see the termite mounds in the white soil, they looked like sandcastles made out of cement!! We totally weren't expecting such a difference!
We didn't spend long in this reserve, but our first viewing was a little family of warthogs that are so funny when they run off, they put their tails straight up in the air like little antennas and can move very quickly. Their first instinct is to run, and then when they reach what they must feel is a safe distance, they turn and stare at you. Turns out I mostly watched them in amusement, because although we saw literally hundreds during our trip, I have very few images of them! Guess I was 'in the moment'.
We then saw a lovely family of elephants grazing in the bright, lush green grass joined by white herons. Gorgeous. All of those young elephants were a joy to watch. These were definitely enjoying themselves, intertwining trunks, and interacting quite a bit.
...and although we saw more, very fresh, lion tracks, we are still searching for that elusive King of the Jungle.
I recently went on safari to Kenya. Safari means journey in Swahili, and what a journey it was. I will truly never be the same.
We arrived in Kenya after dark, and I desperately tried to make out something, anything through the windows of our vehicle, but was unable to see much. We did see some birds roosting, what I learned in the morning was that they were Marabou Storks and some of the trees they were roosting in were Jacaranda trees. Both will be in upcoming posts, in the dark, I had no idea what I was looking at. (As a teaser, Marabou storks are enormous gnarly birds that look like they should be in a cartoon, and the Jacaranda is covered with gorgeous purple blooms). We spent the night at the famous Norfolk Hotel, the earliest hotel in Nairobi and full of history, you felt guilty not ordering a gin and tonic.
Our first stop was Samburu National Reserve, and within moments of entering the park saw a Beisa Oryx, and although none of us had ever even heard of the animal before the excitement was truly palpable. A reticulated giraffe came next which took our breath away, and as the road sign pointed towards ‘Elephant Bedroom’ there was a herd of elephants. Quite appropriate. Truly breathtaking. At the entrance gate there were masses of swallow nests in the ceiling so the birds were constantly coming and going flying right over your head into their nests... way cool... the start of the video are those swallows...
(as a note, please let this slideshow load before trying to watch it, I think I put too many video clips in it and it's a little frustrating if you don't give it time!!!)
I was amazed by everything, felt I could barely breathe most of the time out of the sheer joy of being in the most beautiful place I’ve truly ever been. One of the (many) things I was astounded by was the Weaver bird nests. They hung from the trees like ornaments on a Christmas tree. As days went on, I learned more and more fascinating facts about these bright and beautiful birds, the entrances to their nests always face west, so if you’re lost out in the midst of Africa and you still have the presence of mind to look at nests at least you’ll know which way is west. (I’d think you’d have a few more issues that may concern you at that point though!) The male weaver bird makes the intricate nests, which are fairly large, and then awaits the approval of his mate, she can decide whether or not she approves of his creation, if yes, I guess they move in and make the weaver babes, if not she tears it down and he has to start all over again. Slightly rough. Totally fascinating. Guess it’s mostly working out okay in Samburu for those weaver boys because the trees are covered with all of these magnificent creations.
Our first evening we had a lecture on the Samburu tribe by a young Samburu warrior whose name is 34 letters long, and means ‘doesn’t like horned animals’. You could call him his shortened native name, Tilas meaning ‘proud one’ or Steve, but I’m totally not sure why one would call a Samburu warrior Steve. Seems slightly disrespectful to me. I went with the shortened version. He shared so much information about how the tribe is trying to retain its culture and tradition while still keeping the younger members invested and involved in the tribe. Seems a very fine line, but if Tilas is any indication of the health of the tribe, I think they will be just fine.
We spent a couple of days exploring the 164 square km Samburu National Reserve, hunting for a lion, finding only his enormous, very fresh footprints teasing us. The area is one of the places where the Adamson’s raised Elsa of Born Free fame and delighted us with both its beauty and variety of animals. One day an elephant crossed in between our vehicles, as he got right in front of us he wagged his ears, as if saying, thanks! Outstanding!!!
The special five animals in Samburu are the Beisa Oryx (which greeted us), the Gerenuk or Giraffe Necked Antelope which stands on its hind legs to reach higher branches, the Reticulated Giraffe of which we saw many, the Somali Ostrich we saw the male and female with their family of little chicks, and the Grevy’s Zebra which is endangered. There are only 2500 left in the world. How amazing to see one happily grazing with not a care really in the world.
Our lodge was the Samburu Intrepids a gorgeous eco lodge with luxury tents that were so fabulous. When we went to our tents we were shown where everything was, how to work varying things like the shower, and then told to make sure we secure the tent in exactly the way they showed us so that the monkeys don’t get in. I’m sorry, the what? So the what don’t get in? Well, of course, my roommate and I were the only tent lucky enough to have the monkeys try to break in, in the dark while the generator was off and we were sleeping, and it was pitch black, I thought I was being awoken to tell me the elephants were passing by, or it was our morning wakeup call and my coffee and cookies had arrived, but no, seems there was a monkey trying to get in. We screamed and yelled and told him to leave us alone, and then secured our tent the way we’d been told. From then on we called it ‘monkeying up’ the tent!!! Did you monkey up the tent? If you try, sure you sing it as we did to the Bob Marley tune, ‘Lively Up Yourself’. Those little vervet monkeys look so sweet, but boy they’re cheeky little suckers.
I walked around the lodge with one of the guards, a delightful man named Hussein who shared many aspects of the lodge and its eco friendliness with me as we explored. He also told me stories of the elephants that visited at night searching for a favorite plant of theirs which grows along the banks of the river in front of our tents (the ones I was hoping were visiting when it was actually a crazed monkey looking for a little sugar). He and I had the most amazing experience together, while looking at this fantastically coloured lizard, we startled him so he went to find shelter under a bush. He was paying no attention other than running from us though, to his detriment as it turned out, because as he ran at top speed to get away from us he failed to notice the bush cat watching the entire thing unfold and literally ran right into him. The cat swallowed more than half of him in one fell swoop. We were both amazed. Jaw dropping in the literal sense! Hussein pulled my leg that I wasn’t fast enough to photograph it (the entire thing was over in less than 2 seconds) but I told him it was okay as I had a witness! Totally National Geographic right in front of our eyes.
That night, Tilas gave a program on the animals of Samburu as well as a star gazing program. The stars were among one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen in my entire life. We were out in the utter darkness no ambient light from anywhere for hundreds of miles looking at this sky that just held so many stars it didn’t seem real. The Milky Way was so bright it seemed as if it had been painted on the sky with a big, wide brush. A shooting star made its way across the sky as if to say, yes this is stunning, let me make it even better for you. I literally had tears in my eyes as I gazed upon the beauty of my first African sky. We had a break in our program for dinner, and when we went back for the continuation, Hussein spoke quickly and seriously in Swahili to Tilas. I looked at them, and said, “oh no, we can’t go back out to finish the star viewing because the elephants are around over where we’re going?” They both looked at me in amazement, “You speak Swahili?” I was asked incredulously. I had to laugh (if you know me, you know that’s a fairly common response from me) as I told them I’d just deduced it from my earlier stories from Hussein about the elephants and the seriousness of the conversation. Not totally sure they believed me! So we weren’t able to be out in total darkness, or sadly take the photos I'd been planning on, but stayed in the camp to view the Southern Cross the highlight we’d been too early for at the first session. Inspiring. I never want to see the stars anywhere else, and wished my telescope had made the journey with me!
Jambo Kenya, nakupenda already. I think it was about day 2 I started telling everyone I wasn’t going home, ever. Don't go anywhere, there's more...
Happy Valentine's Day! This morning I got invited to the Barnstable Community Horace Mann Charter Public School's All School Community Meeting to receive an appreciation certificate for my support. What a delight it was. I used to love going to all school meetings at my daughter's elementary school and I felt the same way about going to this one. The children were adorable, mostly dressed in reds and pinks to celebrate Valentine's, singing their opening song, sharing their community service projects, and then finishing energetically with their school song. Can't think of a better way to spend a part of my morning!!
I was impressed by their projects, the kindergartners collected mittens, the first graders pennies, the second graders books so that each student could start their own libraries at home and the third graders made fleecey hats for the babies at the Baby Center. The third graders were wearing their fleecey creations, they looked fabulous, and so, so proud.
Ms. Cantelmo, the Principal, spoke of them learning to have heart so that they too could give back to their communities, and anyone can see they are definitely being taught well. I am proud to be a community supporter of BCHMCPS. They are indeed Shining Stars in our community.
So you know what they say about the cobbler's children... Well, a photographer's child is certainly well photographed, pretty much not a moment is undocumented it's true! But usually I do much better when it comes to taking our Christmas card portrait. I almost didn't take one, but one of my fave clients told me I had to! Luckily, the weather has been absurdly beautiful around these parts lately. We were actually completely overdressed for the last weekend in November at the beach, but at that point, I had decided on the look I wanted! This is the back of my cards, I love the feeling of it. Of course, if you know me at all, you know the subject is well, my favorite, so it'd be hard for me not to like it!!!!
I am grateful that I have a wonderful family (including a husband who loves to cook & made us artichoke ravioli for tomorrow!), a nice home (albeit a tad messy), and all of my blessings in life. Adriana had to list 50 for a class at school, well... she is grateful for her iPod it's true!
Thank you to my wonderful clients, who allow me the privilege of getting to do what I love as a career. I'm truly blessed.
I photographed a job for a client, and the next day got delivered the most beautiful bouquet of flowers as a thank you. It was such a treat. So I did what any photographer would do, I photographed them.
Corned beef & cabbage is one of the few reasons I'm not vegetarian, it is one of my favorite meals!!! The image is Colum Cille, this fantastic pipe band made up of teachers, students, police officers, etc. They are the best around for sure, go see them any chance you get!
Enjoy the day! May there be a little bag pipe music in it for you!!!
I was on the phone yesterday morning at the studio when I walked out to the front, & I was greeted by 'HI' in the sunshine... What a delight! So instead of 'Good morning, starshine, the earth says hello' it was 'good morning sunshine, the earth says... hi'!!!
With full disclosure, I didn't retouch any of the sunlight anywhere, but I did do a little virtual vacuuming!!!
So my lovely sister, Marla and I are taking a journey... 365 days of creating... For me that may include photography as well as all of the other forms of creating I love so much, & will probably be a little heavy on the fibre arts, because I'm fairly addicted to those! Today was our first day, I posted the blog site under my blog list, feel free to go take a peek, and please, please comment. Give us love and encouragement as we start this journey together, pretty sure we're going to need it!
So I spent the better part of a week in San Antonio for the Professional Photographer's of America annual convention, om gosh, what a great time. San Antonio is such fun, with the riverwalk, Mexican influence in both the food and decor, and a few cowboys... Imaging was inspiring, educational, fun, everything it should be. I love being a photographer on the Cape, sometimes it takes a little journey for me to remember that! I didn't take a ton of images, it did rain most of the time we were there, and I was actually in classes all day!, but I still managed to take a few (hundred), here are some of my faves... The cave images at the beginning are from Natural Bridge Caverns just north of San Antonio, if you ever get the chance, definitely go there, such a cool place! Everything else is the Riverwalk and environs, including of course, the Alamo...
Next time, I'm so going to go try out a little western dancing in a dance hall though!!
I love photographing children, they truly amaze me... but here's the thing... the comment I heard a lot from this year's portrait of Adriana was, 'she looks so grown up'. Not sure I can handle my baby looking grown up! I have clients I've been photographing for years, and I love watching them grow & change, and of course I do with my own daughter as well, but I'm not even close to being ready to give up having a 'little girl'. Guess the time has come, like it or not. *deep sigh*
Lucky I guess, I certainly embrace my own inner child!!
so I'm all about the journey, life itself is quite an amazing one, but I'm always restless, and anxious for a little wander... I seem to have created an existence that doesn't allow for much wandering, but the itch is always there, and I'm always trying to find a way to fit it in... today I get this email from the Smithsonian, (why I signed up for their travel adventures knowing it would break my heart with every email, I'm not entirely sure...) for the most amazing adventure. Around the world by private jet, truthfully, I could care less about the private jet, but it's to all these world heritage sites, Machu Picchu, Easter Island, the Taj Mahal, the Great Barrier Reef, and on, and on, and on... *deep sigh* If anyone would like to sponsor my trip for a mere $63,000, I will keep the most amazing journal, and will fully document the trip with photos of every detail... plus I write pretty good thank you notes.... Go check it out here...
Have a great weekend - I'll post photos of my peacock costume, created for Boo at the Zoo soon. As the peacocks at the ZooQuarium kindly donated me some of their feathers, seemed appropriate I wear the costume there! Check out the ZooQuarium for more info.
This photo is one of my all time favorite Halloween photos, actually makes the list of just simple favorites... Not sure why, I just adore it.
The photo's not mine, it was taken by Bill Clarke who I worked with for many years, and bought the studio from almost 10 years ago (miss ya buddy). It's his girls, who have both graduated from college quite a few years back! Thought I'd share a little blast from the past for Halloween weekend.
I photographed the puppies ages ago, photographed hundreds of portraits between now & then... guess life just gets away from me...
Photographing lab puppies is such a fun job, they are just like 18 month olds, wild & crazy and every one is doing something different and going a different direction. If you know me, you know I laugh a fair amount of the time (quite loudly usually, and sometimes uncontrollably!), but oh my gosh do I laugh when the puppies are here! They are about the cutest things ever, makes me a little broody for a puppy & then those sharp little teeth & weeing everywhere remind me I'm probably good with the beautiful 4 year old, Lucy!
This litter was really funny, they were all different shapes and sizes, from teensy tiny to fairly robust & chunky, glad I didn't have to choose one of them, they all had endearing qualities! The breeder, Kim, has such good bloodlines in her dogs, they're all AKC pups, wicked healthy, no wonder they're all gone before I even get to meet them! By the time we're done with the session, they're all tuckered out, and can hardly keep their eyes open, sleeping puppies (especially the one who insisted on sleeping on top of his sibling! are so the best!)
My goodness the summer is flying by... I've been out photographing every day, guess those photos will be coming along as I find more breathing room in my schedule... I'm having a glorious summer, photographing babies, toddlers, seniors, families, such fun! I've been to so many great beaches, lots of private ones of course, but Mayflower, Nauset Light, Corporation, West Dennis and my fave Dowses have been visited in the last few weeks... The sunset last night was truly spectacular, I enjoyed it from First Encounter Beach in No. Eastham on my way home from Nauset Light beach...
Make sure you visit Four Seas Ice cream in Centerville before the summer ends... some of the best ice cream on Cape Cod!! I love seeing the people waiting as I drive by, just seems such a perfect part of a Cape Cod summer evening...
The puppies are coming! (probably) my favorite portrait sessions of all time are the puppies... they are wild and crazy and loud and silly and laugh out loud-y, just these amazing sessions that are true joy...
Kim & her family have been breeding labs for years, they are the best dogs, truly fabulous... I should know... I've got one...
Lucy just turned four, this is her first portrait taken by me, and one I took for our Christmas cards last year... which puppy do you think is Lucy in the group portrait? (follow me @Studiobysea for more puppy updates).
Adriana had a fairly exciting week, on Sunday she met Rachael Ray, on Thursday she met the Governor... not bad for a 9 almost 10 year old... not bad for her mom who also got to meet them, and add them to her list of cool people photographed! Governor Patrick was lovely, he had missed a flag ceremony by local Boy/Girl Scouts in his honor at the Jefferson Jackson dinner because it was the same night as the big water main break in Boston. When he knew he'd be back in town he rescheduled the photo op with the Scouts.
During his speech that night, he said his main motivation was gratitude, and he wanted every resident to have the same opportunities he was given... I think the world would be a way better place if more of our motivation was gratitude...
Enjoy this beautiful holiday weekend! We couldn't ask for better weather... I, for one, am thrilled for such an amazing weekend to photograph a couple of family portraits on the beach here on gorgeous Cape Cod... and for beautiful weather for the in between times to enjoy being with my family and the summer friends who are all down this week... what fun!
Love this photo of Adriana, such joy in her expression... I said we needed to update it, she was psyched because to a 9.5 year old that means only one thing, 'I get a new outfit? COOL!'
The AFCC just announced that Rachael Ray will be the Guest Conductor for this year's TD Bank Pops by the Sea. How pysched am I? I love Rachael Ray, think she's adorably cute, very talented, and she's going to be such a fun conductor! I can picture it already. Too much fun, can't wait!
I've got to photograph so many fabulous people through the Pops, Maya Angelou being one of my faves, just to be in the same room as her was fairly amazing, my mum loved my telling her I made Maya laugh with my 'cha cha cha'... Ed Asner, Jack Klugman, Angie Dickinson, Henry Winkler, Norman Lear, Ray Romano, William Shatner, of course Ted Kennedy... we did the list the other night, I can't believe how many uber cool people I've photographed...
As if the Pops themselves, and Rachael weren't enough... oh, and then there's Idina Menzel, she'll be joining the Pops this year, how cool is that? and Chris Cooper performing The Dream Lives on: A Portrait of the Kennedy Brothers, can't imagine it could be any better...
So if you haven't got your tickets yet, what are you waiting for? Rachael Ray's coming to town... visit the Arts Foundation for more info. and tickets...
I've had a fun couple of weeks, I spoke for Cape Cod Art Association's Camera Club on portraiture - it was such a blast! They were a great group, and the feedback was all positive, so I thought that was good! Of course, I had to keep reminding myself to not talk too fast, and to stay focused (neither of which I'm very good at!). In a couple of weeks, I get to see what they did with the information they learned, and judge their 'portrait' competition. I can't wait! I love photography, love looking at other's work, love faces, so it can only be good! Sure I'll get inspired by looking at all of the different portraits I'll see.
Then there was the Art Foundation's Creative Collaborative, where I was on a panel of successful artists. We all shared tips and ideas with the crowd of over 200, it was also pretty cool. Afterwards I caught up with a friend I knew back in the days of field hockey & yearbooks (mine!) in CT., so that was a bonus. There are some super creative people 'round these parts. I got to meet Salley Mavor, she's so rock star! She creates these amazing 'wee folk', it was awesome to meet her in person after adoring her work so...
I'm trying to meet my goal of not running around like a crazy soul this year, we'll see how that works out for me! Might mean I'll actually post photos once in a while! Or maybe that senior slideshow... hmmm... For now, I'm enjoying my tiny tour of the speaking circuit!!
I'm a mom, a photographer, a sister, a wife, an artist, a traveler, a dreamer, an environmentalist, a daughter, a friend, a seeker of stones... not always in that order...
