A selection of the best readers’ photographs submitted to the Getaway Gallery photo competition for April 2017.
Getaway Gallery is a prestigious showcase of the best photographs our readers have to offer. We have exciting prizes to be won this year to the value of over R202 100, from equipment through to a photographic safari in Botswana.
Each month, readers can vote online for their favourite image of the month. Voting for this gallery is now closed and votes have been tallied.
The winning Image of the Month goes to Ricci Goldstein for ‘The Ghost of Phalaborwa’. Congratulations, Ricci!
Take a look at the March 2017 gallery for more inspirational images.
Submit your images here
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- A quick afternoon drive in Kruger turned into the experience of a lifetime. Some baby impalas were putting on a show, jumping up and down, so we stopped to watch for a while and when they moved into the thicket we drove closer. My partner shouted ‘Leopard!’ and a small female leopard appeared out of nowhere. It was an ambush attack: silent, quick and breathtaking. She stopped and stared at us before moving deeper into the thicket, presumably feeling the pulse of the unfortunate impala fade away. This was the Kruger Magic that I’d dreamed of witnessing, as a nature enthusiast and a photographer. – By Ricci Goldstein, Johannesburg Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 300mm f/2.8 L IS, ISO 1000, f/3.2, 1/1600 sec
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- We went kayaking in a Mauritian lagoon at 6am- before the tourist boats awoke. The water temperature was 28°C and my parkour-junkie son, Ryan, jumped into the water and evolved a static scene into something avatar-like. Fuji XP – By Trevor Ball, Hout Bay
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- The city is where we all strive to make the world a better place for both the people around us and ourselves. Rushing through masses of transport and buildings feels like chasing the sunset. We can choose our own paths and destinations and how to overcome the obstacles we may face. But at the end, we all want to beat the city to become the best at what we love doing. With my bicycle I can travel anywhere around the city capturing beautiful scenes. – By Mveleli Tshambula, Durban Fujifilm FinePix S2960, ISO 100, f/6.4, 1/400 sec
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- While camping in Savuti, Botswana, we came across a pride of lions relaxing in the middle of the marsh area, and we decided to wait it out until there was action. We positioned ourselves at a waterhole, hoping the lions would come to drink. Exactly that happened- first off was the lionesses and cubs, after which these two stunning males followed. The tree in the background created the perfect composition for my photo. It reminded me of the quote ‘if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.’ – By Alwyn Badenhorst, Pretoria Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 100-400 Mark II, ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec
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- This photo of white-throated swallows was taken at the Marievale Bird Sanctuary at about 9am. The juvenile pictured here would rather be fed than have to hunt. My guess would be, that by mid-January the young one would have to fend for itself. The adults are currently building a new nest in the bird hide. -By David Whyte, Kibler Park Canon 7D Mark I, Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 Sports Lens, ISO 320, f/4, 1/5000 sec
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- This was a beautiful scene as mom had to deal with two inquisitive pups. It was early in the day, around 5.30am. The sun was beginning to softly light up the scene, giving the image the rich warmth and tone. – By Ricci Goldstein, JHB Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 300mm f/2.8 L, ISO 200, f/2.8, 1/400 sec
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- We were sitting at the Polentswa waterhole in December 2016. It was very early in the morning, and there was nothing too exciting happening. This herd of wildebeest came down to drink, walking slowly and looking so tired. I used Lightroom to create a high key affect, which I feel it creates a mood fitting to the scene. – By Charmaine Venter Canon 7D Mark II, Tamron 150-600mm F/5-6.3, ISO 640, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec
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- There was a spectacular sunset one evening in Blouberg Beach. I took multiple shots to try to get the wave splashing on the rocks just right. I felt this gave the image some movement, and it caught the light of the sunset perfectly. I had to take an additional exposure of the sun, to not have it burn out too much, and blended it into the final image. – By Marc Greyvenstein, Cape Town Sony A7RII, Sony 16-35mm f/4, ISO 50, f/16, 1/10 sec
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- While twitching at the Umhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve in I spotted a family of five waders. I managed to crawl up to them within a few meters and got this low angle shot of a White-fronted Plover among the debris with the waves crashing in the background. – By Dave Rimmer Nikon D7100, Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6, ISO 640, f/9, 1/4000 sec
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- I studied in Port Elizabeth and when I recently visited this friendly city, Iplanned to take a shot of the pier. I loved the colours after sunset. – By Sandra McCallum, Boksburg Sony A7R, Carl Zeiss 24-70mm f/4, ISO 200, f/13, 8 sec
