A selection of the best readers’ photographs submitted to the Getaway Gallery Photographic Competition in association with Canon for May 2018.
Getaway Gallery is a prestigious showcase of the best photographs our readers have to offer. We have exciting prizes to be won this year worth nearly R150000, from equipment through to a dream trip to Madagascar.
Take a look at the winners from last month for more inspirational images.
Every month, you can also vote for your favourite image over on our Facebook page and the winner gets a year’s subscription to Getaway.
See this month’s winner on Facebook.
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- While on a hike at Virginia MTB Trails in Eston, KwaZulu-Natal, I came across this painted reed frog – no larger than a R2 coin – resting on a canna leaf. I reached for my phone. It was a challenge to capture this almost- macro shot with the available natural light, and with the leaf darting around in the wind. I eventually used one hand to still the leaf and the other to lock focus and take several shots. It just goes to show, the best camera is the one you have on you. – By Ryan Ramsamy, Durban. Samsung Galaxy SY, 4.2mm, ISO 40, f/1.7, 1/140 sec.
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- After a long day’s foraging, this darter dried its feathers as the evening chill set in over the still waters of the wetland world in Pilanesberg National Park. I slowly approached the preening bird perched near the water’s edge, stopping every time it looked in my direction. Soon I was close enough to get this image. – By Johann Visser, Bloemfontein. Canon EOS 7D, Sigma 500mm f/4.5, ISO 400, f/7.1, 1/800sec
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- I went to the Strandfontein sewage works in Cape Town to practise panning and slow shutter speeds. There was a group of ibis sitting away from the pans. I had the camera set up, and as I got out of my car they all took flight simultaneously. – By Jenny Rood, Cape Town. Nikon D600, Tamron 150-600mm, ISO 100, f/15, 1/40 sec
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- This image was taken at Umlani Bushcamp in the Timbavati reserve. I had just arrived at a hyena den and the cubs and adults were playing together. The warm orange backlight created perfect conditions. Suddenly the mother yawned showing off her bone-crushing set of teeth. The cub looks up at the adult with such beautiful innocence and inexperience. – By Michael Raddall, Johannesburg OMD EM1 Mark II, Olympus 300mm f/4, ISO 6400, f/8, 1/250 sec
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- This photo was taken next to the Cubitjie Quap waterhole , Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, late one afternoon on our way back to the Nossob rest camp. The black-backed jackal cub had been hanging around the waterhole for a few days – all by himself. The cub’s father had been napping and just before sunset he stood up. Immediately the cub was all around his mouth begging for him to regurgitate some food. After about a minute he did, much to the delight of the cub. Nikon D4 camera, Nikkor 600mm f/4 VR, Gimpro head on a Gimpro window mount, ISO 3200, f/4, 1/1250 second
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- Every year, humpback whales migrate along the west coast of South Africa to feed on krill. The water visibility is not great, but when the whales are not feeding they are very social and don’t mind coming close. At this moment, there were two whales around us, lifting their heads out the water, rolling over and even nudging me with their pectoral fins. – By Martijn Schouten, Cape Town. Canon 550D, Tokina 10-17mm f/2.8 (with Hugyfot housing), ISO 200, f/9, 1/200 sec
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- It was a clear, crisp winter’s day at the lake at Royal Coachman Inn on the outskirts of Clarens, in the Free State. This picture was taken minutes before our daughter caught her first rainbow trout, with splashes, ripples and shouts transforming the scene. For this moment everything was still, even the cow. I took the photo with my cellphone and minimal fuss, I love how it captures the gentle light. Apple iPhone 4S, 4.28 mm, f 2.4 , 1/950sec
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- Shortly after the gate opened at Berg en Dal, I went straight to the watering hole to see if I couldn’t get a few shots of the hippos that were there the day before. Fortunately, four Kudu bulls came over the hill looking for an early morning drink. Canon 1DX MKI, Canon 600mm f/4, ISO 200, f/4, 1/400 sec
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- We were tracking this young male leopard in Sabi Sands, early one morning. He was stalking a bunch of guinea fowl and his full attention was on the prey. He didn’t take any notice of us in the open game vehicle. The early morning sunlight cast a streak of light over the leopard, as he was doing this U-turn.
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- Arniston is a Pandora’s box for photographers. There’s no better place to enjoy its cliffs and wave-washed shelves than on a dawn outing to The Cauldron. Fortunately, it was low tide and providence provided both a mist belt to soften the sun’s rays and a lone fisherman. – By Rob Smith, Plettenberg Bay. Nikon D810, Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8, ISO 64, f/20, 1/8 sec
