NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY
One Night in Africa
Where the lions roar in the dark
It’s loud. Like really loud. The roaring sounds as if the lions are right behind our car. The roaring has been going on for 15 minutes already. With short breaks in between before they start again. Even louder and more powerful.
For once we’re camping inside a formal campsite that is not only fenced off but has even bobwire atop the normal animal fence. No hippos in the water in front of us and no crocs on shore.
But yes, that fence is set up since we’re inside a rather small but high in animal density game park. And those lions probably just had a kill right outside the camp.
I don’t remember ever hearing lions roaring for so long, so loud and so intense. It’s somewhat beautiful, somewhat scary.
It's the first clear night we have since over 10 days and it's also the coldest we had. It had been raining every night. Now, without a cloud cover, the temperatures will drop drastically.
I am wearing long pants and a hoodie while I am outside taking pictures of the stars. It’s a bit of a bummer that we’re tonight inside a formal campsite since they have lots of lamp poles. But I’m also able to take these shots because we are inside this fenced-off camp.
All the other nights camping in the wild, with the start of darkness, I had to hush into the tent.
And instead of being upset with this little light pollution on site, I rather decided to take what I get and just shoot.
Surprisingly, these shots came out very sharp and clear.
We parked the car just meters away from the water and yes, it is weird being so close and knowing there is no danger in the water. Up until now, every time we camped near water, we saw and heard hippos.
While walking around with my tripod and camera in hand, I do listen to the frogs sitting in the reeds by the water. They are loud. But not as loud as the lions.
The cicadas are chirping in the background as the moon is rising. It’s just a sickle moon, but it provides enough light for the land.
And when you take night photography, and all of a sudden bring the moon into the shot but forget to adjust your settings, the below picture appears as a result.
I decided to keep it in as it has something special. Shining bright like the sun. In the darkness of the African night.
And as the lions roar one more time, I pack up my things and crawl into the tent. Where it's cozy and warm, and I just feel a little safer. Always.
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