First off I have to say thank you for all the responses I got to the lion images.  I think I’ll have to start a poll to see what appeals more-elephant or lion images!? I don’t know, you tell me.  Although I do have some more lion images, particularly of the young male, I though I’d head down to the coast for a change of scenery.  I will be posting a few more lion images (due to popular demand) next time round.

I decided to tone things down just a touch for this bulletin.  This might be an attempt to try something different from what I normally post on this site (a slightly more ‘arty’ approach).  It could also be a reaction in some way to the disturbing news filtering through from the Southern African region on the state of the natural resources and the environment.  Especially for marine life!

Some might think it strange but I have a soft spot for seals and sea birds, especially gulls.  Whenever I get down to the coast I make a point of spending some time out on the water or along the shore, always happy to find myself surrounded by seals, gulls and pelicans.  They are like old friends, the one constant in a sadly rapidly changing world. 

On this particular trip the weather was not on my side (this is not unusual on the western coast of Southern Africa).  It was cold and for the first time on a boat trip I wrapped up warmly.  I decided to limit myself to one camera body and two lenses.  I had some distinct images in mind, and despite the gloomy conditions I was determined to get something from the day.  With the seal and the lighthouse image, I got reckless and hung over the boat, wide angle attached to the camera, hovering just above the surface of the water.  The camera is still dry and I have an image I am very pleased with.

Normally when I am out I will try and exclude any human made objects in the image.  I did the opposite for most of the images this time round.  As far as possible I tried to include boats, people, a lighthouse and the harbour in my images.  After all the animals I have been photographing in this region have adapted to their surroundings and an ever increasing, unnatural world.  So, fromm time to time they should be depicted in the world they occur in rather than just in an ideal natural setting. 

Take care and all the best.

This should be called the apprentice!