Aeronautics and Space Exploration AXSX’s Post

Show the Underside of Birds' Wings! One of the advantages of photographing birds in flight is that you can better capture the colourful beauty of their wings. Many birds have 'coats of many colours', and it's only by showing their wings when they're vertical or horizontal that you get the full effect. A good way of doing this is to photograph birds on take-off, ideally when their feet are still just touching the branch. If you have good reactions and a reasonably high frame rate, you should be able to get two or three shots of small or medium-sized birds (like this lilac-breasted roller) before they fly out of the frame. With larger birds, such as eagles, you should be able to follow them all the way... On a Wing and a Prayer Shot with a Nikon D850, an 800mm lens and a 1.25x teleconverter at Klein's Camp, Tanzania, in April 2019. ISO 2500, 1000mm, f/16, 1/2000, 0 EV #birdsinflight #birdinflightphotography #birding #lilacbreastedroller

Show the Underside of Birds' Wings! One of the advantages of photographing birds in flight is that you can better capture the colourful beauty of their wings. Many birds have 'coats of many colours', and it's only by showing their wings when they're vertical or horizontal that you get the full effect. A good way of doing this is to photograph birds on take-off, ideally when their feet are still just touching the branch. If you have good reactions and a reasonably high frame rate, you should be able to get two or three shots of small or medium-sized birds (like this lilac-breasted roller) before they fly out of the frame. With larger birds, such as eagles, you should be able to follow them all the way... On a Wing and a Prayer Shot with a Nikon D850, an 800mm lens and a 1.25x teleconverter at Klein's Camp, Tanzania, in April 2019. ISO 2500, 1000mm, f/16, 1/2000, 0 EV #birdsinflight #birdinflightphotography #birding #lilacbreastedroller

living fossil omg: 100s millions old: depth of african sea: took the first ever photograph of a living coelacanth. "It's not just a fish we thought was extinct," says Ballesta. "It's a masterpiece in the history of evolution." Venture back to the beginning of the age of the dinosaurs, and you'd find coelacanths in abundance, on every continent, living in the steamy marshes of the Triassic Period. Dating back 410 million years, the coelacanth belongs to the group of "lobe-finned" fish that left the ocean between about 390 and 360 million years ago. Its strong, fleshy fins were a precursor to the paired limbs of tetrapods, which include all land-living vertebrates – amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals and, yes, humans too. In fact, coelacanths are more closely related to tetrapods than to any other known fish species. The youngest known fossil coelacanth is 66 million years old, leading to the assumption that these animals were long extinct. Then, in 1938, a fish with iridescent blue-green scales and four limb-like fins, was caught in a trawl net off the coast of South Africa. This coelacanth was dubbed a living fossil. Although, experts say this nickname is not accurate and the coelacanth has, in fact, evolved, albeit extremely slowly. For one thing, this elusive fish no longer dwells on the periphery of the land, but deep in the ocean. "Every time they were caught, it was very deep, too deep for normal scuba diving techniques at the time," says Ballesta. "So, it was just a fantasy in my mind." But, in 2000, Ballesta heard about a diver named Peter Timm. "During a deep dive, Timm found a coelacanth in a cave at only 120m (393ft) [depth]." So, in 2010, after intensive deep-dive training, and with the help of newly available rebreather diving technology – which would allow him to remain underwater for longer than previously possible – Ballesta enlisted Timm to be his guide. Coelacanths live in the benthic zone – on the sea floor – as deep as 300m (984ft) along steep underwater slopes and shelves. During the day, they gather in submarine caves, only emerging to feed during the night. It was in such caves, that Ballesta met his first coelacanth. https://lnkd.in/dQusgR5b

TUESDAY TIPS! Theme: Stargazing Consider heading to a place that has very little light pollution. If you live in Southern California this likely means you’re going to need to head to the desert. A few options could include Joshua Tree National Park or Anza Borrego Desert State Park. #Stargazing #Stars #Astrophotography #NightViews

Expectations. Working as a guide in the High Arctic is great. But like any job, it comes with challenges. These are things we can’t prepare for. Such as weather conditions, especially the wind can be a challenge, but this is something that we fortunately can’t influence. However, we can be flexible with the locations we visit. This is one of the reasons why plans are often changed. Perhaps the biggest challenge is the high expectations created by some guests, travel agents and social media. But how do we keep those expectations low when it’s so easy these days to crop a nice photo from a larger photo taken with a super telephoto lens? For everyone who will soon be traveling to the High Arctic. Try to keep expectations low for yourself. And every Location or Wild Encounter will amaze you. Unfortunately, it is not a promise we can make that we will all encounter a Polar Bear or Beluga. One promise I can make is that our team will do everything, every trip to make your trip an unforgettable experience. Wild-Encounters.com #expectations #travel #arctic #svalbard #wildanimals #wildlifeexperiences #wildlife #photography #expeditions #polarbear #walrus #history #wildphoto

Remember the other day I mentioned the amazing "tree" at 40 meters? Today, we made it our mission to capture an image of this incredible underwater structure and the school of fish around it. Before diving into the experience, let’s learn a bit about it. The tree-like structure is actually called a black coral. Despite its green appearance, if you remove the outer layer, it’s black. Black corals belong to the order Antipatharia and can be found all over the world at various depths. They are typically known as deep-sea corals and can be abundant in certain areas. Contrary to their name, black corals are rarely black but come in colors ranging from white to red, green, yellow, or brown. They can take on different shapes, from small bushes to fans to single stalks. Unlike stony corals, black corals have a skeleton made of protein and chitin (the same material as an insect skeleton). They also do not have symbiotic algae associated with them, allowing them to thrive in depths where light is absent. So, one, two, three—go! Holding the camera in my right hand and my mask in my left, I started descending slowly, equalizing as I went. At 14 meters, I still couldn’t see the ocean floor, which is when the nerves kicked in. At 29 meters, and then finally at 38, I placed the camera down and took a moment to relax. My colleagues and friends had the same mission: to get a picture near the black coral. The pressure was on, thanks to Tony. I had to think about exposure, composition, light, and had only about 3 minutes at that depth before ascending. The deeper you go, the more oxygen you consume, so it was a balance between survival and storytelling underwater. It was an intense experience, and I’m happy to share it with this one frame of an image. If you like the image, let me know—I’d be happy to have it printed to support the TonyWild Foundation’s conservation impact program. 🌊📸 #underwaterphotography #blackcoral #marinelife #oceanconservation #deepseadiving #naturephotography #divingadventures #conservationimpact #supportconservation @newfcommunity

Spot the Elusive Beauty; Top 7 Places to See Leopards in Tanzania's National Parks Leopards, with their striking spotted coats and secretive nature, are a thrilling sight on any safari. Tanzania's diverse national parks offer excellent opportunities to witness these magnificent predators. Here's our list of the top 7 places to enhance your chances of an unforgettable leopard encounter 1. Serengeti National Park: The vast Serengeti is a prime location for leopard sightings, especially during the Great Migration when prey is abundant. 2. Tarangire National Park: This park boasts a healthy leopard population, with experienced guides often knowing their whereabouts. 3. Ruaha National Park: While leopard numbers are lower here, the chance of a shared sighting is high due to guides' knowledge of their territories. 4. Lake Manyara National Park: Night drives in this park are ideal for spotting leopards, as they're more active after dark in the densely forested areas. 5. Ngorongoro Conservation Area: Though sightings aren't guaranteed, the crater's diverse habitat offers possibilities for encountering leopards. Consider night drives here as well. 6. Manyara Ranch Conservancy: A private reserve bordering Lake Manyara, offering a more intimate safari experience with good chances of seeing leopards. 7. Katavi National Park: Remoteness defines this park, and while leopard sightings are less frequent, the experience is truly off-the-beaten path. #TanzaniaSafari #LeopardSpotting #AfricanWildlife #Serengeti #TarangireNationalPark #RuahaNationalPark #LakeManyara #NgorongoroCrater #WildCatsOfAfrica #BigCatSafari #travel #wildlife #photography

Saguaro National Park in Tucson, Arizona is one of those places where the stars of the show aren't the people behind the camera but the majestic Saguaro cacti. These towering giants, often reaching over 40 feet in height, steal the spotlight in this remarkable desert landscape. These cacti are true desert survivors. They have a slow and steady growth rate, often taking up to 75 years to develop their first arm. That's right, an entire lifetime for some before they even start to branch out! But when they do, the sight is nothing short of spectacular. Those arms are like the outstretched arms of a Saguaro, reaching for the sun and the sky. I remember capturing that one special Saguaro. It stood alone, proud and tall against the vivid desert backdrop. These cacti can store thousands of liters of water, making them true desert reservoirs, defying the harsh conditions of the arid landscape. They provide shelter for various desert creatures, from birds to insects, and even humans who seek shade in their sprawling arms. As the sun dipped below the horizon, I couldn't help but marvel at how these cacti have silently observed centuries of desert life, standing tall and strong through it all. The Saguaro cactus, a symbol of resilience and endurance, is the true hero of Saguaro National Park, and I'm just fortunate to capture its magnificent presence in a photograph. The desert's living sentinels, these cacti, stand as a testament to the beauty and wonder of the natural world. So next time you visit, take a moment to appreciate the remarkable Saguaro cacti that grace this captivating landscape. They're the stars of the show, and their story is one worth experiencing. Visit my shop and check out this Eternal Desert Witness: Saguaro National Park print 👇 https://bit.ly/4a9jREc - #ImagesByCheri #SaguaroNationalPark #Tucson #Arizona #Desert #Cacti #Nature #Wildlife #Conservation #Outdoors #Hiking #Landscape #Sunset #Resilience #Saguaro #NaturePhotography

NIGHT SECRETS: A SPECIAL KIND OF ADRENALIN RUSH Diving the outer Great Barrier Reef below around thirty metres at night can be spectacular. As the water temperature drops and darkness turns to black, tension mounts. This is a special kind of adrenalin rush. This is another world apart from the shallow reefs during daylight. Using a hand torch and electronic flash, eye-popping forms and colours flash before your eye. Macro photography in this space is like none other. Here, fingers of soft coral become a hunting ground for night-active Pajama cardinalfish, set out to feed on small fishes and mobile crustaceans. Like many other schooling fish, pyjama cardinalfish form a strict hierarchy. The members of this family have a unique way of mating. Females take the initiative to choose their male partner and establish and defend their territory. Once the female lays up to 75 eggs, the male takes over by holding and protecting the eggs in a special pouch in its mouth. The eggs typically hatch in about 20 days and are kept in the male's mouth for another 10 days until they are released. 'Night Secrets' is available as a fine art print > https://bit.ly/48i8Cbu Visit my 'Ocean of Life' fine art portfolio > https://gallery.steveparish-https://bit.ly/3fAy4TI Join Steve for his > PHOTOGRAPHY A PATHWAY TO PURPOSE MASTERCLASS > https://lnkd.in/gQ7EDiQ Care about our Oceans, support the Australian Marine Conservation Society > https://lnkd.in/gxM5U69X #GreatBarrierReef #OceanLife #Oceans #SaveOurSeas #underwaterphotography #MarineConservation #Diving #CoralReefs #SeaLife #MarineBiodiversity #ClimateChange #EnvironmentalProtection #SustainableLiving #OceanConservation #BeachCleanup #PlasticFree #WildlifeConservation #BluePlanet #NaturePhotography 

Good evening everyone, I hope the new week has started off well for you all! As a wildlife photographer, I've learned that while modern or expensive the equipment nothing improves your photography more than time spent in the field. Having your camera in hand, keeping your eyes sharp, and one of the most critical components—patience—are key. Nature doesn't work on our schedule, and some of its most fascinating subjects are often the hardest to find. Some species have evolved to blend so seamlessly into their environment that they're almost invisible to the untrained eye. You might walk right past them without even realizing what you’ve missed. Take, for example, one of my all-time favourite birds, the Eurasian Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes). This tiny bird is a master of disguise. Despite its size, watching it among the branches is a true spectacle, its soft brown plumage almost indistinguishable from the foliage. Check out this image I captured—notice how its colours blend perfectly with the surrounding branches, as though it's part of the natural tapestry. It’s remarkable how such a small bird can be so elusive yet so stunning once spotted. For those of you interested in the numbers, the Eurasian Wren weighs in at around **9-10 grams** and measures **9-10 cm** in length. Despite its size, it has an impressively loud voice, often heard before it's seen. They are highly territorial and can be found across Europe, Asia, and even parts of North Africa. If you’re out in the wild, stay patient, stay observant, and you just might catch a glimpse of this charming little bird! #eurasianwren #wren #jennywren #bbccountryfilemagpotd #bbcwildlifepotd #bbcspringwatch #Nikon #nikond850 #birdwatching #birding #natureinbritain