A little something different today. Not only because it lacks wildlife, but also because I took it with my iPhone. This was the last day of our trip to Kenya and Uganda. We were leaving our lodge at Lake Mutanda and heading back to Rwanda and onward to Nairobi and then New York. I had packed my cameras away, but pulled the iPhone out now and again to grab shots from the open window as we drove. This is one of those shots, a bit more mid-day than I like for what is essentially a landscape, but I thought it caught the essence and grandeur of Lake Mutanda and its setting in the volcanic Virunga Mountains of Uganda. iPhone, ISO 32, f/1.6 at 1/2300th of a second.

As much as I love being out on game drives while on safari, I also look forward to the downtime when I’m free to walk around camp searching for birds and other creatures that happen to be passing through. This bronzy sunbird was outside our room on Lake Mutanda in Uganda. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm lens, ISO 10,000, f/5.6 at 1/500th of a second.

This little guy had something on his mind. At just two years old, like his human cousins, he is still a toddler. We had a great time watching him roll around in the grass and crawl over his older siblings and the adults in the family of ten mountain gorillas. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 140mm) ISO 3200, f/2.8 at 1/250th of a second.

Karen and I head to Corsica tomorrow for a week. Won’t be a wildlife trip, but who knows what we’ll find while out exploring the island. Until then enjoy this contemplative mountain gorilla. He knows something. I don’t know what he knows, but something’s going on in that head of his. Photographed last month in Magahinga National Park in Uganda. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 90mm) ISO 1250, f/2.8 at 1/250th of a second.

I rarely post people photos these days, but a client favorite of the Kenya/Uganda tour that my wife and I lead is always our village visit to Kisoro in Uganda. Of the many shots of the local kids that I captured, I liked this one of the little girl’s eye finding the camera. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 lens, ISO 450, f/2.8 at 1/500th of a second.

I visited the Nyakagezi gorilla family back in 2020. Since that visit, there has been a new addition to the family. It was great to get back and see the familiar faces and this new one — quite an animated little guy. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 190mm) ISO 2200, f/2.8 at 1/320th of a second.

I was able to visit mountain gorillas twice on this recent trip. You never know where the gorillas are going to be or how long it will take to find them. But once found, you only have an hour to visit — which park rangers are very strict about. That said, as a photographer I’m always praying for overcast light (a dark furred animal, in a forest, in bright sunshine, without the ability to use flash, is a deadly combination). Both days presented just such a lighting challenge. So be it. I had to work around the light and use longer focal length lenses, trying to get the gorillas in mostly full shade. Occasionally they complied. For this rare wide-angle shot, it wasn’t exactly full shade, but good enough for a somewhat even exposure. This is one of three silverbacks (mature males) in the family of nine individual gorillas we visited. He may look fierce (and in need of dental work) but he was simply letting out a big yawn. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 lens (at 43mm) ISO 2500, f/2.8 at 1/320th of a second.

I met these two mountain gorillas back in early 2020, just before the pandemic. Karen and I leave tomorrow to lead a group to Kenya and then on to Uganda where we’ll visit this same family. It’s going to be interesting to see these two and how they may have changed in the last three and a half years. We also got word that the family of nine is now ten as an infant was born about six months ago. That said, no posts for the next few weeks. See everyone when we’re back, hopefully with some great new images to share. Nikon D850 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 125mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/1250th of a second.

When trekking for mountain gorillas on my most recent trip to Uganda, this youngster was the first of the troop to come tumbling out of the thick vegetation. He/she (too early tell gender) appeared as surprised to see us as we were to see him/her. Photographed in Mgahinga National Park. Nikon D850 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 98mm) ISO 1600, f/2.8 at 1/1250th of a second.

In this large troop of 23 mountain gorillas, there were a couple of babies. This one was putting on show for me while Mom remained somewhat disinterested. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 210mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/60th of a second.