Wednesday 30 May 2018

Using Lightroom for Editing Video Clips

If you cannot do something in a software application, chances are that some enterprising individual will come up with a workaround! Here's how you can create a Lightroom video preset from a screen grab.
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Amazingly you can actually trim video clips using Lightroom's Library Module and then stitch clips together in its Slideshow Module.

Monday 28 May 2018

Using Lightroom for Viewing Video Clips

I have used Adobe Lightroom as a video player for a number of years because, surprisingly, it plays clips really smoothly, in fact better than many dedicated media players - even Adobe Premiere Pro. Here's a short description on how to do this in Adobe Lightroom.

Importing and Playing Video using Adobe Lightroom from Robin Nichols on Vimeo.

Although there are a few editing presets in the Library Module of Lightroom, there's not much else that can help a keep video shooter. Or is there? Here's a short tutorial on how to make your own (custom) edit to a video clip by working off a screen grab from the video...

Editing Video in Lightroom Workaround by Working off a Screen Grab from Robin Nichols on Vimeo.

Tuesday 22 May 2018

Poaching in the Park

Early morning drive to a remote part of Pilanesberg National Park to check out reports of poaching during the previous day or night...
Sure enough we found the carcass of a white rhino about 50 feet off the road.
We could smell it at least a kilometre away. And because we could smell it, so could this male lion who was tearing bits off the carcass and growling at three jackals that were also trying to get some of the food.
Here's a black-backed jackal circling the dead rhino but keeping well away from the big male lion. Even though he was obviously very full, he wasn't going to relinquish such an easy food source We think that the rhino had been shot the night before and its horn hacked off.
If it doesn't die from gunshots, it bleeds to death from where its horn is cut off.
We were told that the poachers - usually local people desperate for money - have killed more than 40 rhinos in this park alone this year.
The "anti-poaching unit", based in the park, is either completely useless, or its being bribed by the poachers to look the other way.
Most of the rangers at Shepherd's Tree Lodge think they are simply being bribed - no other logical way to explain how so many animals are lost with no arrests.
Pic by Natalie Hitchens

Baboons Crossing the Road

Chacma Baboon
The male, probably the dominant male appears out of the shrubbery to check if the coast is clear.
Apparently we are no threat in the safari vehicle.
In single and double file about 50 baboons frolic past us in the vehicle.
Most appear to be quite young.
The babies are carried on the mothers' back.
A close-up of the same mother and baby combination seen above.
Hopefully the baby will grow into its ears over time.
Most of the younger baboons dash past, engrossed in play

Monday 21 May 2018

Animal Camouflage at Work

We knew lions were there - just could not see them till junior here popped up his head for a second or two before disappearing once again. Oh well!

Sunday 20 May 2018

Meanwhile in Pilanesberg National Park

At the end of day 2 in Pilanesberg National Park we spotted this female Kudu, a beautiful antelope with big ears and a shy nature (processed using Luminar 2018)
White rhino checking us out before crossing the road in front of the vehicle
Black-shouldered Kite
Impala

Black-backed Jackal
Lilac-breasted Roller

Lioness with tracking collar
Pic by Natalie Hitchens

Female rhino with massive horn
Pic by Natalie Hitchens

Grey Hornbill
Pic by Natalie Hitchens

Impala
Pic by Natalie Hitchens
Springbok
Pic by Natalie Hitchens
White rhino
Pic by Natalie Hitchens
Pic by Natalie Hitchens
Great egret
Pic by Natalie Hitchens

Nile crocodile
Pic by Natalie Hitchens

Giraffe
Pic by Natalie Hitchens

Lens envy
Pic by Natalie Hitchens

Steinbok, second smallest deer in Africa
Pic by Natalie Hitchens

Frolicking zebra
Pic by Natalie Hitchens
Hippos
Pic by Natalie Hitchens
Giant kingfisher with a fishPic by Natalie Hitchens
Common quail on road
Crimson-breasted Shrike

Bulbul
Young white rhino crossing road
Blue wilderbeest
Game driving in Pilanesberg

Wildebeest in the late afternoon light

Iconic African bird - the Lilac-breasted Roller

Female Southern weaver

Friday 18 May 2018

Roadside Vendors on Route Nationale 7, Madagascar

Not so far out of Tana you see a lot of roadside vendors and their toys - all made from beaten metal soft drinks cans

Peas for sale - the empty tin can is a universal Malagasy unit of measurement
At another roadside stop, this kid appeared with a basket of pokpok on his head - Cape Gooseberries
Nice-looking veggies in the highlands
A second-hand shoe seller on the street somewhere...
Service please
Pastries for sale in Ambositra
A woman and her sewing business on the street
Kids toys for rent in the main street, Antsirabe

To open a phone recharge shop all you need is a box big enough to stand up in and you are in business.
Apart from hairdressers, I think this was one of the most common businesses in the towns we drove through.

Another tiny little local shop selling - I'm not quite sure what it is selling but the yellow 20-litre containers are an indication that there's no connected water - someone has to go and fill these up (it costs 20 Ar for a fill up = 5c) so the residents can have fresh water...
Another roadside halt - this time to see a demonstration of how the locals weave sisal.
Most of the sisal products are robust and useful, like baskets, hats, dinner mats, etc.
This woman is laying dried flowers (that she picked in the morning) onto freshly made paper pulp to make illustrated stationary...
Advertising hording on the highway.
In the south villages are dirt-poor - one shop offering a few tomatoes only...
Same situation in the south - dirt poor.
The entire family is sitting in the 'shop' waiting for a passer-by to buy something
An agricultural supplies shop selling rice in carefully colour-coded sacks.
Empty sacks are used to make sails for fishing boats.
Three Horses Beer advertising is everywhere...