Wilderness photographer of the week

Today I got a message over Facebook asking me if I had missed that I was chosen by Ranger Diaries and Bush Boyes to feature in their Top 25 photographs from the Wilderness. What could I say? Yes I had missed this and it makes me really happy that they took the time to inform me about this glad news.

I have sent a couple of pictures over the last weeks with hope of featuring in this awesome collection of photos. Most of the pictures are from Africa with the main subject being the furry cats so it is really a treat for me to be able to get a picture published of a bird taken in Europe.

My picture is of a Lammergeier, or Bearded Vulture, that I took in Austria this April. It is an intimate picture with the eye as a focus point. The eye is truly spectacular and I really like the coloration on this huge Vulture. The Lammergeier is so photogenic that it is hard to believe. I think this picture is something special. I like how the diffuse wings cover the Lammergeier so you can´t see the complete face of the bird. It gives room for imagination and if you don´t know how a Bearded Vulture looks like then check it up.

A goal in mind

I have now set myself a goal and that is to get good photos of the Bearded Vulture flying up in the mountains of either the Pyrenees or the Drakensberg. I know of at least three places in Spain and two in South Africa that would give me great opportunities to photo the Bearded Vulture up in the high mountains.

My ambition is to managed with this project within next year. I need to check for the best possible period to do it and then decide upon Spain or South Africa. Spain is close and familiar, but I think I will get more interesting pictures from South Africa of not just the Lammergeier.

I hope you can enjoy my first picture of a Bearded Vulture until I get my next opportunity to photo this beautiful bird.