Beautiful Night Sky over the Bay

I am on the verge to go on a month-long trip to South America but wanted to share some of my new night images taken during the last month.  I will travel overland in Patagonia visiting glaciers and rugged mountains before ending up at the Magellan Street where I will explore the waters and marine life on a small boat for another week.

Moon-rise over Bay Bridge

The first full moon in the year is called the wolf moon and legend has it the ancient people named is such since hungry wolves could be heard more in the winter time the food sources scarce in January and more howling to be heard through the cold nights.

So it was the Wolf Moon that I captured last weekend over the Bay in the above time lapse video.  The images were captured over almost 2 hours and while my camera was working I connected with many photographers who were out on the Embarcadero photographing the raising moon.  Although cold, it was a beautiful evening.

The winter months are excellent for night sky photography since the sun sets early and the twilight is beautiful.  The sky is much clearer in the winter without the fog rolling in as is so often the case in the summer months.  However, finding ‘dark’ sky not polluted by the city lights can be a challenge.  So I spent many cold evenings and nights ‘out there’ capturing the night sky for star trails and time-lapse videos exploring various locations.  I found that even over the heavily lit Bay Area one can get interesting images despite the city lights and the heavy airline traffic streaking over the sky. 

Enjoy the sampling of last month’s images:

Star Trails and Sky Art over the Baylands and the Duck Pond

Twilight over the Ocean near Pescadero

Heavy airline traffic out of San Francisco Airport

A gorgeous but very cold night at Mount Hamilton

Looking South towards San Jose with its air traffic.

Beautiful Star Trails over Golden Gate

Pigeon Point Lighthouse -  a beacon against the night

It's raining stars above Golden Gate

... and last but not least, the stars right over my home, captured right from my balcony in Palo Alto.

I marvel at what the camera can see when our eyes only pick out a couple of stars.

For right now, I am off to new horizons again - but I know that I will continue to explore the night sky and my new-found nightlife further.

So long,

and til next time,

Meggi

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Upcoming Photo Workshops:

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things 
you didn't do than by the ones you did do.
Explore. Dream. Discover.
~ Mark Twain~

Copyrigth M. Raeder-Photography

See Tahoe Through the Eyes of Renowned Fine Art Photographer Jon Paul Spring is a beautiful time in Tahoe and Hope Valley – Explore Tahoe’s hidden places with renowned Tahoe Fine Art Photographer Jon Paul, owner of the Jon Paul Gallery and Wildlife Photographer Meggi Raeder. Date: May 3-6, 2013 Early Bird Registration til Jan 15, 2013 Pl see all details here.

Amur Leopard                  ©M. Raeder-Photography

Spring Wildlife: Cubs, Pups and Kittens Wildlife Photography at its Best An amazing opportunity to photograph wildlife babies:  wolf pups, fox kittens, lynx kittens, Badger pups and more! Come face-to-face with these wonderful babies! Date:  June 28-July 1,  2013 Optional Activities June 25-27, 2013 For further details pl click here.

In the News: Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage

‎'The Miracle that is Murera' 

is a testament to the superior care of the most iconic 

orphan sanctuary in the world, 

The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust 

This is another heart-warming story from the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya.  I have written about the work they do to save and reintroduce elephants back into the wild in Tsavo National Park in November 2012,  July 2012, and about my visit in January 13, 2011.

When I was in Africa in 2011, I visited the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage in Nairobi – a wonderful compassionate place for orphaned elephant babies and youngsters that are rehabilitated to be released into the wild into an established herd in Tsavo East National Park, Kenya.  I visited an adjacent park, Amboseli, on my safari and experienced for the first time elephants in the wild, big herds of adults, youngsters and babies – a precious sight to see.

 

 

 

http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/

Today's story describes the rescue and incredible rehabilitation of a 2 year old baby elephant Murera found with wounds and incredible pain, and the courage and victory - beating the incredible odds against her.

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Miracle MURERA. She came to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trusts Nursery wracked with pain and few believed she would ever heal and lead a normal life again.

A man called Piers Winkworth made it his business to rescue this calf who had been observed in a desperate state in Meru National Park for some time. He called the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, and forwarded photographs of her to ensure that she was able to be rescued, for she was clearly over two years old already with ivory showing through her top lip. Having sought KWS permission, our team now on the ground in Meru National Park, she was captured and airlifted to Nairobi arriving 8.00pm at night on the 21st of February 2012.



  


The next day the extent of her agony and wounds was all too evident. With heavy hearts it was hard to believe that there would be a happy outcome, her hind legs terribly damaged, one broken and the other suppurating with poisoned wounds. Her forehead was etched in wrinkled pain, and her body constantly contorted to give some relief from the trauma felt throughout her hind quarters.

For the Keepers to be on MURERA duty over the weeks and months was torturous, for no-one liked to have to witness her discomfort without the ability to offer her respite from it. The vets gave her little chance of recovery, but we believed in time - for over the years we have learnt about the incredible healing powers of elephants.


  


And so it was slowly, slowly, MURERA worked towards rebuilding her life. For months she remained solo in the forest browsing with little Orwa as company and her Keepers close at hand. Her pain was still evident for all to see and her back limb swollen and useless. The foot with the poisoned spike wounds healed over time thanks to the Green Clay applied daily and diligently.

Weeks turned into many months and with the help of turmeric in every milk feed the inflammation and swelling subsided, and her mobility began to come back. Still by July she needed to squat frequently to relieve the pain, and this was now four months later. But it was evident that MURERA was a very special elephant indeed, not that we needed further proof of this for her fighting spirit and courage had touched many peoples hearts by now, but she slowly emerged from her self inflicted isolation to fraternize with the Nursery orphans, with a special friend in SONJE, and this was the moment that we all realized that the struggle to heal MURERA had not been in vain.
  


The useless hind limb that for so many months she had just dragged behind her could now be used in a viable way, and her hollow cheeks began to fill as her condition returned, and best of all she began to play. Six months after this broken elephant arrived at our Nursery there was clear evidence that MURERA was indeed going to live a normal and one day wild life once more.

She began to take charge of the unit as the oldest elephant in the Nursery and even began to nurture the young babies. Ten months in our care now and her movement continues to improve and MURERA is pain free. She is a dignified, serene, and above all heroic elephant who has had to live through unspeakable agony at the hands of man. Yet she has been able to rebuild her life thanks to the second chance she was given by those compassionate people who initiated her rescue, the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Keepers who have tenderly treated her through such difficult times sometimes almost too hard to witness, and a global public who have fostered MURERA throughout the year providing the vital financial support needed for her care.

She has shown her gratitude over and over again through her exuberance for life having beaten the odds. We marvel daily at the Miracle that is MURERA.


  

Latest Updates on MURERA:

• 12/14/2012 - The Miracle that is Murera
• 6/11/2012 - Murera's progress at the Nairobi Nursery
• 2/21/2012 - The Rescue of Murera

To foster MURERA please click here.

 

http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/

Til next time,

Meggi

Yellowstone-Teton Video

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Video by Scott McKinley

Watching this beautiful video only strengthens my believe that we must put our efforts 

to preserve all nature around us, must fight against the forces 

that are callous and don't care whether the planet is diminished 

only for the good of mankind.

This short video won Grand Prize - Best of Show at International Wildlife Film Festival 

in Missoula Montana! 

Published on May 5, 2012

Video by Scott Mckinley Productions, Produced for Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation for Ad campaign. Licensed music by Kenny G.. This short video won Best of Category at the International Wildlife Film Festival in Missoula Montana! The majority was shot on location in Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park and The National Elk Refuge in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

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I hope you enjoyed this journey to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons - 

Majestic places in all seasons around the year.

Please join me in my upcoming Photo Workshops:

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things 

you didn't do than by the ones you did do.

Explore. Dream. Discover.

~ Mark Twain~

Copyrigth M. Raeder-Photography

See Tahoe Through the Eyes of Renowned Fine Art Photographer Jon Paul Spring is a beautiful time in Tahoe and Hope Valley – Explore Tahoe’s hidden places with renowned Tahoe Fine Art Photographer Jon Paul, owner of the Jon Paul Gallery and Wildlife Photographer Meggi Raeder. Date: May 3-6, 2013 Early Bird Registration til Jan 15, 2013 Pl see all details here.

Amur Leopard                  ©M. Raeder-Photography

Spring Wildlife: Cubs, Pups and Kittens Wildlife Photography at its Best An amazing opportunity to photograph wildlife babies:  wolf pups, fox kittens, lynx kittens, Badger pups and more! Come face-to-face with these wonderful babies! Date:  June 28-July 1,  2013 Optional Activities June 25-27, 2013 For further details pl click here.

Til next time,
Meggi

New Photo Book: Wildlife Babies

Wildlife Babies - new Photo Book and e-Book

As many of you know, last year I traveled to Montana twice to photograph wildlife in their natural settings.

I first went there in the winter with snow on the ground, ice on ponds and a cold bite in the air.  However, the arctic wolves loved playing on the ice on the ponds, the coyotes ran with joy and only left snow dust behind,  the red fox in its thick winter coat looked stunningly beautiful and he too enjoyed playing on the icy pond.  The thick winter coats of all animals were beautiful, and seeing the grey wolves roaming in through the birch forest was a one-of-a-kind experience.

Several months later I returned in the Spring season, the season of pups, cubs and kittens.  Watching the bobcat kittens play in the fresh green grass, observing a 7 months old black bear splashing in the water with delight, seeing a 2 months old Amur leopard, the rarest of leopards, try to master the rocky slope hillside, and enjoying the little snow leopard, also 2 months old, as he explored the unfamiliar world filled me with awe.  You can read more about the rare Amur leopard in my September blog here.

I delighted in capturing these wonderful animals 'on film' and brought back hundreds of beautiful images.  I just finished to put the best of the collection into my new Wildlife Babies Photo Book.  It has been published and is available online from MagCloud Publishing as the softcover second edition.  This book has been printed in the US.


You can check it out on the link below. Both a paper copy of the book and an e-book version are available for purchase.

                 

     

                Wildlife Babies     

   

      This book presents nature photography of wildlife babies, kittens and young animals in a natural setting.     

   

                       

This summer, I am offering another Photo Workshop in Kalispell, Montana, at the Triple D Ranch.  I invite you to join me for fantastic wildlife photography.  I just saw an image of the now 8 months old Amur leopard, a strapping young animal, and I can't wait to see him again in the summer time.  

Amur Leopard                  ©M. Raeder-Photography

Spring Wildlife: Cubs, Pups and Kittens Wildlife Photography at its Best An amazing opportunity to photograph wildlife babies:  wolf pups, fox kittens, lynx kittens, Badger pups and more! Come face-to-face with these wonderful babies! Date:  June 28-July 1,  2013 Optional Activities June 25-27, 2013 For further details pl click here.

Hope to see you this summer in Montana or at one of my other Photo Workshops.

Til then, I wish you all the best and keep shooting,

Meggi

In the News:Lion & Croc fight

In the News:

Lion & Crocodile Fight over impala kill 

at Zungulila Bushcamp

The Bushcamp Company - Zambia / Published October 02, 2012 11:39 AM

Click link here:
http://www.safarious.com/en/posts/2533-lion-amp-crocodile-fight-over-impala-kill-at-zungulila-bushcamp

At the end of September 2012, the 'Kapamba Pride' killed an impala right infront of tent 2 at Zungulila Bushcamp, interrupting the guests' breakfast. The hungry lions - two females and five cubs (regular visitors to the plain infront of camp this season) - were so engrossed in their meal, that it took them a while to realise that they had an uninvited table guest.... the huge crocodile that lives in the stream infront of camp had smelt it's opportunity and decided to try it's luck at grabbing a piece of the action... the video speaks for itself.... enjoy...!

http://www.bushcampcompany.com/bushcamps/zungulila.php

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I hope you clicked on the link and watched this remarkable 1-minute video of the Lion and her 5 cubs defending their meal.  In the end the big crocodile did get a share of the kill with all the lions looking on.

Til next time, Meggi

Arctic Drilling

Please take action and speak out against Arctic Drilling.

The recent examples of near mishaps are warning signs 

that should not be ignored.

Another Reminder of the Dangers of Arctic Drilling -- Take Action

From:  http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/

As if we needed another reminder of the dangers of Arctic drilling: On New Year's Eve, Shell's drillship Kulluk broke from her towlines and ran aground in Alaska's Kodiak Bay, en route from the Arctic to Seattle. The rig, carrying about 150,000 gallons of fuel and lubricant, remained stranded in rough, treacherous waters for a week until it was finally pulled free and taken to safety.

The Obama administration on Tuesday rightly ordered a full review of all operations connected with Shell's Arctic project, which has been beset by mishaps over the past several months. But the larger lesson shouldn't be ignored: Drilling for oil in the Arctic, with its hurricane-force winds and forbidding ice, is fraught with massive risk. A spill would be nearly impossible to clean up, and many of the Arctic's wild animals, like polar bears and ice seals, are already struggling to survive in the face of a warming climate.

Read this Huffington Post op-ed by the Center for Biological Diversity's Miyoko Sakashita and then speak out against Arctic drilling.

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The Huffington Post, January 2, 2013

Arctic Drilling Proves Dangerous Again

By Miyoko Sakashita

I couldn't help but wonder this week as Coast Guard crews braved Alaska's dangerous seas to regain control of Shell's drilling rig and evacuate its crew: Why is our federal government bending over backwards to let Shell drill for oil in the Arctic Ocean?

This week's incident with the Kulluk in the Gulf of Alaska was yet another frightening reminder of just how unruly Alaskan waters can be. Even farther north it's not unusual for the Arctic's ice-choked waters to have 20- to 30-foot swells, pervasive fog and sudden storms. These waters can never be made safe for oil drilling. The conditions are dangerous and risky, and an oil spill in the Arctic would be devastating. Not only are people at risk but the Arctic Ocean is also home to polar bears, whales and rich biological diversity that would be destroyed along with the Native Alaskan communities that depend on the ocean for their subsistence.

Although the Obama administration has approved Shell's drilling plans, it seems pretty clear they're not ready to handle the harsh Arctic environment. The Kulluk breaking free from its tow lines the other day is just the most recent in a series of Arctic drilling follies. In July 2012 Shell's other drilling rig, the Noble Discoverer, slipped its anchor and nearly ran aground in Alaska's Dutch Harbor. And in a separate incident, during testing, Shell's oil spill response vessel dropped its containment dome, which crushed it like a beer can. Shell has also had difficulty meeting standards for its oil spill response vessel, its air permits and its drill rig.

Despite failing to prove readiness for Arctic drilling, the Obama administration has practically ushered Shell into the Arctic as part of the president's "all of the above" strategy -- even on the heels of the catastrophic BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Drilling for oil in the Arctic Ocean can never be made safe -- that much was made abundantly clear with the incident with the Kulluk -- and we should leave well enough alone. The Far North is one of the last remaining, truly wild places on Earth, too untamed to be industrialized, too precious and fragile to risk catastrophe.

Copyright © 2013 TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc.

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We all have just one voice, but together we have influence and can be heard.
Please sign the Center of BioDiversity Petition.

Til next time,
Meggi

2013

Namaste!

May there be peace and respect for all 

with whom we are sharing our blue planet.

Meggi