As promised, here is another set of East African aerials. These were all taken over Lake Natron just across the Kenyan border in Tanzania. I have flown many times over Natron and it has to be one of the world’s most surreal landscapes often resembling the surface of another planet. Usually there is only a little water on the lake with large patches devoid of any moisture, the result of evaporation under furnace like temperatures. This leaves behind a lake bed comprising a brittle crust of various sodium compounds overlaying thick, gooey mud.
The last two years have seen abnormally high rainfall in most of East Africa with water levels on Natron at high levels. A lack of algae concentrations caused by the high water has meant reduced Flamingo numbers. However, even after just a few days without rain, the evaporation process had begun in earnest with dramatic trails of sodium compounds on the lake surface.
Anyway, i’ll stop my naturalist waffle and let you enjoy the images. Most of them probably won’t have much sale value, but I like them and I guess that’s what matters!
Aerial view of a small group of Lesser Flamingos flying over lake with evaporated sodium compound trails on lake surface, Lake Natron, Tanzania, Canon 5D MK3, Canon 24-105mm lens @70mm, handheld, f4, 1/4,000 sec, ISO 400, AV at -1/3
Aerial view of trails of evaporated sodium compounds on lake surface, beside river delta, Lake Natron, Tanzania, Canon 1D MK4, Canon 24-105mm lens @96mm, handheld 1/5,000 sec, f4, ISO 400, AV at -1/3
Aerial view of algae slick and evaporated sodium compound trails on the surface of Lake Natron, Tanzania, Canon 5D MK3, Canon 24-105mm f4 IS lens @28mm, handheld, 1/1,600th sec,f4, ISO 400, AV at -1
Aerial view of evaporated sodium compound trails on the surface of Lake Natron, Tanzania, Canon 5D MK3, Canon-24-105mm f4 IS lens, handheld, 1/6,400 sec, f4, ISO 400, AV a t-1
Aerial view of evaporated sodium compound trails at lake shore, Lake Natron, Tanzania, Canon 5D MK3, Canon 24-105mm, f4 IS lens @88mm, handheld, 1/1,600 sec, f4, ISO 400, AV at 0
Aerial view of evaporated sodium compounds on lake shore and lake surface, Lake Natron, Tanzania, Canon 5D MK5, Canon-24-105mm f4 IS lens @105mm, 1/2,000 sec, f4, ISO 400, AV at 0
Aerial view of lake bed covered by shallow water and evaporated sodium compounds, Lake Natron, Tanzania, 5D MK3, Canon 24-105mm f4 IS lens @73mm, handheld, 1/1,000sec, f4, ISO, AV at 0
Aerial view of lake shore made up of sodium compounds, Lake Natron, Tanzania, Canon 5D MK3, Canon 24-105mm, f4 IS lens @105mm, handheld, 1/2,000 sec, f4, ISO 400, AV at 0
Aerial view of Lesser Flamingos flying over lake shore at Lake Natron, Tanzania, Canon 5D MK3, Canon 24-105mm f4 IS lens @65mm, handheld,1/4,000sec, f4, ISO 400, AV at -1/3
Aerial view of Lesser Flamingos flying over lake shore with evaporated sodium compound trails on lake surface, Lake Natron, Tanzania, Canon 5D MK3,Canon 24-105mm, f4, IS lens @105mm, handheld, 1/5,000 sec, f4, ISO 400, AV -1 & 1/3
Evaporated sodium compound trails on the surface of Lake Natron beside lake shore, Tanzania, Canon 5D MK3, Canon 24-105mm f4 IS lens @47mm, handheld, 1/2,500 sec, f4, ISO 400, AV at 0
Aerial view of Lesser Flamingos beside the lake shore delta of Lake Natron, Tanzania, Canon 1D MK4, Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS lens @70mm, handheld, 1/2,000 sec, f4, ISO 500, AV at -1
Aerial view of Lesser Flamingos flying over shallow water with cloud reflections next to lake shore, Lake Natron, Tanzania, Canon 5D, MK3 Canon 24-105mm f4 IS lens @105mm, handheld, 1/2,000sec, f4, ISO 400, AV -2/3
Aerial view of Lesser Flamingos flying over lake near the shore with evaporated sodium compounds on lake surface, Lake Natron, Tanzania, Canon 5D MK3, Canon-24-105mm f4 IS lens @ 67mm, handheld, 1/8,000 sec, f4, ISO 400, AV at -1 & 1/3
Andy Diamond
February 3, 2013
Fascinating, as always, Paul. Would be interesting to know roughly what altitude you were flying each shot?
Paul Mckenzie
February 4, 2013
Hi Andy. Hard to know exactly what height we were at as it varies but never that low, ie always at least a couple of hundred meters. The reasons for not flying low are twofold: 1) The closer you are to the ground, the faster the perceived speed over the ground and the harder it is to take a sharp image; 2) we don’t want to fly too low in order to avoid excessive disturbance of the flamingos.
Ko, kam po
February 3, 2013
Thank you Paul for sharing these rare shots.
I like those images with inclusion of Lesser Flamingos
as these help to give a proportion of perspectives.
Some look like modern art paintings.
I adore that.
Paul Mckenzie
February 4, 2013
Hi there, yes I agree on trying to include Flamingos in the image to give a sense of perspective. Not that easy this time around because there simply weren’t that many Flamingos on and around the lake.
Beryl McKenzie
February 3, 2013
Very artistic photos. Some like abstract paintings. Would like to know what altitude you were flying at, also.
simon harris
February 4, 2013
Yes, they look like they’ve been shot from space! Nice work, Paul.
Nicole
February 4, 2013
Lesser Flamingos … don’t their feelings get hurt when you call them that? And what about the Greater Flamingos? Do they have larger beaks or wingspans?
Your pics as usual, are astounding. I don’t know how you do it. You make nature look like works of art.
Paul Mckenzie
February 4, 2013
Ha ha. Actually the Greater Flamingos are larger and prettier than the Lesser variety. They have more colour and a pink bill vs a brownish one the Lessers so I guess whoever named them sort of got it right.
Gordon Lindsay
February 4, 2013
Very nice abstract views Paul
Paul Mckenzie
February 4, 2013
Thanks for again for stopping by to comment Gordon. Much appreciated.
Deborah Woodley
February 4, 2013
Paul,
Absolutely stunning images.
Paul Mckenzie
February 5, 2013
Many thanks for your kind words Deborah. Best regards, Paul
Denise Ippolito
February 5, 2013
Paul, These are all amazing, I hope to get a chance at these someday.
Paul Mckenzie
February 5, 2013
Thanks Denise. Have been enjoying your blog. Regards, Paul