Local_Guide photos on Flickr

All Photos Are Copyright To Paul Saad , Unauthorised Use Is Not Allowed Without Prior Permission. © Some rights reserved ©

Sitting Pretty by Shravan Sundaram

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Sitting Pretty - I think this little Bengal Fox easily wins the cutest animal of the trip award. The Bengal Fox is endemic to the Indian subcontinent and is found in a wide variety of habitats throughout the region. It is more slender than the Red Fox, with a bushier tail. This species actually reminded me of the totally unrelated new world Gray Fox in appearance.

We were fortunate to stumble upon a couple of these foxes right before sunrise. The pre-dawn light was beautiful and I quietly got out, lay down behind vehicle wheel, and was able to capture this low angle image of the fox sitting and watching us for a few moments.

Special thanks to Kartik Patel and a local guide for making this image possible. Their mental map and knowledge orienting within the vast salt flats/deserts of the Little Rann of Kutch region in western Gujarat is truly remarkable.

IG: @sswildlife

Species: Bengal Fox (Vulpes bengalensis)

Location: Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, IN

Equipment: Canon EOS R5 + EF 600mm IS II

Settings: 1/500s, ISO: 4000, f/4.5 @600mm, Handheld, Electronic Shutter

BLACK-WINGED STILT // HIMANTOPUS HIM ANTOPUS (38cm) by tom webzell

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GAMBIA TOUR // This first year winter bird, found at the local sewage treatment works, giving a noisy alarm call, as it took to flight. The heads become pure white, on adults, a migrant that does not breed in the Gambia. It was a amazing sight seeing them fly, so graceful

All birds found without tour or local Guides..

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THANK YOU, for visit and any comment, am visit wading through hundreds of images, please bare with me. ....Stay safe and God Bless...... ....Tomx

Long-whiskered Owlet (Endemic) by Bruno Conjeaud

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(Xenoglaux loweryi) B28I7151 Fundo de Alto Nieva - North Peru

Rare, local and poorly known; reported from only a few localities in humid montane forest in Amazonas and San Martin, 1900-2400 mt.

Endemic Tour in Peru : Guide Alex Durand alexdurand8bg@gmail.com

So hard to get this species : walking on a very dark night in a muddy and slipping mountain (myself falling many times) with a local guide, waiting hours under some rain falls and only 3 seconds for shooting : big challenge but finally we did it.

114 West Road, Sandton by Paul Saad

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A Dutch VOC defensive cannon at fort Marlborough by Adriansyah Putera

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This defensive cannon was made in 1874. One of well preserved cannons of the Dutch VOC colonial period in Bengkulu - Sumatra.

#cannon

Saydet El Arn 1900m above sea level, Lebanon by Paul Saad

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Regal Traveler by Shravan Sundaram

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Regal Traveler - The Eastern Imperial Eagle is a large eagle that that breeds in southeastern Europe and West/Central Asia. It is mostly a migratory species that winters in northeastern Africa, the Middle East and South/East Asia.

This particular individual was a very tolerant juvenile that gave us great looks. Golden Eagles are my favorite diurnal raptor, so it was great to see & photograph another species from the Aquila genus!

Special thanks to Kartik Patel and a local guide for making this image possible. Their mental map and knowledge orienting within the vast salt flats/deserts of the Little Rann of Kutch region in western Gujarat is truly remarkable.

IG: @sswildlife

Species: Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca)

Location: Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, IN

Date: Jan 2024

Equipment: Canon EOS R5 + EF 600mm IS II

Settings: 1/3200s, ISO: 200, f/5.6 @600mm, Electronic Shutter, Handheld w Beanbag Support

Saydet Hamatoura Monastry, Kousba Lebanon by Paul Saad

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Two lakes in the Naltar valley by MAQ Khan

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This shot wreck havoc actually. I seriously have a few claims to make. This picture has a context, an argument, a fight, a big STORY attached to it. This picture, before me, would only might have been shot from a drone or something, and I doubt that even. This shot is taken from an unusual rock edge, "THE ROCK OF NALTAR" as I gave it a name. Some __ meters above the third lake (Big one in the picture).

THE STORY

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YES I AM BEHAVING LIKE A DISCOVERER, CONSIDERING MY SELF A HERO, lol. But this is true. Usual viewers set their bags and tie their laces after visiting the third lake. And so were we supposed to do. Nothing beyond the lake perhaps. Or may be you circle the lake, which is definitely a very obvious choice. And yet down from their I see this edge (will upload the edge, my standing place in this pic later). I wanna go there.

"I WANT TO GO THERE", I cried.

"THAT IS NO PLACE TO VISIT", replied my guide.

"I STILL WANT TO GO THERE", insisting me.

"No sir we should circle the lake." My guide is in no mood.

"I WILL GO THERE", I have set the target.

"Sir lets go we have to cover alot of ground", my guide won't go.

"I AM GOING THERE, SEE YOU", My goal is very clear to me

"SIR I HEAR LANDSLIDING"

"WHAT ? I HEAR Nothing"......

............

..............

.............

I disobeyed him, Actually I should have, and I did. The local guide perhaps was afraid of snow leopards showing instantly and making thing worse. He tried his best to stop me, he was prettyu furious in the end. But what i achieved was something unexplainable, impossible to render with words.

Achievement, a scenery perhaps not sighted by any MAN before. I don't care the guide called me mad, and so many other words. Don't care if other people think the same. I really am the first man on that rock. and i am damn proud of it.

Common Potoo, Metropolitan Park, Panama City by Michael W. Potter

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This Common Potoo was in the Metropolitan Park in Panama City, a large protected area within that heavily urbanized city in Central America. I was lucky to see it thanks to a knowledgeable local guide with whom I visited the park. (There is some colour from its slightly open eye due to reflection from the flash I used in its shady setting.) This species occurs widely in South America, and as far north as Nicaragua in Central America.

Red Sunset by Paul Saad

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Jounieh At Sunset, Lebanon by Paul Saad

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Copperhead Snake, Tamar Island Wetlands by Ross Cunningham

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A copperhead snake. This little beauty was just beside the path. We could have easily walked past and not noticed it, but we had an experienced local guide who was quick to point it out.

Beirut Buildings by Paul Saad

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Sandton City, Johannesburg by Paul Saad

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All Photos Are Copyright To Paul Saad , Unauthorised Use Is Not Allowed Without Prior Permission. © Some rights reserved ©

Northern Potoo, Jamaica by Michael W. Potter

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This Northern Potoo blended in very well among the surrounding vegetation on its daytime roost in Jamaica. We were able to see it thanks to the knowledge of local guides who we went out birding with a couple of times. Despite the second part of the scientific name, this species is not restricted to Jamaica, being also found elsewhere in the Caribbean and in Central America and Mexico.

Tamandua-In-The-Canopy- by judylynn malloch

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We just returned from an incredibly exciting scouting trip to The Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica with the Out Of Costa Rica Staff. Their Wildlife Photography Conference is going to take place July 27th to August 3rd, 2019. They will have seven instructors that will be available for excellent help and guidance as well as many choices of workshops to choose from .

The beautiful Osa Peninsula is breathtaking and the the wonderful lodge where you will be working from is not only outstanding, but also has a great staff that is there to meet your every need. There is so much wildlife right on the property that you could spend days without ever leaving the grounds but there will be workshops leaving to various areas of the peninsula giving the photographer every possible opportunity .

The owners of the Crocodile Bay Resort have done an outstanding job catering to the needs of photographers and understand what their clients want to experience. Their local guides are very knowledgeable on all aspects of wildlife and nature and are always there to assist.

If you would like more info about this adventure go to costarica.outofchicago.com.

Benoni Lakeside, Johannesburg by Paul Saad

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Sunset Beach by Paul Saad

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Beirut From Broumana, Lebanon by Paul Saad

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Johannesburg City Centre From M1 South by Paul Saad

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Saydet El Hosn Church, Ehden by Paul Saad

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Beirut Marina by Paul Saad

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Thomas Parr Monument by Adriansyah Putera

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It's one of British reminders in Bengkulu. The monument was established in 1808 by British government as for the remembrance of the death of a British governor in Bengkulu, Thomas Parr. His administration of Bencoolen (now known as Bengkulu) was only from 1805 to 1807. He was killed at night by local fighters in 1807.

#tuguthomasparr #thomasparrmonument

The Blue Beauty by Dom Haughton

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The first evening in the Golden Circle came down to a straight fight between two waterfalls, both of which lay twenty odd miles from our base camp at Flúðir. To the north east lay the dramatic Gullfoss and its ninety degree bend down a narrow canyon. A textbook Icelandic monster with a powerful deep plunge that would surely take the breath away. Meanwhile, to the north west sat Brúarfoss, a subtle blue meltwater beauty quite unlike any other we’d see on this trip. And while Gullfoss would bring the challenge of trying to compose shots surrounded by large numbers of other visitors, we felt sure that it would be quieter at its rather more modest contender. And as long as we didn’t feel overwhelmed by the prospect of a two mile walk in either direction along the riverbank to get there, quieter seemed to be winning out. And of course, Brúarfoss would offer something rather different. Sadly we wouldn’t make it to Gullfoss this time around, but while there are still plenty of places to visit, there are lots of reasons to keep making plans.

Access to the waterfall had been improved relatively recently by the development of a brand new car park with space for around twenty vehicles to pull up right beside the River Brúará, from where it was a case of pulling on the welly boots and beginning the muddy yomp towards the main attraction. It was a walk that would take us past two support acts in the form of the unpronounceable Hlauptungufoss, and the appropriately named Miðfoss, both of which deserved attention in their own right - or at least they would have done if we’d got here earlier. In reminding myself of their names all these months later, I’ve come across a particularly fine shot of Miðfoss by one Pall Jokull Petursson on the page of the online satellite map. Pall is described as a local guide, level five, with eight hundred and forty points, whatever that means. Answers on a postcard please, but no points awarded for working out where he’s from with a name like that. He probably goes there during his lunch hour. Sadly, Pall isn’t a member of our community, but he’s already inspired me to return earlier in the day and have a proper look for myself.

The path was as mucky as you might expect it to be in Iceland in September. Too warm to freeze and turn into treachery, and too damp to make it anything other than a semi swamp, the welly boots proved to be essential on the two mile trail. Sometimes we would be wading through forty or fifty yards of glue like mud, eight inches deep, without any respite at all. But in wellies it was enormous fun, especially when meeting day trippers heading back towards their cars who’d failed to change out of their no longer pristine white trainers. And on this quiet trail through the autumn oranges and yellows of low brown scrub and willowy silver saplings, it was a very pleasant squelching stroll indeed. A space in which to chatter away about nothing in particular as the anticipation continued to build. Somewhere around the halfway point the path branched left towards the riverbank at Hlauptungufoss, from where we hugged the edge of the water all the way to our prize. And what a prize it was. As the bridge came into view, the last party was making their exit. We had the beautiful baby blue waterfall to ourselves.

Compositionally, being limited to the bridge, including on the alcove underneath the western side of it, was challenging. Ideally I’d have liked to have been able to get down closer to the water, and there is supposedly a scramble down to it, but I couldn’t find it. Perhaps it’s become overgrown or been blocked off deliberately to deter over-confident adventurers as it could be all too easy to disappear into that washing machine spin of a blue swirl in an unwary moment. So the bridge it was, which left us with zooming into the falls and zooming out to the bigger picture. Just to add to the challenges, all traces of texture left the sky. And if you’ve read the previous story from here, you’ll know that I was completely unaware of the fact that I’d spent the entire session in jpeg only mode. I won’t relive the sorry tale all over again. Suffice to say I’d love to return with a bit more time to spare, maybe in mid summer when the midnight sun should be hovering in just about the right place.

On the long walk back, we broke out the head torches, posing for phone snaps at Hlauptungufoss before trekking through the mud baths in near darkness. It had been a fun evening, despite the fact that I felt I might have done better. I’d have certainly done better if I’d been shooting in RAW mode. Oops, I wasn’t supposed to moan about that again was I?

Ehden At Sunset by Paul Saad

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Die Reiseleitung / The local guide by Horst Nielinger

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Inside Saint Charbel Church Karem Saddeh by Paul Saad

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Tannourine Village, Lebanon by Paul Saad

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All Photos Are Copyright To Paul Saad , Unauthorised Use Is Not Allowed Without Prior Permission. © Some rights reserved ©

Rendezvous at Dusk by Dom Haughton

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By now we were pretty much running on fumes. A long drive, four full days of intensive togging in the Peak District, followed by a hefty hop to the west and two blustery afternoons around the Mersey and Dee estuaries, and we were about done. It had been a very productive few days, but there was no denying that the collective spirit had sagged after so much adventuring. It’s not exactly as if we’re a bunch of young whippersnappers you know. By now, just one target remained, and we’d made arrangements to meet an esteemed local photographer, just to say hello and catch a few photographs together. Once again, the real magic of Flickr was amongst us, bringing like minded crazies together at the coast in the gathering darkness on a foul evening in this shared passion to photograph the hell out of the landscape. Our party arrived at the waterfront first. The night before, we’d agreed to postpone the rendezvous as a hellish cloudburst erupted over Merseyside and kept everyone indoors, and even now conditions remained challenging. For a while the three of us waited in the car, hiding from the terrible weather outside. I stepped out to breathe in the evening rain and inspect a billboard at the edge of the car park. Tribute acts galore. The Spicey Girls I wasn’t sure about. Bootleg Blondie looked rather more like it though. From the promotional picture, “Debbie Harry” looked almost exactly like Debbie Harry, which made for a far better photograph than any I was likely to take tonight. After a while we decided to brave it and explore the beach. Identifying us wasn't going to be that difficult for our local guide. Apart from anything else, we were the only people on the beach at all.

If Rebecca was shocked by the appearance of the group of ragged men she met by the walls of the fort at New Brighton, she covered it well. So did H for that matter. You know H - they’re an inseparable pair. And while H performed parkour (I checked the spelling to make sure I was still down with the kids) on the walls of the breakwater, we chatted to his mother about all matters landscape photography related and our adventures of the last few days. In fact Rebecca had been extremely generous with the local intel, sharing a number of additional locations as well as recommending which chippy we might want to try in West Kirby if we ever arrived there hungry. We were always hungry. With just two weary days here we barely had enough time for the locations we’d come to shoot, but you only have to look at her photos to see that there’s so much more in these parts. We shall return.

Ironic I suppose that we were here for that famous lighthouse, and I’m sharing a picture of Liverpool Docks instead. I was standing far too close to Perch Rock this evening, although I didn’t realise quite how skewed everything would look until I visited the editing suite much later. Even after a degree of faffing about in Lightroom it looks as if it’s about to topple backwards into the Irish Sea, and we don’t want that. Fortunately we returned the following morning with just enough time to take some more shots before heading home to Cornwall - but that’s another story. We’ll be back for that one soon enough. It was later, as we made yet another wholesale retreat from the advancing tide that the deep blues of the evening sky offset the reds of the huge cranes across the water on the dockside in Liverpool. Blues and reds in Liverpool - usually that means something else in these parts.

It’s not often that I’m attracted to what’s been put on the landscape by the human hand. Well apart from when it’s a lighthouse or an old tin mine for example. Or those statues on Crosby Beach where we’d been a little over twenty-four hours earlier. Generally speaking I prefer the natural world alone, but there’s something quite iconic about this view. My brother did his fine art degree somewhere across there many moons ago. It was the first time he’d ever been back this way. He’s a lifelong red. He’s quite enjoying life at the moment. I digress.

By now our friends had departed and we’d said our farewells - after all, tomorrow was another normal day for the rest of the world, while we remained at large with nowhere to go apart from a long way back to Cornwall. I did a quick roll call in my head the other day - that’s eleven of you I’ve met this year, and that excludes Dave and Lee who don’t count. It’s impressive how this place in the clouds brings us all together. Six days earlier we’d started the adventure in very much the same way as we were finishing here, making friends with fellow togs. And tomorrow I’ll be catching up with one of the famous eleven again. I’m sure another story is waiting to be told. Watch this space.

Randfontein Mine, Johannesburg by Paul Saad

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M/V "Sileas"....the eagle hunter by INNES

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The Sileas is a 52 ft ex-admiralty pinnace or harbour launch built in 1940 by James A. Silver Ltd. of Rosneath, Scotland. it's now commanded by Aly, a local Egyptian. Every Wednesday it comes down Loch Shiel to Acharacle jetty from Glenfinnan and does a lunchtime cruise to the Green (ancient burial) Isle. Passengers have a good chance of seeing White tailed sea eagles with an 8 foot wingspan on the one hour voyage (www.highlandcruises.co.uk)

Yesterday my son and daughter in law (with 4 month old) grandson were lucky. They didn't just see ONE sea eagle swoop in close and catch a fish. They had FIVE sea eagles in sight at the same time which I think must be a bit of a record!

Mind you they had a local guide on board, Peter Dale 01967 431 537, who reckons he can take you to any species that interests you: deer, otters, pine martens, seals, sea eagles, golden eagles, greenshanks...........beavers, wild boar, wolves, bears (nah...well yes, but you might have to go a bit further for those)

Panorama Street with Jacaranda Trees, Pretoria by Paul Saad

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Pretty unusual colour Agapanthus blooms galore by Viv.....

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Some species of Agapanthus are commonly known as lily of the Nile (or African lily in the UK), although they are not lilies and all of the species are native to Southern Africa (South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Mozambique) though some have become naturalized in scattered places around the world (Australia, Great Britain, Mexico, Ethiopia, Jamaica, etc.). Agapanthus is a genus of herbaceous perennials that mostly bloom in summer. The leaves are basal, curved, and linear, growing up to 60 cm long. They are rather leathery and arranged in two opposite rows. The plant has a mostly underground stem called a rhizome (like a ginger 'root') that is used as a storage organ. The roots, which grow out of the rhizome, are white, thick and fleshy. The inflorescence is a pseudo-umbel subtended by two large bracts at the apex of a long, erect scape, up to 2 m tall. They have funnel-shaped or tubular flowers, in hues of blue to purple, shading to white. 28594

Byblos Christmas Tree, Lebanon by Paul Saad

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Sunset At Byblos Beach by Paul Saad

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Hypnotic Gaze by Shravan Sundaram

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Hypnotic Gaze - Female leopard surveying her territory. I incorrectly assumed we were looking for Indian Eagle Owls at this time, so I had my 1.4x extender fixed, giving an 840mm field of view.

All of a sudden, my guide noticed a leopard right ahead resting up close. This leopard is known as Padma by the locals and had a kill nearby. Half her body was obscured in brush, so the long focal length actually became very handy as it allowed me to capture an intimate portrait showcasing her beautiful eyes and intricate facial patterns.

Special thanks to Kartik Patel and a local guide for their expertise tracking and anticipating the whereabouts of the leopards. This image would not be possible without them. Their passion, knowledge, and regional experience were truly inspiring and it was a humbling experience to learn more about how this species thrives in this region from them.

IG: @sswildlife

Species: Indian Leopard (Panthera pardus fusca)

Location: Jawai, Rajasthan, IN

Equipment: Canon EOS R5 + EF 600mm f/4 IS II + EF 1.4x III Extender

Settings: 1/320s, ISO: 320, f/6.3 @840mm, Electronic Shutter, Handheld w Beanbag Support

Our Lady Of Lebanon Harissa, Lebanon by Paul Saad

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West Street by Paul Saad

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Local Guide by pickled_newt

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Princess Petaca by David & Shiela Glatz

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We saw this wild female Puma (Puma concolor) as a cub in 2018. Her mother is called “Sarmiento” - her territory covers the area surrounding Lago Sarmiento, pictured in the background. This cat, called “Petaca” (little one) by local guides, surveys the heights bordering the lake. Apparently her mother has allowed her to hang in the territory, at least for now.

Our Lady Of Lebanon church Woodmead by Paul Saad

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Qartaba At Night {in Explore 07-07-2020} after a 3 years ban by Paul Saad

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[In Epxlore 07 July 2020]

If Looks Could Kill by Shravan Sundaram

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If Looks Could Kill - Indian Eagle-Owl surveys its territory from a rocky cliff. Check out those burning red eyes! This species was formerly considered a subspecies of the Eurasian Eagle-Owl. It is widespread throughout the Indian subcontinent and tends to favor cliffs for roosting & nesting. This was a dream species for me and I was very fortunate to be able to see several individuals including juveniles during the trip. Reminded me a lot of the related Great-horned Owls back home!

Special thanks to Kartik Patel and a local guide for their knowledge of this species and their whereabouts. They are so well camouflaged & far out, they look like tiny boulders!

IG: @sswildlife

Species: Indian Eagle-Owl (Bubo bengalensis)

Location: Rajasthan, IN

Date: Jan 2024

Equipment: Canon EOS R5 + EF 600mm IS II + EF 1.4x III Extender

Settings: 1/1250s, ISO: 1000, f/6.3 @840mm, Handheld, Electronic Shutter

Growing High, Nahr Ibrahim- Lebanon {Explore 14-08-2016} by Paul Saad

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[In Explore 14 August 2016]

Middelburg River, South Africa by Paul Saad

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