I was interested in what these new early season or late season hunts dependent on how you look at it would look like in Masailand. It would seem that they are just fine. I personally was surprised that leopards readily came to bait eventhough there was lots new born game about.


The hunters is sitting back a bit but regardless that is toad of a leopard.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albu...ilandFeb12.jpg[/IMG]

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Man, oh man!

Some very nice trophies!

What are the temps like this time of year Mark? I know it is warm in southern Africa but I see a couple of jackets. And some lovely trophies by the way.

I just got back. As to the temperarture, it depends on the rains. If its raining or cloudy its probably in the 70's, except early morning when it was a bit cooler. Needed a jacket on the back of the car in the mornings, but it usually warmed up by mid morning. If it wasn't cloudy or raining it was pretty hot when not in the shade.

Russell,

I think it is not super hot like Oct/Nov in Zim but there is of course some hunidity which could make it sticky.

Mark

Those are a couple of great Masailand buff.

Those are some great trophies! Those leopards are huge through the necks and the buffs are what dreams are made of!

Hi Mark,

Nice trophies. Not the best pics.

I honestly do not understand why anyone would pose away from their trophy; it is so not appropriate and certainly doesn't fool any of us who know the animals. Like some of the hunters in other pics in your thread, I always like to place a hand on the animal. It provides proper perspective and can be done unobtrusively. Sitting up near the head makes a much more attractive pic than being somewhere seated two yards behind the animals butt.

I've often wondered if the PH taking the pic directs the client to a "rear" position, but have never had a PH try to direct me in such a manner, rather only to adjust the position of the trophy head for best exposure. Oh, and if you don't want to remove your hat, at least push it back on your head so that someday your grandkids will recognize you in the pic. Remember, the sun should be behind the guy with the camera.

Perhaps others would like to comment on this picture posing issue. Or not.

quote:

I just got back.

Thanks for the info guys... and Lavaca, hope to see a Hunt Report soon!

Those are fabulous trophies!

quote:

Originally posted by bwanamrm:

quote:

I just got back.

Thanks for the info guys... and Lavaca, hope to see a Hunt Report soon!

+1

I'll be there in Feb of 2014 and I want to hear all about it!

Lion Hunter,

You know when I go back through my trophy pix some of them are really terrible. I think the excitement of the moment is apt to make you not so careful about the posing etc. I would bet the guy with the leopard didn't give a thought to where he was sitting. You should have seen the pic before I cropped it. I seriously doubt there was any intent to deceive.

Mark

Hey Mark,

Yeah, I wasn't intending to dis any of the hunters in the pics.

There has been lots written on how to, and how not to, take trophy photos. And most of the writers were more qualified than I to comment. But I do know about framing, light and background. I always take pics of my hunting companions with their trophies. It really doesn't take a lot of effort for a PH to learn to take decent photos, and it IS part of their job.

Sometimes the photos may be all that the client has to remember the safari. Think of the recent trophy warehouse fire. In my case, I haven't imported any trophy, other than two world records, in 7 years. Not the 43" buff from Mozambique nor the hide from my tuskless Ele in Zim. I take pics and have a video made and that's all I need/want anymore.

BTW, with todays digital cameras providing the ability to immediately view the pic, dump it and re-shoot it if no good, there is no longer any excuse for poor trophy photos.

LionHunter,

I agree that the photographs sometimes offer up a better memory of the hunt than the mounted trophy. I also agree about the digital cameras. They are excellent and way easy to use. With a little instruction we had one of our trackers taking some nice photos on a recent safari with my pocket camera.

Mark

Almost every digital camera has a small flash built into the body (some pop up) and if used will easily "fill-in" the light under the bill of the cap. It's actually better not to have the sun at the photgrpaher's back as it makes the subjects squint -- shoot trophy pics with the sun behind the hunter and use the little flash -- the use doesn't take any special abiltiy except how to turn it on.