Club Meeting, 'My Dream Trip' - Tuesday 3rd December 2024.

                            

On Tuesday 3rd December, Morpeth Camera Club members met to welcome Paul Kidd, a club member and our
guest speaker for the evening with his talk entitled 'My Dream Trip'. This followed his trip to Kenya including time
spent in the Masai Mara, the famous large National Game Reserve in Southern Kenya bordering Tanzania and the
northern region of the Serengeti.

He opened the evening by saying that he had always been fascinated by wild animals, especially African animals
from being a child. Watching wildlife programmes on television, becoming a member of a camera club and seeing
a presentation of an African Safari he realised that was what he really wanted to do: to see these magnificent
animals in the wild and capture them with his camera.

Visiting the Masai Mara Game Reserve he described the accommodation, vehicle used, and the knowledgeable
driver/guide, stressing that a Photographic Safari was different from a standard trip in that they were all given
a window seat and were allowed time to sit, watch, to take it all in and most of all the opportunity to focus on
individual animals.

Paul talked about the Big Five, an expression used to name animals on the very vulnerable and endangered
species list; the lion, elephant, Cape buffalo, White Rhino and leopard. Explaining each animal in turn, he
described their behaviour, their hunting methods and predatory behaviour which were all beautifully illustrated
with intimate close-ups and environmental shots.

He followed on by describing the Masai people, how they live, the Elders responsibilities, dwelling interiors and
school life. We enjoyed seeing beautiful close-up images of the Cheetah, who, Paul said, tends to be the underdog
of cat species; birds of Mara included Ostrich, Secretary Bird, Marabou Storks, vultures, Superb Starlings, Lilac
Crested Roller and the Black Breasted Snake Eagle.

Images of the majestic Giraffe in its habitat of Acacia trees, Hyena portraits with prey, wallowing Hippos and
Crocodiles were followed by graceful Impala and Gazelle, Ostrich, Warthog, Monkeys with their young, jackals
wildebeest, mongeese, and zebra.

                                             

Concluding with humorous candid shots of his fellow travellers, Paul had effectively captured the atmosphere
of this environment and demonstrated his passion for wildlife. Club Chairman Peter Downs thanked him for
a presentation of beautiful photography after which refreshments were served.

Steph.