Category Archives: Nature Photography

Good afternoon on Friday, Aug. 11.

Here’s today’s top news:

1. More rain! It’s already showered a bit in Bluffton this afternoon, and the National Weather Service says we should expect more rain with possible isolated-to-scattered severe thunderstorms and brutal heat. Check out the weekend outlook here.

• The story above deals with the immediate, but what about looking a little longer into the future? The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration offers a forecast for the upcoming fall, which officially starts Sept. 23. If you like warmer temperatures and rainy weather, it will be good news. (Still better than snow, right? How’s that for looking at the bright side?)

2. A DNA match has led investigators to identify the remains found in a burned car Saturday as those of 49-year-old Clifford Lamont Jenkins, who had been missing since July. The Sheriff’s Office has ruled his death a homicide. Reporter Sebastian Lee shares this update.

3. A Yemassee man was killed in Jasper County after his truck struck a tree Thursday night, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

4. Whether you are a longtime resident or a curious vacationer, you might have a question or two about the Lowcountry, its history or wildlife or festivals or businesses. Reporter Sarah Claire McDonald has set up a way for you to ask these questions, and she’ll answer as many as she can. Find the form here.

A few statewide headlines to note:

Photo finish

Don Cooper of the Riverbend neighborhood of Sun City shared this photo of a tree frog seeking some relief from the heat in a flower. (At least, that’s what we imagine it is doing.)

Attention, photographers! Send in your pictures of Lowcountry scenes. Email [email protected], and please include your name and where you took the shot. Submitting a photo gives The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette permission to publish it.

If you’d like to receive this free newsletter via email on weekday afternoons, sign up at islandpacket.com/newsletters.

Thank you for reading!

Prince Ngwenya, [email protected]

Survivor Nyasulu, a wildlife photographer originating from a small rural town, has emerged as an inspiring figure in his community, mesmerising residents with his extraordinary talent and dedication to his craft.

Born and raised in Dete, He developed a profound connection with photography during his formative years in primary school. His passion for the art was ignited as he avidly watched wildlife documentaries on television.

In 2018, Survivor commenced his photography journey, initially experimenting with a friend’s camera before eventually acquiring his own in 2021. He purchased his first camera through a loan from China.

Survivor draws inspiration from esteemed wildlife photographers like Marlon Du Doit, Nick Dyer, and ShannonWild. Their work served as a catalyst for his own creative vision and development in the field of photography.

Living in close proximity to Hwange National Park, Survivor Nyasulu’s passion for capturing the beauty of nature grew exponentially.

He utilised his photography primarily to portray the harmonious coexistence between animals and humans, a theme that is relatively uncommon among photographers in Zimbabwe

Survivor’s exceptional photographs depicting rangers on patrol and the various challenges they face swiftly garnered recognition.

Rangers from a patrol carrying wire-snares, one of the threats to painted Dog survival.

His powerful images caught the attention of organizations such as Space for Giants and Citizen Bulletin, who chose to feature his work, further amplifying his impact and reach.

Driven by his deep love for nature, he found solace and purpose as a safari guide. He dedicated himself to making a positive impact by escorting tourists into the park and educating them about wildlife. His passion for sharing knowledge and fostering a connection between people and nature shines through in his role as a safari guide.

In addition to his multifaceted skills, Survivor Nyasulu also actively contributes to conservation efforts as a conservationist at Painted Dog Conservation. In this role, he actively participates in anti-poaching activities to protect wildlife. Furthermore, he showcases his versatility by working as a sports photographer for the Rhino Cup Champions League, capturing captivating moments of the sporting event.

Driven by passion, Survivor is among the few wildlife photographers in Zimbabwe to tell African stories.

“I am a photographer who wants to inspire more Zimbaweans to tell African stories, rather than having people abroad coming to Zimbabwe to document and film for us” he said.

Currently pursuing a degree in Film, Television, and Media Studies at Lupane State University, he established “Nature is Life,” a radio talk show on Skyz Metro FM. Through this platform, he endeavors to raise awareness about nature conservation and has even played a pivotal role in the recovery of two pangolins.

Although Survivor devotes much of his time to studies, he remains an inspiration to young people through his tireless efforts to teach children how to operate the camera and support those in need quickly garnered attention and admiration from his community.

Despite the demanding nature of his job, he indulges in his passion for photography, capturing the raw beauty of everyday life. His lens serves as a window into the world showcasing both the struggles and resilience of people around him.

Through his compassionate approach and unwavering commitment to nature, Survivor has transformed countless lives and his radio talk show has become one of the most listened to, via the web.

His photographs have inspired others to follow in his footsteps and contribute to the betterment of society.

He hopes to inspire more people to take part in nature photography and nature conservation and to get recognition beyond Zimbabwe.

Through his radio talk show, Nature is Life, he wishes to engage more stakeholders and get support to channel the programme further.

Survivor’s journey has not been without challenges. He faces the challenge of camera gear which sometimes prevents him from capturing images that are world-class. However, his resilience and unwavering belief in photography continue to fuel his determination, allowing him to overcome obstacles and emerge stronger.

The supermodel posed for a topless social media summer snap

Cindy Crawford is taking in the sights in a new Instagram post!

On Thursday, the supermodel, 57, shared a peek inside her “Lake life .” In a new upload, Crawford showed off the peaceful scenery near the water at an undisclosed location as she relaxed in a hot tub. The Meaningful Beauty entrepreneur tied her hair in a high bun in the topless photo.

Another photo in the carousel of images showed Crawford sitting in the sun with a striped blue, purple, and white button-down shirt and shades. Following the selfie came landscape appreciation posts of canoes beside the water and fresh berries in her hand.

The MTV House of Style alum recently set the internet ablaze when she starred in a music video centered around a viral song about margaritas.

Related: Cindy Crawford's 8 Most Iconic Pop Culture Moments

“Couldn’t stop laughing when I first heard this song – and had so much fun making a cameo in @thatchickangel’s music video,” Crawford said in an Aug. 1 upload of the track that took social media by storm. “The outrageous and campy lyrics make this the kind of summer song that reminds us not to take it all so seriously Cheers everybody.”

In the “One Margarita” (Margarita Song’s) music video, which features That Chick Angel and Saucy Santana enthusiastically explaining what might happen after a few cocktails, Crawford recreated her legendary 1992 Pepsi Super Bowl ad.

Both videos feature the model wearing denim cutoff shorts, a form-fitting white T-shirt, and her iconic brown tresses.

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For the 2023 version, Crawford nixed the cola for Casamigos, the tequila brand co-founded by her husband Rande Gerber. The two have been married for over two decades. On May 29, they celebrated 25 years of holy matrimony.

“25 years ago today, Rande and I got married at the Ocean Club in the Bahamas,” she said on social media at the time with a series of photos. “It was a picture perfect wedding all captured by @arthurelgort. We spent a beautiful weekend surrounded by family and friends celebrating our love for each other.” “I would do it all over again in a second,” she added.

In mid-June, the businessman, 61, spoke exclusively to PEOPLE about how they’ve managed to make their love last. “It’s important in relationships to remain friends,” he advised.

“Go out, have fun, laugh and try not to take life too seriously. Let loose and enjoy the time that we do have,” Gerber continued. In April 2020, Crawford reminisced about their early days as a couple. “Our first trip, 1994 @stephaniejcoffey put me up to the #firstdatechallenge… I think this counts!” the brunette captioned an old photo of them hugging while standing on a beach.

Crawford and Gerber share two children together, son Presley Gerber, 24, and daughter Kaia Gerber, 21. Kaia, who has followed in her mother’s model footsteps, gushed over the throwback photo of her parents. “This,” the Babylon talent wrote on a repost shared on her Instagram Story.

Related: Cindy Crawford to Walk in Rihanna's Savage X Fenty Vol. 3 Fashion Show: Get a First Look!

In 2017, the mother-daughter duo shared the runway for the first time in Versace’s spring show. Following the event, Crawford confessed to the Associated Press that walking with her daughter came as a surprise.

“I didn’t know my daughter was doing that show,” she revealed. “The models themselves don’t really get booked until the day before or two days before. And finally, Kaia got booked for it, and I said, ‘You know I’m doing that show, right?’ ”

“She’s like, ‘Wait, do we have to walk down together?’ I said, ‘No. I don’t even want to walk down with you. I’m going to walk down with the ladies that are my age. You can go with the girls that are your age,’ ” Crawford recalled.

Crawford also reunited with Carla Bruni, Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, and Helena Christensen for an iconic walk down the runway.

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CARLSBAD, CA — Patch reader and local photographer Ray E. Liles captured this photo during Art in the Village, a one-day, open-air art show in Carlsbad.

Thanks for sharing!

If you have an awesome picture of nature, breathtaking scenery, kids caught being kids, a pet doing something funny or something unusual you happen to catch with your camera, we’d love to feature it on Patch.

We’re looking for high-resolution, horizontal images that reflect the beauty that is San Diego County, and that show off your unique talents.

Send your photos to [email protected]. Be sure to include photo credit information, when and where the shot was taken, and any other details about what was going on.

The world’s largest cruise ship hasn’t welcomed a single passenger aboard yet, but it’s already set the internet on fire.

The Icon of the Seas — which recently completed its first set of sea trials in preparation for its maiden voyage in January 2024 — has amazing credentials: 1,198 feet long (316 feet longer than the Titanic), 159 feet wide, 20 total decks and a maximum capacity of almost 10,000 people including all passengers and crew.

But when an image of its stern section went viral in July, it polarized opinions, eliciting passionate reactions on all sides. The artist’s impression depicted the fully laden ship in vibrant colors, emphasizing its massive water park — featuring record-breaking water slides — and conveying the ship’s extraordinary size and density.

Not everyone interpreted it as a delightful vision of lavish fun and relaxation at sea. It got billed as a “monstrosity,” a “pile of decadence,” and one user suggested a better name for it would be “Icon of Disease.” It was called “intricately tacky and vulgar” and compared to “being stuck on a floating Walmart” or “a barely balanced stack of full plates of food; chaotic, messy, possibly precarious.”

Many juxtaposed it to visions of hell, with one commenter suggesting a parallel with Hieronymus Bosch, a Dutch Renaissance artist known for his intricate infernal landscapes. Another gave a more contemporary cultural reference, saying the ship looks like the Candy Crush version of the dystopian underground world in “Silo,” a TV show in which humanity survives the apocalypse by retreating to a subterranean city, hundreds of levels deep.

But what is it about the image that provokes such strong emotions?

A trick of perspective?

“I found the rendering oddly unusual as well,” Tom Davis, a professor of psychology at the University of Alabama, tells CNN. “After looking a bit more closely, I think I find the unsettling nature an interesting combination of the artistic perspective chosen and post-pandemic personal space/social distance training that’s been drilled into all of us.”

Story continues

Davis says the fact that this is a rendering, not an actual photograph, plays a crucial role. “It almost gives the impression of a short, over-tall, stacked vessel that is on choppy seas, but in reality this may be a trick of perspective, as the actual vessel is apparently three to four times longer than the idea I get by looking downward at the rendering. The images I’ve seen that are more in profile add a more reasonable, I think, sense of the height in context to the overall length.”

He adds that the reaction may be down to a lot of variables, including personal anxieties and phobias as well as personal experiences with resorts and cruises. “For some, a vessel this size with so much packed on it likely represents a lot of fun with ongoing activities and freedom from boredom. For others, they may have never been on a cruise and think this is too much to take in all at once,” he says.

“The choice will come down to one’s own experiences and personal makeup — are fears of social situations, the open water, small spaces a problem? Then this picture will trigger memories of everything from news stories of viruses to movies like ‘Jaws,’ ‘The Poseidon Adventure’ and ‘Titanic.’

“For others, their experiences with cruises and the numerous successful trips provide corrective information that leads them to view the situation differently.”

According to Adam Cox, a psychologist and phobia expert, the common description of the Icon of the Seas as “five times larger” than the Titanic may suggest the idea of a potentially larger disaster: “Even more so after the recent tragedy with the Titanic submarine,” he says. “This provokes a protective desire to prevent a similar tragedy.”

The levels on the ship also create a feeling of claustrophobia in some people, he continues, as they will perceive the ship to be a place where thousands are trapped, rather than enjoying a cruise holiday. “And for others, the candy colors make the ship seem like a toy, creating questions over safety that wouldn’t be there if the ship were in more neutral colors,” he adds.

Money maker

Jonathan Abramowitz, a psychologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, thinks the image comes across as quite harried and confusing: “Maybe it’s the idea of so much going on at once and the fact that it’s all taking place at sea, with nowhere to go if there was any sort of emergency.”

But Ross Klein, a sociologist at the Memorial University of Newfoundland and a cruise expert, says the ship’s design is a natural progression for Royal Caribbean, the Miami-based cruise line that owns the ship. “It is a bit comic-like, something with a mystical overtone. But it’s an extension of where they have been going in the past 25 years with their ship design.”

He believes the reactions are mostly based on previous experience with cruises. “I think the Royal Caribbean enthusiasts are going to look at this and go ‘Wow, something new! This is pretty exciting, I can’t wait to get out and see what’s going on there!,” he says.

“But the people who don’t cruise, or people who perhaps like a different style of cruising, such as smaller ships, ultra-luxury ships or the even something in between, they will see this as just a monstrosity and go, ‘Why would you ever do that?’”

Cruise expert Stewart Chiron agrees. “Images of Royal Caribbean’s ships have often elicited strong responses,” he tells CNN. “The negative responses to Icon of the Sea are evidently from non-cruisers. The current image is quite colorful and depicts a ship with lots of options. The positive responses far outweigh the others.”

A Royal Caribbean spokesperson, when contacted by CNN, did not comment on the feedback to this specific image, but said that since the Icon of the Seas was revealed in October 2022 there has been an “incredible reaction,” which has led to the highest volume booking week in the company’s history when sales opened.

With some sailings already sold out — and prices starting at around $2,000 per person for a seven-day cruise — the ship is likely to become a money-maker, according to Ross Klein. “Royal Caribbean is notable for exceeding 100% capacity on their ships. And part of that is they give people something to want to come on board for, and spend lots of money once they’re there,” he says.

“That ship’s gonna take in $10 million a week.”

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A snake in Israel discovered why porcupines aren’t a good part of a serpent’s diet, a photo shows.

The snake and porcupine both died when the reptile tried to rid itself of its now-unwanted meal, according to a Facebook post by the Nature and Gardens Authority.

A photo with the post shows the snake and its spiny prey dead near a dog park in the community of Shoham, the post said.

“It can be assumed that the snake tried to devour the porcupine and as soon as it decided to abandon its unusual meal, it realized the magnitude of its mistake,” reptile ecologist Aviad Bar said on Facebook, according to a translation by The Jerusalem Post.

But it was too late — the one-way direction of the porcupine’s protective quills prevented the snake from spitting it out, leaving both animals dead, Bar said on Facebook.

He identified the snake as a non-venomous member of the black whip snake species. Israel has 41 species of snakes and three species of porcupines, according to The Jerusalem Post.

Shoham is a community in central Israel about 15 miles southeast of Tel Aviv.

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OCEANSIDE, CA — Patch reader and local photographer Julie Gayle captured this photo at sunset in Oceanside.

Thanks for sharing!

If you have an awesome picture of nature, breathtaking scenery, kids caught being kids, a pet doing something funny or something unusual you happen to catch with your camera, we’d love to feature it on Patch.

We’re looking for high-resolution, horizontal images that reflect the beauty that is San Diego County, and that show off your unique talents.

Send your photos to [email protected]. Be sure to include photo credit information, when and where the shot was taken, and any other details about what was going on.