Karine Ardault

Cheetah walking away

This is the print I was taking about yesterday. I am really happy with it!

It has been framed. it is in the living room now    :-)

I am back...

• after the crazy hours at work
• after the internet down
• after hotmail down for a LONG time
• after getting some sleep
• (and after going for groceries this morning!)

I AM BACK!

The last few weeks have been crazy and going so fast. It is almost December! I cannot believe it!

I have to catch up with e-mails....

This morning I saw the most beautiful chest ever - US$ 850... I may pass on this one... but it is so beautiful: a big storage area in the back and the front is made of many drawers... 12 maybe. All in old wood.

Been working on my pictures! I have a few frames to play with. I have just printed a big one (A3+). This new printer makes me want to print and print. I have a few frames at home still waiting to be used... hee hee. cannot wait!

Yesterday we went to a painting exhibition. The painter, Louise Hill, lives in Arusha. She uses a lot watercolors. I really likes what she does. Many of the paintings were sold right away. If you look at her site you will know why!

Love birds

Fischer's Love birds. They are amazing little and very colorful  birds. The Ndutu lodge fills a little pool near the restaurant area and they come, along with other birds to drink and take a bath.

They are amazing but very difficult to photography as they are constantly moving. It drives me nuts! In the end it is very difficult to have a sharp picture.

Lion

I love lions. This one is a beautiful male. Again in Ndutu. It was resting. I think it was stuffed as it had killed a buffalo a few days before. It was absolutely not paying attention to us and was just lying in the herbs near the marsh. Finally it got up and went for a drink.

After some times, the lion raises its head. Not much action happening but very interesting. It is quite close to the car but it still does not give a damn about us.

Finally, a quick look at us.

This lion looked very tired. It could not stop yawning. Guess it was because of the good meal he had just finished.

Finally some action: The lion gets up! Love those eyes!

Backlight photography

My stay at Ndutu was a great occasion to improve my photography skills. While Ben was working (i.e. having fun flying over Lengai!) I was on safari. I had great game drives. It was my second time seeing cheetahs. First time was in the Serengeti at Kogatende. We had a hard time seeing this cheetah but a few hours later, on that same day, we saw it again, under the exact same tree.

After some time the cheetah decided to get up and marked its territory by peeing on the tree. At the time the car stopped for the cheetah I was not very happy of where the driver decided to position the car tough this photo is great because of the backlight.

Elephant in the Mud

It has been a long time since I put a picture on my blog. I am going to put a few in the next few days.

so long

I have been super busy at work, spending most of my days in court and in my office. Not much time to play with my camera or with my art supplies. A shame! So I have been very busy, a bit sick and very tired. Though I am not doing that bad. so here are what happened in the past few weeks randomly.

1. A few weeks ago I was lucky to go with Ben to Ndutu for a few days while he was flying a filming crew for the BBC. It was a great time. I needed a break and it was just perfect. it was short, two days and a half but I enjoyed my time there. The game drives I made were very nice: cheetahs, bufallo, lion, serval, all kind of birds, leopard, bat eared fox, elephant, giraffe,...

2. The day before we had been to Lake Manyara National Park. Now I can say it: Lions climb in trees!! Lesson learnt that day: when you park your car under a tree, watch up and check if there is no lion in the tree especially if you plan to get out of the car and if your roof is open!

3. Out new printer arrived last wednesday. The customs did not make a fuss. Thanks guys! It works fine and we have been making a few prints. Love this printer! Have to try some A3 print later today.

4. Ben is away to Dar for a night stop. He is back tomorrow.

5. Some visitors are at home: one is a friend of Ben. The other one is the friend's friend. They are away on safari. They will be back tomorrow.

6. Muffin is fine. She is great as usual. Right now she is sleeping as usual!!!

7. I am tired. Will go to bed early.

8. Bought some old cameras. Need to find 620 film rolls for two of them.

9. Well, that it all for now!