Next month sees the return of my Focus on the Wild exhibition to the gallery@oxo, on London’s Southbank. All profits from sales go to WWF UK & Hoopers Arica Trust.
The exhibition will be open to the public daily 11:00 -18.00 from Friday July 24th until Sunday August 16th.
If you are not currently on my mailing list and wish to be updated of forthcoming exhibitions, please email me at info@rogerhooper.co.uk
This week I returned to The Wetlands Centre in Barnes, South West London, one of my favourite places to visit when I have new equipment to test, or am just in need of escaping to somewhere peaceful. It is hard to believe that it is so close to the hustle and bustle of Central London.
I recently got my hands on the new Canon EF 100-400mm USM MK2, lens. The MK1 lens was one of the first I used for wildlife photography, before I could afford the 500mm, which then became my default lens for many years. The Canon 200-400 mm lens is now my favourite when in the field. However, there are times when the 200-400 or 500 lens is just too large and too heavy to carry. For times like that, the new 100-400 really is an excellent lens. With its 4 stop image stabiliser it can be hand held at far slower shutter speeds than would otherwise be possible. Its optics are better than the earlier model, and instead of the push/pull zoom of the MK1, it now rotates to zoom, which is far nicer to use. It combines well with the 1.4x converter, giving an effective 560 mm lens. I tested it with my Canon 1DX with and without the converter, at ISO speeds of up to 10,000 and the results were amazing.
These are a few images from my day:
I have just taken delivery of my largest commissioned print which is to be hung in an outside space. My lions in the ebony grove, which I photographed in Zambia, has been produced using a new weather resistant direct to media printing process by Genesis Imaging. The image is 3m wide x 1.5m high on brushed aluminium.
Direct to Media UV Printing is a large format, full colour ultra-fine inkjet printing process which allows artwork to be printed directly on to virtually any flat surface up to up to 3m x 2m and up to 60mm in depth, and is suitable for both interior and exterior display.
The ultra-fine droplets of ink are deposited directly on to the printing media which is then almost instantly cured, or dried by UV (ultraviolet) light. The specially developed ink droplets are bonded to the surface of the chosen media – giving a smooth, stable, abrasion resistant and long-lasting image.
I have often been asked by clients for images suitable to be hung outside, I am pleased that this process means that I can now offer this service.
There is link to Genesis Imaging on the right hand column under useful links.
An example below of my lions in the ebony grove image in a garden setting.
I enjoyed great weather, special sightings and wonderful sunsets on my recent trip to the Mara. I was fortunate enough to spend time with Malaika the cheetah and her four six month old cubs (she gave birth to six, but has sadly lost two) and Siri the leopard, with her seven month old male cub. An old male lion worked hard to fight off a pack of twenty-three hyenas and four young lions, who were keen on his buffalo kill.
It was good to feel the Kenyan sun on my back again. I am now starting to prepare for my summer exhibition at the Gallery@Oxo on London’s Southbank, which this year runs from July 24th to August 16th – more info nearer the time. Below are some images from the trip.
I am taking part in a joint Exhibition: Art for Art’s Sake, at Art Galleries Europe, 18 Maddox Street, Mayfair, London, W1S 1PL.
The exhibition runs from Monday December 1st to Saturday December 6th from 11 am to 7 pm daily.
I hope to see you there.
Roger
My exhibition at gallery@oxo, closed on Sunday July 6th, with more than 16,000 visitors. Thanks to all who visited and to those who helped make it such a great success.
I am looking forward to my return to the gallery@oxo
The show will commence with a private viewing on Thursday 12th June at 18:30 – 20:30
The exhibition will be open to the public daily 11:00 -18.00 from Friday June 13th 2014 until Sunday July 6th 2014.
If you are not currently on my mailing list or have not yet received an invitation and would like to attend the private viewing, please email me at info@rogerhooper.co.uk for an invite.
I have just returned from the Masai Mara where I was able to capture some interesting images, including a leopard who had an ingenious way of dealing with a ticklish ear. The leopard found a nice branch at a suitable height, stood up on her rear legs and rubbed her head against the branch with a very satisfied look on her face, see below.
A white hare was also an unusual sight, it is surprising she manages to survive, standing out to the predators like a sore thumb.
A few more images below, for a larger selection click here:
For a larger selection of images click here:
Last week I visited my friend Billy Taylor, who is resident falconer at Lainston House Hotel near Winchester and an ex-Hampshire cricketer! Billy has a number of wonderful birds, including a golden eagle and various owls, falcons and hawks. As well as having an opportunity to photograph some of his birds, we spent some time in the nearby fields, searching for hares. We managed to dodge some heavy rain showers and spot at least fifteen. We weren’t lucky enough to see what I was really hoping for, which was the hares boxing, but I was able to capture a few nice images. Below are some examples.
Billy with his Bengal Eagle Owl
Billy with his Bengal Eagle Owl
Billy and a guest with his Bengal Eagle Owl
Bengal Eagle Owl
Bengal Eagle Owl
Bengal Eagle Owl
Bengal Eagle Owl
Golden Eagle
Golden Eagle
Hare
I have recently returned from another exciting trip to the Masai Mara, where I enjoyed good weather and great game viewing. For the first time in many years I saw wild dogs in the Mara. Let’s hope this is the start of more frequent sightings! Attached are a few images from the trip, together with a link to more.
It was great to be able to spend some quality time with my good friend and guide Paul Kirui. There is no one with a more comprehensive knowledge of the Masai Mara and his ability to seek out the wildlife, especially the elusive leopard, is second to none. Congratulations are also in order, as Paul has recently been named one of Africa’s top 25 guides, along with Andrew “Stretch” Ferreira of Zimbabwe. I spent some time walking in the bush with Stretch, who is known as the “elephant whisperer” of Mana Pools, Zimbabwe. We walked close-up to bull elephants and prides of lion, which has to be one of the most amazing things I have experienced. There are few people I’d have trusted to get me so close on foot! Click on here for the full article.
Apart from being my dear friend and guide, Paul Kirui is also involved in another aspect of my life, as he is the Kenya Chairman of my charity, Hoopers Africa Trust, which educates vulnerable and underprivileged girls in Kenya. In January 2014 our 100th girl will enter the scheme. If you are interested in learning more about the charity, please visit the website: http://hoopersafricatrust.org
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year!
To view more more images from my latest trip click here