1 Ocak 2013 Salı

Can you spot the 'invisible animal'? Incredible images show nature's disappearing act when predators are near

To contact us Click HERE
Whether they are hunters or the hunted, these cunning animals are all masters of disguise who can fool even the most beady-eyed passer by into believing they are not there.
Some hide under lily pads, some dissolve into the bark of a tree while others slip seamlessly into the snow, either to hide from a hungry predator or silently stalk an unwitting prey.
But the one thing from which they cannot hide is the all-seeing camera lens of photographer Art Wolfe.
He has spent over 35 years roaming the deserts of Africa, the rainforests of South America, the mountains of the United States and snow plains of Canada to capture wildlife at its most invisible.
 It's white in front of you! A willow ptarmigan in winter plumage, hidden on a brushy slope near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. The animals are trying their utmost to fool predators but that's not enough to deceive international photographer Art WolfeIt's white in front of you! A willow ptarmigan in winter plumage, hidden on a brushy slope near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. The animals are trying their utmost to fool predators but that's not enough to deceive international photographer Art WolfeHe has travelled through every continent in the world in tireless pursuit of more subjects for his chef-d'oeuvre 'Vanishing Act' that dates back to the 1980s.
Art said: 'Throughout my career as a nature photographer, I have challenged myself to present new perspectives on well-documented subjects.
'Like most of my projects this collection has been a long time in the making.
 
'Finding and filming animals on location is an exhilarating and painstaking process. I'm still adding to the project even now.
'Conventional wildlife photography calls for isolating the subject by selective focus, this way the animal is clearly defined.
 Having a giraffe: A Giraffe in Transvaal, South Africa. Wolfe's 35-year career has spanned every continent as he has followed his passion for the environmentHaving a giraffe: A Giraffe in Transvaal, South Africa. Wolfe's 35-year career has spanned every continent as he has followed his passion for the environment
 Can't see the wolf from the trees: A wolf peering out from behind a tree trunk in an autumn Montana forestCan't see the wolf from the trees: A wolf peering out from behind a tree trunk in an autumn Montana forest
 Eye spy: A spectacled caiman in Llanos, Venezuela. Wolfe worked to make it visually challenging to the viewer by using depth of field, scale and placement and confusing the subjectEye spy: A spectacled caiman in Llanos, Venezuela. Wolfe works to make it visually challenging to the viewer by using depth of field, scale and placement and confusing the subject A Great Horned Owl uses colour and disruptive patterns in its plumage to disappear in a temperate forest in Oregons Malheur National Wildlife RefugeAn American Pika performing a vanishing act in the Cascade Range of Washington Cunning tricks: A Great Horned Owl uses colour in its plumage to disappear in a temperate forest in Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon, left, while an American Pika performs a vanishing act in the Cascade Range of Washington, right
 Leaf me alone: A Mealy or Blue-crowned parrot disappears like just another leaf in the lush Central American rainforest, Chan Chich, BelizeLeaf me alone: A Mealy or Blue-crowned parrot disappears like just another leaf in the lush Central American rainforest, Chan Chich, Belize'Photographers always want to show off their subject. And yet, is this really the way an animal is viewed by the human eye? Not quite.
'We don't have the isolating abilities that a telephoto lens provides. On most occasions an animal remains somewhat concealed by the clutter of its natural habitat-a necessity of survival for both predator and prey.
'I have basically employed three different photographic approaches and purposely worked to enhance the difficulty to find the camouflaged subject-as difficult as it is in the wild to see animals that do not want to be seen.
 Snake eyes: A horned adder matches the colour of the sand in the Namib Desert, Namibia, where they bury themselves using a swimming motion to disappear beneath the hot surfaceSnake eyes: A horned adder matches the colour of the sand in the Namib Desert, Namibia, where they bury themselves using a swimming motion to disappear beneath the hot surface
 Can you spot me? A Leopard conceals herself in vegetation at the base of a tree in Kruger National Park, Transvaal, South AfricaCan you spot me? A Leopard conceals herself in vegetation at the base of a tree in Kruger National Park, Transvaal, South Africa
 Gyrfalcon at their nest built on a cliffA California Ground Squirrel blending in with its rocky environment Rock and hole: A gyrfalcon at their nest built on a cliff, left, and a California Ground Squirrel blends in with its rocky environment, right
 Bark and hide: A Great Gray Owl positions itself in front of a similar pattern to take advantage of his camouflage in Oregon, United StatesBark and hide: A Great Gray Owl positions itself in front of a similar pattern to take advantage of his camouflage in Oregon, United States'Since it is impossible to capture all the distractions to the senses of an entire landscape in a photo, I worked to make it visually challenging by using depth of field, scale and placement and confusing the subject.'
Art is also a successful book publisher and television producer. He has published at least one book a year since 1989.
The 61-year-old from Seattle said: 'It is in the wild places, where the edge of the earth meets the corners of the sky, the human spirit is fed.'
 Invisible: A male Spotted Deer disappears among sun-dappled vegetation in Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan, IndiaInvisible: A male Spotted Deer disappears among sun-dappled vegetation in Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan, India
 Stop monkeying around: A family of Japanese Macaques disappear amid their rocky habitat on Honshu Island, JapanStop monkeying around: A family of Japanese Macaques disappear amid their rocky habitat on Honshu Island, Japan
 White-tailed Ptarmigan in Churchill, Manitoba, CanadaI'm white over here! White-tailed Ptarmigan in Churchill, Manitoba, Canada
 The long grass: An Impala hiding in vegetation in Botswana's Chobe National Park, AfricaThe long grass: An Impala hiding in vegetation in Botswana's Chobe National Park, Africa
 A sandy place to hide: A cheetah cub disguised against the Kalahari Desert, South AfricaA sandy place to hide: A cheetah cub disguised against the Kalahari Desert, South Africa
 Water good place to hide: A Common Snipe, well hidden in the shoreline vegetation of a Minnesota streamWater good place to hide: A Common Snipe, well hidden in the shoreline vegetation of a Minnesota stream
 A Wandering Tattler chick Wrangell-St, Ellias National Parkphotographer Art Wolfe Painstaking: Mr Wolfe, right, says finding and filming animals on location, such as this wandering tattler chick in Wrangell-Saint Ellias National Park, left, is 'an exhilarating and painstaking process'
 Out of sight hawk: A nighthawk resting on rocks where it blends into its surroundings in eastern WashingtonOut of sight hawk: A nighthawk resting on rocks where it blends into its surroundings in eastern Washington
 Snow way I'll be spotted here: A coyote camouflaged in the surrounding brush at the edge of a snow dusted field, Washington State, USASnow way I'll be spotted here: A coyote camouflaged in the surrounding brush at the edge of a snow dusted field, Washington State, USA
 Precarious perch: Two Klipspringers camouflaged against a rocky outcrop in Chobe, BotswanaPrecarious perch: Two Klipspringers camouflaged against a rocky outcrop in Chobe, Botswana
 Branching out: A well-concealed blue dacnis takes a rest in foliage in PanamaBranching out: A well-concealed blue dacnis takes a rest in foliage in Panama

It's a stick up! The adorable moment San Diego panda plays with its new toys as it has medical exam

To contact us Click HERE
Even good little pandas deserve new toys for the holidays - especially while triumphantly passing their latest medical exam.
Xiao Liwu, the giant panda cub at the San Diego Zoo, passed his medical exam with flying colours this week while mutually showing off his new toys and adorable poses for future zoo-goers.
Seen gnawing on a stick of bamboo while dropping himself into a doughnut-shaped ring as a chair, the nearly five-month-old panda cub planted smiles on all the vets' faces, especially after seeing his positive results.
Scroll down for video
Busy boy: Panda Cub Xiao Liwu is seen enjoying a stick of bamboo while turning a plastic tube into a chair during his examination by San Diego zoo veterinariansBusy boy: Panda Cub Xiao Liwu is seen enjoying a stick of bamboo while turning a plastic tube into a chair during his examination by San Diego zoo veterinarians'Everything looks good he's still a little on the smaller side but overall he's in good body condition, everything's growing,' said Meg Sutherland-Smith, associate director of veterinary services for the San Diego Zoo.
The 19-week-old panda who’s now teethingweighed 14 pounds when he was brought in for his weekly veterinary examon Thursday morning. They still expect him to still be nursing for another year.

After scattering a few items around the room for him, the panda cub was said to have readily recognized the plastic ring as a new addition to the vet’s toy collection, prompting him to quickly plant himself inside.
Chewing on the supplied stick of bamboo, the cub’s wide eyes stayed attentive on a swarm of adoring flash bulbs capturing his many wobbly poses inside the plastic tube.
'He really looked too cute in that, I have to say,' said Sutherland-Smith of his poses.
Roly poly: Holding onto a green ball tightly by the paws, the 19-week old cub also kept himself busy rolling around on the floor as vets did their best to take his measurementsRoly poly: Holding onto a green ball tightly by the paws, the 19-week old cub also kept himself busy rolling around on the floor as vets did their best to take his measurementsThe vets reported the tube being a terrific way to keep him stationary while taking his measurements – opposed to his roly-poly antics also seen while wrapped around a small green ball.
Later a tree branch was placed on the floor for him to be used as not just a plaything, unbeknownst to him, but to demonstrate his climbing skills for keepers.
'He's getting past his awkward movement phase. He's walking around with much more confidence, he's not stumbling anymore. And today we also gave him a small piece of a bamboo stem which he readily held in his hand and he was mouthing like he was a big boy,’ Ms Sutherland-Smith said.
Climber: A small section of a tree branch was used here not as a toy but for the cub to demonstrate his climbing abilities for the vets, though it still seemed to entertain everyone in the roomClimber: A small section of a tree branch was used here not as a toy but for the cub to demonstrate his

That was Mac's year that was: From the Bradley Wiggins effect to Abu Hamza and Leveson, The Mail's cartoonist picks his 2012 favourites

To contact us Click HERE
It was the year that saw the Olympics come to Britain, doctors and surgeons strike, and Prince Andrew abseiling down Europe's tallest building, the Shard. Here, the peerless Mac revisits his choice moments from 2012...
JANUARY: Drugs offence guidelines suggest lighter sentencing for 'social dealers' who buy drugs to share with friends.

Drugs offence guidelines suggest lighter sentences for 'social dealers' who buy drugs to share with friends
 
FEBRUARY: Former International Monetary Fund boss Dominique Strauss-Kahn is arrested and quizzed about procuring prostitutes for orgies.


Mac cartoon about Dominique Strauss-Kahn
 
MARCH: The Environment Agency warns of widespread drought conditions if Britain's dry weather continues.
Mac cartoon from March, 2012
 APRIL: London-based Muslim cleric Abu Hamza fights extradition to the U.S. to face terrorism charges.
Abu Hamza fights extradition
 MAY: Surface-to-air missiles are to be situated on the roofs of private flats in East London during the Olympics.
Surface to air missiles to be situated on private flats during the Olympics
 JUNE: A historic strike by doctors and surgeons over pension reforms could mean that thousands of operations will be postponed.
The doctors' strike
 JULY: Athletes start arriving to compete in the London 2012 Olympics as Britain suffers interminable torrential downpours.
'Hello. The women's synchronised swimming team has arrived'   


AUGUST: Cycling fever grips Britain after Bradley Wiggins's triumph in the Tour de France and gold medal at the London Olympics.

Mac Cartoon - 'A curse on Bradley Wiggins!'
 SEPTEMBER: Prince Andrew abseils down Europe's tallest building, the Shard in the City of London, to raise money for charity.
Prince Andrew abseiling down The Shard

 OCTOBER: British forests face an 'unprecedented' threat from a deadly disease that affects ash trees.
Ash disease spreads to Britain NOVEMBER: The Leveson Report into the Press is finally published, and recommends a new regulatory body.
The aftermath of Leveson
 DECEMBER: David Cameron promises to introduce a bill legalising gay marriage next year.
The issue of gay marriage

31 Aralık 2012 Pazartesi

It's a stick up! The adorable moment San Diego panda plays with its new toys as it has medical exam

To contact us Click HERE
Even good little pandas deserve new toys for the holidays - especially while triumphantly passing their latest medical exam.
Xiao Liwu, the giant panda cub at the San Diego Zoo, passed his medical exam with flying colours this week while mutually showing off his new toys and adorable poses for future zoo-goers.
Seen gnawing on a stick of bamboo while dropping himself into a doughnut-shaped ring as a chair, the nearly five-month-old panda cub planted smiles on all the vets' faces, especially after seeing his positive results.
Scroll down for video
Busy boy: Panda Cub Xiao Liwu is seen enjoying a stick of bamboo while turning a plastic tube into a chair during his examination by San Diego zoo veterinariansBusy boy: Panda Cub Xiao Liwu is seen enjoying a stick of bamboo while turning a plastic tube into a chair during his examination by San Diego zoo veterinarians'Everything looks good he's still a little on the smaller side but overall he's in good body condition, everything's growing,' said Meg Sutherland-Smith, associate director of veterinary services for the San Diego Zoo.
The 19-week-old panda who’s now teethingweighed 14 pounds when he was brought in for his weekly veterinary examon Thursday morning. They still expect him to still be nursing for another year.

After scattering a few items around the room for him, the panda cub was said to have readily recognized the plastic ring as a new addition to the vet’s toy collection, prompting him to quickly plant himself inside.
Chewing on the supplied stick of bamboo, the cub’s wide eyes stayed attentive on a swarm of adoring flash bulbs capturing his many wobbly poses inside the plastic tube.
'He really looked too cute in that, I have to say,' said Sutherland-Smith of his poses.
Roly poly: Holding onto a green ball tightly by the paws, the 19-week old cub also kept himself busy rolling around on the floor as vets did their best to take his measurementsRoly poly: Holding onto a green ball tightly by the paws, the 19-week old cub also kept himself busy rolling around on the floor as vets did their best to take his measurementsThe vets reported the tube being a terrific way to keep him stationary while taking his measurements – opposed to his roly-poly antics also seen while wrapped around a small green ball.
Later a tree branch was placed on the floor for him to be used as not just a plaything, unbeknownst to him, but to demonstrate his climbing skills for keepers.
'He's getting past his awkward movement phase. He's walking around with much more confidence, he's not stumbling anymore. And today we also gave him a small piece of a bamboo stem which he readily held in his hand and he was mouthing like he was a big boy,’ Ms Sutherland-Smith said.
Climber: A small section of a tree branch was used here not as a toy but for the cub to demonstrate his climbing abilities for the vets, though it still seemed to entertain everyone in the roomClimber: A small section of a tree branch was used here not as a toy but for the cub to demonstrate his

That was Mac's year that was: From the Bradley Wiggins effect to Abu Hamza and Leveson, The Mail's cartoonist picks his 2012 favourites

To contact us Click HERE
It was the year that saw the Olympics come to Britain, doctors and surgeons strike, and Prince Andrew abseiling down Europe's tallest building, the Shard. Here, the peerless Mac revisits his choice moments from 2012...
JANUARY: Drugs offence guidelines suggest lighter sentencing for 'social dealers' who buy drugs to share with friends.

Drugs offence guidelines suggest lighter sentences for 'social dealers' who buy drugs to share with friends
 
FEBRUARY: Former International Monetary Fund boss Dominique Strauss-Kahn is arrested and quizzed about procuring prostitutes for orgies.


Mac cartoon about Dominique Strauss-Kahn
 
MARCH: The Environment Agency warns of widespread drought conditions if Britain's dry weather continues.
Mac cartoon from March, 2012
 APRIL: London-based Muslim cleric Abu Hamza fights extradition to the U.S. to face terrorism charges.
Abu Hamza fights extradition
 MAY: Surface-to-air missiles are to be situated on the roofs of private flats in East London during the Olympics.
Surface to air missiles to be situated on private flats during the Olympics
 JUNE: A historic strike by doctors and surgeons over pension reforms could mean that thousands of operations will be postponed.
The doctors' strike
 JULY: Athletes start arriving to compete in the London 2012 Olympics as Britain suffers interminable torrential downpours.
'Hello. The women's synchronised swimming team has arrived'   


AUGUST: Cycling fever grips Britain after Bradley Wiggins's triumph in the Tour de France and gold medal at the London Olympics.

Mac Cartoon - 'A curse on Bradley Wiggins!'
 SEPTEMBER: Prince Andrew abseils down Europe's tallest building, the Shard in the City of London, to raise money for charity.
Prince Andrew abseiling down The Shard

 OCTOBER: British forests face an 'unprecedented' threat from a deadly disease that affects ash trees.
Ash disease spreads to Britain NOVEMBER: The Leveson Report into the Press is finally published, and recommends a new regulatory body.
The aftermath of Leveson
 DECEMBER: David Cameron promises to introduce a bill legalising gay marriage next year.
The issue of gay marriage