Timbavati's Wild White Lions - Hasselblad Masters Wildlife Submission 2010 Behind The Scenes

[zepsticks]

Your shots are outstanding. I wish I could be such a photographer. I would buy some of the prints. Good job!

[positivencouragement]

As a big cat admirer, live cats (trophy hunters have serious personal issues no one healthy could hunt for sport, it is killing for fun, take up another sport hockey ect..)

I thought the photos and images of the white lions were excellent, you caught the magic about them and some of their behaviours. You are a good wildlife photographer. I do hope South Africa bans all trophy hunting, as in Kenya, endorsing only responsible ecotourism.

[FreddieCV]

javadjon - thanks for your comment. I do however believe that the title is perfectly suited.. This video shows how i captured images of the white lions that granted me semifinalist in the Wildlife category of the Hasselblad Masters 2010.

Each category aside from up and coming is only open to individuals using the Hasselblad system, hence the camera playing such a large role.

Work and vacation go hand in hand when doing something you love, so im glad you felt it was the latter.

[eyvindj]

Great video, just sad that the introduction about the white lions being "technically extinct for decades" I find is bending the story a bit beyond what it can take. I have personally made some smaller clips available here on YouTube of totally naturally born white lions from Timbavati near Jaydee and Kings Camp. My footage dates back to DEC 2009, where the cubs supposedly were about 9 months. I wish to think all in the surrounding area should be aware of that fact.

[cardude1992]

priceless

[Zukarafan]

Freddie this is incredible, you have managed to capture their essence. Such amazing images. I have been lucky enough to be involved with them for a while now and have created a coffee table book, poetry and artwork (incl photography) from a facebook competition and am now busy with the 2nd competition all to raise money for these wonderous animals. The most important is that the more people who can raise funding and spread awareness the better! Nelison looks so cool as well.

[iamthechadmotswari]

...their occurence in the area...but that is just my opinion...still - did the video and the style!

you must keep a look out for the documentry that is being filmed on the proper wild white lions in the area - that should be out at the end of this year - over 2 years worth of footage of two female white lions growing up in the timbavati and klaserie :)

cheers

[iamthechadmotswari]

...but that can happen with lion cubs irrespecitive of their colour? i dont know, maybe i am just a bit biased towards our 'own' naturally will white lions, and dont ever want to think that i might see white lions in the timbavati that have been introduced there...let nature takes its course; if there are meant to be white lions in the timbavati, nature will make a plan! :) they are special animals, and i think it would just take away from their magic if man were to ever have a hand in...

[iamthechadmotswari]

thanks for the detailed answer there freddie - i do appreciate it...unfortunately though i am very much against the idea of trying to release captive bred white lions into the wilds of the timbavati, and i have yet to meet one person that is...the gene is alive and well - i have watched two white lion cubs born in 2009 grow up here, and they are still doing well - they havent mysteriously disappeared....yes, the two litters of white lions born in 2006 didnt make it past their first viewing...

[iamthechadmotswari]

very cool video and dig the music (Cage the Elephant!)....just cant agree with the idea that you are passing these off as wild white lions....they are captive bred lions living in a captive area; hence the fences and collars...the idea that white lions are extinct is rubbish - there are at least three 100% naturally-bred/occuring white lions residing in the timbavati without any help from these breeding programmes...besdies, its only a recessive gene, and not a species.

[FreddieCV]

@iamthechadmotswari - Thank you for your comment and opening the discussion for response. Please excuse the response in multiple posts but i do not have enough space to reply fully in one post.

The original lioness and 3 cubs and were rescued from the 'canned' breeding industry and reintroduced to the wild where they learned to be self sustaining; later a male lion was similarly reintroduced, and the later offspring were born wild.

[FreddieCV]

The Global Protection White Lion Protection Trust was set up to counteract the practice of removing the naturally occurring white lions of the Timbavati and to reintroduce the genetics to the endemic area where both white and golden lions are still hunted.

[FreddieCV]

The lions are scientifically monitored by Jason Turner, hence the collars on some of them; the collars are also important in respect of poaching. Jason is searching for the genetic marker that only occurs in the lions of the Timbavati, and has researched lions of the area for more than ten years.

[FreddieCV]

Occasionally one or two are isolated in a boma for a short period when a herd of antelope that are not predator-aware are released on the lands. This gives the antelope a chance to become accustomed to lion in the area - or the lions think fast food has been delivered. The genes should still exist in the golden Timbavati lions, and some have been born there in the last few years; but beyond the record of their birth they seem to mysteriously disappear.

[FreddieCV]

This is not a typical lion breeding program; and is one of only a few programs in South Africa that have genuine conservation of the lions at heart. The cubs are born wild, never cuddled, and the grown lions will never be sold into the canned hunting industry as most lion breeding programs do. The goal is to let all the fences down when hunting is banned and ALL lions are protected in the Timbavati.

[EmilyHenson77]

Oh my goodness Freddie...... This video is F+++ing Awesome...!!! You've done an amazing job...!

I agree that at 03.59 you got a totally priceless shot... As we sat there watching those two magnificent boys back to back, I remember praying that you got that shot.... Just for those few seconds, those brothers were mirror images of each other..... Awesome...!

The black and white shots have taken my breath away... Stunning.

Talented...To say the least..! Congratulations Freddie....

Emily :-)

[FreddieCV]

@EmilyHenson77

Thank you for your comment Emily, I am glad you like the images :) The 'pose' of the lions at 3:59 is pretty significant as it is known in Egyptian beliefs as 'Akeru' - where lions guard the east and west horizons.

These lions got themselves to the Semi-Finals of the Hasselblad Masters :)

[OVIDlUS]

I don't know if that counts as spam VVVVVVVVV >.<

[OVIDlUS]

I have two choices, become a sound engineer, or a photographer... Both I have the best chance becoming, but I cannot decide. This video really shows me the neat places photography can take you, the different cultures, people that you will never forget... Seems like another world! Then again, I am faced with the fact that I love music, and manipulating sound. I even went to a Tech school for computers, just to learn how to do all of this (not be a photographer of course). I'll figure it out

[FreddieCV]

@OVIDlUS Go with gut..

[LANKRADSA]

Beautiful!

[lacqueredhearts]

3:59 was amazing, and the photos turned out beautifully. Great job. 

[ZOMGvideoGUY]

WOW.........