Kuifie in Africa; Baobab Sunrise, Luangwa Region, Zambia, Africa

The alarm went off at 3 am. The silly things we do.

Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa
Dawn in the forest @Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa

I slept stalkers in the loftus tent, temperatures never dropped below average. It was spooky silent in the baobab forest as horizontal lights slowly emerged.

Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa
Fiery @Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa

This is the true Golden Hour, the sky is on fire. Only for a short period, I needed a plan to the max.

Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa
Firing on all cylinders @Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa

I set Osmo out on Timelapse duties in front of three baobab trees towards the glowing sky. OM-D had the tele lens on and was ready to go across my shoulder.

Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa
Rick action @Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa

Rick had meanwhile passed his safety check and had the home point updated. Let’s roll. If anyone had seen me operating 2 cameras and a drone before 5 am? The things that we do.

Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa
Tele @Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa

Within minutes, the sky turned from fiery red into purple and blue. A tele lens is perfect for low light conditions as the lens increases the light exposure to the subject.

Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa
Sphere @Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa

Rick was doing his panorama magic, I best check on Osmo. A dense layer of clouds covered the horizon far far away.

Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa
Close up @Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa

Cotton ball clouds added a surreal perspective to an otherwise clear sky.

Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa
Hello sunshine @Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa

At 5:27 am, the sun emerged behind the baobab trees.

Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa
Sensational @Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa

This was the perfect mark for the Olympus telelens I had been waiting for.

Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa
Wrapped @Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa

The fiery ball was wrapped in high palls which extended the orange glow beyonda. Wow.

Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa
Skyful @Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa

Check out all these colors in the sky.

Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa
Spooooo @Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa

Add the ghostly appearance of baobab trees.

Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa
Elemental @Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa

I was right in my element, a photographic rush hour. No time to rest for the wicked picket.

Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa
Visitors @Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa

Rick’s batteries are on low, we have a few more to go. I noticed a group of youngsters coming slowly towards me.

Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa
The Hood @Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa

They most likely live in one of the houses and heard the buzzing noises.

Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa
Home @Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa

It was so calm and quiet that flying Rick would have attracted folks from miles away.

Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa
League of its own @Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa

The four girls, one boy, and a puppy dog had not seen anything like that as I waved them over. Sitting in my chair, I flew Rick over their common grounds.

Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa
High above @Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa

Those staring eyes and excited voices are something to remember.

Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa
Stunned mullets @Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa

I didn’t understand a word but facial expressions and body language were easy to read. Smile and wave.

Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa
Osmo @Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa

There was another location I was interested in flying Rick.

Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa
Community @Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa

A few kilometers north lies a little community that I passed yesterday.

Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa
Baobab hill @Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa

A few straw-head houses lined up on a hill near the Luangwa River. Some large baobab trees scattered around traditional and tin roof housing.

Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa
Lush @Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa

Noticeably, the immense baobab on the hill was already covered in lush greens. I just needed to get Rick close enough to capture the scene. It was 7:30 am by now, morning rush hour. Again, I was spotted early. Youngsters chased Rick with stones whilst some comunals came over asking for money and food. It would have been a nice bonus to an already outstanding photographic collection this morning.

Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa
Happy @Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa

Was it worth it? You bet. I am chuffed. The temperature already reached 30+ degrees Celsius as I handed out some extra food to the elderly.

Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa
Stop and go @Luangwa River, Luangwa District, Zambia, Africa

Next stop, is Zambia’s capital Lusaka.

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