Even when the chimpanzees came down lower, they were still high enough in the tree and up against the light behind the canopy to make photography difficult. Still, this youngster and mom were interesting to watch as he clambered around on her lap. Sony Rx10iv at 547mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications with multi-frame noise reduction. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. Equivalent ISO 5000 @ f4 @ 1/500th.

Chimpanzee: Kibale National Park, Uganda, August 2022 — Chimp trekking at Kibale is always a mixed blessing. After a longish hike, up and down and around, off-trail, bushwhacking through rainforest, (both times I have done this I have gotten the feeling that the guides go out of their way, literally, to make it a trek…that they know right where the chimps are at any given time. but are determined to make every hike in an adventure!) we got to the chimps to find a large group of noisy tourists already there before us…which included the inevitable half-dozen pushy photographers with their long lenses and sense of entitlement, and, the chimps high in the trees, just furry back things way up there. There was one old gentleman chimp…probably the dominant male…taking his ease under the trees. He was surrounded, of course, by photographers trying to line up the perfect shot. I hung back, so as not to trod on anyone, and shot over their heads through the gaps in the undergrowth. All in all, anyone could be forgiven for being disappointed. However, we waited, and soon enough those who had come before us moved off, back up the considerable hill toward the road. We were left alone under the chimps. And they began to come down, moving from their high perches to somewhere else up the hill in the same direction the tourists had gone. They were in no hurry, and several paused just above us. We have several real moments with the chimps. That was enough to redeem the experience for me. I count my blessings. Those moments were worth it. Of course we then had the trek out, but there were lots of butterflies waiting for us on the road, to entertain us while we waited to be picked up. Enough for me. This young male gave me one of my moments, and I am thankful. Sony Rx10iv at 277mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications and multi-frame noise reduction. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. Equivalent ISO 6400 @ 4 @ 1/320th and 1/400th.