Raoul Manten
The World...
through my Lens!
I love to travel and while doing so try to capture powerful images. With these photo's I would like to tell the stories behind diminishing tribal cultures and wildlife. And more important share the beauty of what the world has to offer!
On my blog you can read about the (sometimes unexpected) encounters I had during my trips around the world, with nature and the fascinating people living on the different continents.
My basic equipment is a Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II digital SLR camera with a 70-200mm zoom objective, which I sometimes replace by a 24-70mm wide angle lens.
Search
Additional pages
- My Homepage
- Borneo (Malaysia)
- Costa Rica
- Cuba
- Ecuador
- Ethiopia
- Galapagos
- Guatemala
- Madagascar
- Nepal
- Nicaragua
- Panama
Find me on...
Posts I like
-
-
BUSH CRICKET
Ephippiger ephippiger
©d_smetsSpecies of this genus are mainly present in Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic,...
-
ANDEAN COCK-OF-THE-ROCK
Rupicola peruvianus
© Joe Brown—-
Andean Cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruvianus)
The ...
-
-
-
-
so you shouldnt have a problem smiling .
-
Salesman at a Borneo Fish Market.
This photo was taken in May 2011 at the waterfront of Kota Kinabalu (the capital city of Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia), where this sales man offers the fresh catch of the day to the locals.
African Darter (or Snake-Bird) drying its Feathers.
This photo was taken in April 2005 in Chobe National Park (along the Chobe River that runs between Namibia and Botswana) where this female African Darter was sun bathing on a dead tree branch to dry her feathers.
The African Darter (Anhinga rufa) also known as the Snake-bird, is an 80 cm long cormorant-like fish-eating water bird with a very long neck. It often swims with only the neck above water, hence the common name snakebird.
Unlike many other waterbirds the feathers of the African Darter do not contain any oil and are therefore not waterproof. Because of this, the bird is less positively buoyant and its diving capabilities are enhanced.
After diving for fish, the feathers can become waterlogged. In order to be able to fly and maintain heat insulation it needs to dry its feathers. Thus the African Darter is often seen sitting along the waterside spreading its wings and drying its feathers in the wind and the sun along with cormorants which may share its habitat.
Areal view on the Okavango River Delta.
This photo was taken in April 2005 above one of the branches of the Okavango River Delta (close to Maun, in North-West Botswana), where I had this clear areal view from a small airplane on this unique ecosystem of papyrus-lined waterways, knee-deep floodplains, water-lily lagoons, shady forest glades and rich savannah grasslands.
Lush savannah grasslands of the inland Okavango river delta.
This photo was taken in March 2005 in the savannah grasslands of the Okavango Delta (near to Maun, Botswana), where the river spreads out over the Kalahari desert in an immense, fan-shaped inland delta.
Victoria Falls; where the Zambezi River falls down into a 108 meters deep abyss.
This photo was taken in April 2005 at the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park (from the bridge crossing), where the Zambezi River forms the natural border between Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The Victoria Falls have become one of the most famous waterfalls and is ranked as one of “Seven Natural Wonders of the World”. David Livingstone, the Scottish missionary and explorer, is believed to have been the first European recorded to view the Victoria Falls — which he did from what is now known as ‘Livingstone Island’ in Zambia, the only land accessible in the middle of the falls. David Livingstone gave the falls the name ‘Victoria Falls’ in honour of his Queen, but the indigenous name of ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya’ (which literally meaning the ‘Smoke that Thunders’) is also well known. The World Heritage List recognizes both names.
While it is neither the highest nor the widest waterfall in the world, it is claimed to be the largest. This claim is based on a width of 1,708 metres (5,604 ft) and height of 108 metres (354 ft), forming the largest sheet of falling water in the world.
Critically Endangered Brown Spider Monkey.
This photo was taken in November 2006 at the Archipielago Las Isletas (located just outside Granada in the waters of Lake Nicaragua), which is home to these critically endangered Brown Spider Monkeys.
Like all spider monkeys, this species (Ateles hybridus) has very long, spindly limbs and a lengthy prehensile tail which can almost be called a fifth limb. The tail is made up of highly flexible, hairless tips with skin grooves which improves grip on tree branches and is adapted to its strictly arboreal lifestyle. The brown spider monkey has a whitish belly and patch on the forehead, and – highly unusual among spider monkeys – the eyes are sometimes blue.
The islets are a group of 365 small islands scattered about the Asese peninsula. The islets are of volcanic origin and were formed over 20,000 years ago when the Mombacho volcano blew most of its cone into the lake, thereby creating the archipelago. Most of the islets are covered with unusual vegetation, and are rich with bird life.
Panoramic view on Lake Atitlan surrounded by Volcanoes.
This photo was taken in July 2006 on Lago de Atitlán (in the Guatemalan Highlands), where the deepest lake in Central America is surrounded by volcanoes on its southern flank.
The lake is volcanic in origin, filling an enormous caldera formed in an eruption 84,000 years ago. It is renowned as one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, and Aldous Huxley famously wrote of it: “Lake Como, it seems to me, touches on the limit of permissibly picturesque, but Atitlán is Como with additional embellishments of several immense volcanoes. It really is too much of a good thing.”
Portrait of Nicaraguan Kids Smiling at the Camera.
This photo was taken in November 2006 in the center of Granada (Nicaragua), where these two kids where very happy to be photographed and eager to see their smiling faces afterwards on the display of the camera.
Daily Exodus of Bats leaving from the Dear Cave.
This photo was taken in May 2011 in Gunung Mulu National Park (at the northern border of Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia), where at the end of the day just before dusk millions of bats leave the limestone caves flying in snake-like wave formations to protect themselves from birds of pray.
Mulu possesses some of the largest and most spectacular caves in the World. Twelve species of bats have been recorded within the Deer Cave, including the colony of Wrinkled-Lipped Bats estimated to number between 2.5 and 3.5 million individuals.
While waiting at the Bat Observatory for the nightly flight of bats to begin you can watch the secret life of millions of bats on MULU BAT CAM a remote controlled, closed circuit TV system which takes you into the dark recesses of the cave to observe the bats ‘live,’ up close.
Expectation builds as the sun moves towards the horizon and the Bat Hawks take up their roost on the cliff face, waiting for the first of the millions of bats appear. Each evening the bats gather at the cave entrance in large ring-shaped formations, circling higher and higher up the cliff face before moving out across the rainforest in spiraling ribbons.
Semi Wild Orangutan Selecting Fruits for Breakfast.
This photo was taken in May 2011 at the Semenggoh Sanctuary and Rehabilitation Centre (South of Kuching the capital city of Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia), where this semi wild orangutan male carefully selected some fruits for his breakfast.
The Orangutans at Semenggoh can roam freely in a wide protected part of the rain forest and are responsible to find and collect their own food. A few times per week the volunteers from the rehabilitation centre provide some extra fruit for those who can’t fully support themselves yet.
Malagasy Girl with the Mona Lisa Smile effect.
This photo was taken in November 2009 in the small local village of Andasy near Andringitra National Park (located in south-central Madagascar) where this teenage girl with intriguing dark eyes displayed a straight face reminding me on the Mona Lisa smile effect, which tricks the eye into thinking the expression is changing.
Her face appears to shift depending where a person focuses their gaze. If her eyes are stared at, it appears she has an angry expression. But if the onlooker shifts their gaze to her mouth, then this emotion seems to disappear and a more subtle neutral embodiment shows, like the hidden smile in Mona Lisa’s mouth. When you look directly on the mouth in the painting, you see the fine details, the smile disappears and there is only a neutral expression.
Madagascar Ring-tailed Lemur.
This photo was taken in November 2009 in Andringitra National Park near the village of Andasy (located in south-central Madagascar) where this female lemur is keeping a close watch on the group while overseeing the Tsaranoro Valley which is surrounded by the steep granite cliffs of the Andringitra Mountain range.
The ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) is endemic to the island of Madagascar, living in groups of up to 30 individuals and highly social. It is also female dominant, a trait common among lemurs. To keep warm and reaffirm social bonds, groups will huddle together forming a lemur ball.
The ring-tailed lemur will also sunbathe, sitting upright facing its underside, with its thinner white fur towards the sun. Like other lemurs, this species relies strongly on its sense of smell and marks its territory with scent glands. The males perform a unique scent marking behavior called spur marking and will participate in stink fights by impregnating their tail with their scent and wafting it at opponents.
Andringitra National Park has been managed by WWF since 1993 and it was declared a national park in 1999. Over an area of 31160 hectars it is characterised by mountains, including Pic Boby, which at 2658 meters is Madagascar’s highest accessible peak.
The park is subdivided into three ecosystems: low altitude rainforest, montane mountain forest and high altitude vegetation. Andringitra National Park is an important central link in the longest unbroken chain of rainforest remaining in Madagascar. It stretches 180km from Ranomafana National Park in the north connecting to Peak Ivohibe in the south.
Andringitra has possibly the highest biodiversity of any park in Madagascar. The complex mixture of lifestyles, methods of cultivation and lifestock raising left its mark on the landscape. Much of lowland humid forests surrounding the park have been cleared for farming methods such as paddy rice and slash-and-burn agriculture. WWF as well as other organisations work closely together with local residents to conserve the forest.
Portrait of a Malagasy girl wrapped in warm blankets.
This photo was taken in November 2009 near Ambalavao (small village in the Southern province of Fianarantsoa, Madagascar), where these young Malagasy girl covered herself with warm blankets after the sun started to fall behind the horizon.
Wild Orangutan Mother with her Young.
This photo was taken in June 2011 at the Semenggoh Sanctuary and Rehabilitation Centre (South of Kuching the capital city of Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia), where this mother orangutan found a shelter to raise her young.
The word “orangutan” comes from the Malay words “orang” (man) and “(h)utan” (forest); hence, “Man of the forest”. The Bornean Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) are among the most intelligent primates and use a variety of sophisticated tools, also making sleeping nests each night from branches and foliage.
Pitcher Plant Surviving on Bat Feces.
This photo was taken in May 2011 in Sarawak (South of Kuching the capital city of Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia), where this carnivorous plant which supplements its diet with insects can be found in abundance in the dense jungle areas.
Insects and other small creatures can not hold onto the sides of the slippery surface and fall (back) into the pitcher, where a strong digestive fluid breaks down the tissue of the trapped prey. A team of researchers from the university of Brunei have discovered that the sub-species (Nepenthes Rafflesiana Elongata see picture above) is practically useless at capturing insects.
However, it has developed a new means of gaining extra nutrients, by allowing bats to live within its pitcher and feeding off their feces! The strange mutually beneficial relationship sees the plant gain extra nitrogen to grow (the soil in which it lives is quite low in nutrients) while the bat benefits from having a secure sleeping place that is also free of blood-sucking ectoparasites that often accumulate in bat roosts.
