Ben Wilhelmi

South Sudan, aviation pictures

 

The Caravan I was flying, here on delivering supplies to Indian peace keepers.

 

The gigantic Mi 26

 

A Mi 8 over the White Nile river.

 

An Antonov 12 returning to base after an engine failure. Notice the second propeller in feather position.

 

An Antonov 32 on a wet take off.

 

A Mi 8 with a tropical modification of the air filter.

 

An Eastern Europe pilot showing off his skills to land in the middle of parked helicopters, instead of choosing the runway then taxiing.

 

A mechanic on a Mi 26 rotor.

 

A common scenery, here a ‘resting’ Fokker 27 … weird that the engine for instance hasn’t be salvaged.

Rolleiflex pictures, Tanzania

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That’s my beauty, a 1961 Rolleiflex 3.5F. Medium format film, that is 6x6cm negatives. Not the quickest camera I have used so far but I love it. Many masters of the previous century have used it beautifully. It is then a good incentive.

Lake Natron, Aerials

 

Enjoy the salt patterns and incredible colors of that natural masterpiece

 

 

 

 

 

 

Portraits in B/W, Tanzania

 

 

 

 

 

Scenes in the bush, Tanzania

 

“Sardines” was one of the words that came to my mind…

 

 

 

 

The bush…spoilt by cellphones. Tanzania was the fastest growing market, maybe still is, for mobile networks.

 

 

Infrared landscapes, Tanzania

 

 

Notice the Maasai woman in the middle.

 

 

 

 

 

Shot with a Rolleiflex 3.5F from 1961, medium format film. The film is the defunct Kodak Aerochrome.

Aerials in Tanzania

 

Let’s meet mount Kilimanjaro on the left and mount Meru on the right.

 

Zebras crossing.

 

 

 

 

Sepia portraits in the Tanzanian bush

 

 

 

 

 

Aerial pictures, lake Natron

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Street photography, Zanzibar

 

 

 

 

 

 

Portraits in B/W, Tanzania

 

 

 

 

 

South Sudan, people

 

As usual these pictures were stolen with a smartphone, risky business to take pictures in this country even more when using a normal camera out there.

Pro guns would have a blast here…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A teacher told me once that there was a correlation in history of paintings between war times and crazy fashions (and open up mentalities). People need a way out to fight the horrible times… well South Sudanese women certainly love to dress in fashionable ways.

Wildlife in Tanzania

 

Successful catch for this roller.

 

Missing his partner.

 

 

I admit I didn’t manage to identify this bird.

 

Males are the same in every species…

 

 

Fisher’s lovebirds

 

Flamingoes on lake Nadutu.

 

Woodpecker. I read somewhere their brain can sustain 60 G’s! ? Wikipedia says 1000G’s!! Most untrained humans faint at 6 while doing aerobatics… jet fighter airplanes are limited to 9 for human factors.

Arusha, street photography

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

South Sudan, aerial photography

 

A typical road in South Sudan. Only a few miles of tarmacked roads seem to be spotted in Juba itself. The rains had started and within a week this same will be flooded and challenging.

 

 

Typical huts, called Tukul.

 

Common scenery…

 

 

 

I have only spotted this orange weed in one location. No village nearby. I have no idea what it is.

 

Bits of the Nile and its off springs from some altitude, 3000m about.

People in Tanzania

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wildlife, Tanzania

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baby hyena.

 

Mother defending the said baby.