Sport, birding and nature photographer, Simon du Plessis is up next in our Canon Series. Having been a pro for a number of years, Du Plessis knows his way around the bush as much as the rugby field or race track. He starts by telling us the incredible hard work that went into getting his favourite shot.

Simon du Plessis: I have many favourite photos, but it is said that those you have worked hardest for tend to stick in the mind more than the ‘regulars’. This Cape vulture shot taken at Vergenoeg Nature Reserve, from a spot on top of the Magaliesberg and directly above the sheer cliff face where the vulture colony breeds, was really hard work.

To get there you have a strenuous climb up the mountain, scaling huge boulders and sometimes pulling yourself up using rope rails. A fit person can do this climb and 4 km hike up the mountain in about 90 minutes. But, bearing in mind that you are carrying 20 kg of gear and provisions up the mountain with you in Bushveld summer temperatures of 30° C, it becomes a whole new experience.

Once up there, you have to patiently wait for the vultures to do their thing. To photograph them coming in for a landing on the ledges means getting on a small ledge yourself (about 40 cm wide) and press your hips against the cliff face. With your upper body you need to balance, peering over the ledge with an 80-100 m sheer drop below, and catch them as they airbrake just before landing.

This shot was taken using my Canon EOS-1D Mark II and my Canon EF 500mm f4 L IS lens. The adrenaline rush from taking this shot was awesome!

For more information on Simon du Plessis and his photography, visit his website. 

For more in the Canon Series, click here.