Beach kangaroos

A storm has been brewing for a few hours and the dark clouds started gathering and moving in.
I headed for the beach trying to capture the dramatic sky when I noticed a few kangaroos grazing on the dunes.
Just as I was photographing the shore a couple of kangaroos hopped right down to the water's edge wanting to dip their toes. A few minutes later a few more came and soon there were twenty or so.
In a rather bizarre moment they all lined up and started to wade, mother with joey in pouch, letting the spilling waves lap up to their bellies


adapted Jupiter-11 135mm f4  1/4000sec

The dark sky served me a surreal scene with the parting clouds and the bright sun complements to the moment. I stood in awe and observed what was going to happen next.
Some hopped around, some just let the waves wash them a bit to then gather again and slowly retreat to the dunes again to forage.


adapted Jupiter-11 135mm f4  1/2500sec

The evening brought some very soft light where I could capture them again in a large grassy field.


adapted Jupiter-11 135mm f4  1/100sec




adapted Jupiter-11 135mm f4  1/500sec

These are wild kangaroos, free to roam without enclosures, as nature intended.
I can not bring myself to enjoy observing wild animals in any other way...

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Only in Australia

Only in Australia you will have wild kangaroos keeping you company when fishing on the beach :-)


Meyer Optik Trioplan 50mm f2.9  @f5.6  1/500 sec

Tender parenting.

Almost human like, the kangaroo's relationship with its youngster seems so tender.


Meyer Optik Trioplan 50mm f2.9  @f5.6  1/125sec

This mob lives by the sea, feeding on very lush grassy fields. The wet climate makes their life much easier and with very few predators to fear from they are particularly tame despite being wild and free.


Meyer Optik Trioplan 50mm f2.9  @f5.6  1/125sec


Meyer Optik Trioplan 50mm f2.9  @f5.6  1/125sec

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Top dog

Like in an old-school duel: at dawn, on the edge of the sea cliff they established who is the top dog, err.., top kangaroo.
A few kicks, a couple of punches (really) but no loss of blood, to verify the pecking order.


Meyer Optik Trioplan 50mm f2.9  @f5.6  1/750sec