Above the Waterline

Gallery: WildlifePosted February 23, 2009586 views10 comments

Hippos are amongst my favourite animals - I just love watching them, often doing not much at all and at other times really showing their power and aggression. This image was taken in the Timbavati where this bull was guarding a waterhole as the surrounding ones slowly dried up. Luckily, since then the rain has once again arrived and the bush is looking very much rejuvenated.

Anyway, the idea was to place the hippo high in the frame, leaving it looking into the foreground. It was a lot of fun spending time watching him watching me

Nikon D200; Sigma 50-500mm; 1.4 TC; f/9; 1/350; ISO 500

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Billy Fairburn on February 23, 2009 at 4:06 PM

Lovely shot James, the golden water and the eye contact really put this one over the top. The hippo looks a tiny bit flat on my monitor, maybe a little more contrast wouldn't go amiss.

Billy

Registered on March 3, 2007, 123 Posts, 717 Comments

Comment posted by Benjamin Olson on February 23, 2009 at 7:51 PM

The low perspective in this image is wonderful. The golden water is wonderful. I do wish I could see the other eye on the hippo though. Very nicely done!

Registered on April 7, 2007, 169 Posts, 725 Comments

Comment posted by Buck Ward on February 23, 2009 at 10:20 PM

Very cool! I looks like he was eying you.

Registered on December 8, 2003, 96 Posts, 1917 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on February 23, 2009 at 11:46 PM

Nice one James, lovely colors. I like your choice of including empty FG for it to 'look into', it works for me. I do agree with Billy about a slight contrast boost on the hippo. Maybe also a tiny bit more sharpening around the eye in the bigger version.

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on February 24, 2009 at 12:28 PM

Hi James,

I like this image. Very simple, and with very effective selective focus. This image illustrates another manner in which out-of-focus foregrounds can be used very effectively - i.e., when the foreground is tonally simple and homogenous/continuous with the other out-of-focus zones in the image (in this case, the background). The fine hairs on the eyebrow and the rim of the ear add a lot to the appeal of this image (at least to me).

Cheers...thanks for posting this...

Brad

PS: Just FYI on the contrast on the hippo - it looks fine on my monitor, but I'm currently viewing this on my non-calibrated laptop...

Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on February 24, 2009 at 12:45 PM

I like the crisp, wet detail! The oof foreground works, but I would remove some of it for a pano presentation.

Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments

Comment posted by Alex Mody on February 24, 2009 at 1:51 PM

This is an awesome shot, James. I really get the feeling he's watching me.

Registered on December 25, 2007, 163 Posts, 1896 Comments

Comment posted by James Campbell on March 2, 2009 at 3:36 PM

Thanks for your comments everyone - I really appreciate them and often get a new perpective from which to consider my images

Registered on January 12, 2009, 48 Posts, 377 Comments

Comment posted by Alan Bryant on March 8, 2009 at 8:46 AM

Thats a fantastic image.

Love it

Registered on March 31, 2006, 473 Posts, 1081 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Benner on March 8, 2009 at 8:13 PM

Interesting and excellent capture.

Registered on December 8, 2003, 482 Posts, 1868 Comments