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Elephants on Safari
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Elephants on Safari

by Patricia K. Buys

Gallery: WildlifePosted November 20, 2009183 views5 comments
This shot was taken in Mozambique, in Sept 2009. This family of elephants was quite contentious so capturing the decision point of "To Charge or Not to Charge" was thrilling.

It was taken with:
Canon 5D; 70-200mm lens
ISO 1000; F/13

I've applied some Color Efex, cropped it and adjusted the exposure. Your critique is most welcome. Thank you.

Pat Buys
www.pkbuysphotography.com

Comments

5 comments
Comment posted by John Tobias on November 20, 2009 at 10:29 PM
I like the photo, but find in MHO there is almost too much in the shot. Would you consider cropping on the elephant facing you? The elephants on the right side are so hidden by the brush I find them distracting rather that adding to the image. But, still it must have been exciting to get this shot. Good job.
Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments
Comment posted by Lon Sharp on November 20, 2009 at 11:38 PM
I assume this is already a crop because of the pano ratio. I like the attitude and the center elephant. I look forward to seeing more of your images and reading your observations and comments on the images of others!
Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments
Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on November 22, 2009 at 5:40 AM
Hi Pat, I like the pose of the elephant a lot as well as the soft light and the coloration. Also the surrounding dead mopane woodland makes for an interesting habitat, yet also a difficult one from a photography POV. I do find the green bush in the FG a bit distracting, not as an obstruction, but more that the scene would be better without. Now my eye goes from the elephant to that bush and also it does not seem to 'fit' with the rest of the habitat. Hope that makes sense?
Where in Mozambique was this made Pat?
Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments
Comment posted by Brad Hill on November 22, 2009 at 9:19 AM
Hi Pat,

I think this is an interesting shot captured under photographically challenging conditions. From a graphic perspective (and when I look at the "big picture" here, I like the brown to blue transition in colour, and the position of the elephants within this transition is good. While I do see where the others are coming from in terms of the image being a tad busy, I still find it to be an interesting "animal in habitat" shot.

Cheers...thanks for sharing this...

Brad
Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments
Comment posted by Dan Walters on November 22, 2009 at 7:49 PM
I like the monochromatic look of the trees while the rest of the image has a warmer feel to it. Agree about isolating some of the image so it is not so busy.
Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments