Running Hyena

Gallery: WildlifePosted January 8, 2012227 views9 comments

We came across this Brown Hyena 06:00 one morning in the Kgalagadi as it approached a waterhole. After it had drank, it took off at a trot, running in the riverbed alongside the road. Steering the car with my knees, I shot this image handholding the Canon 7D, 70-200mm combination. The light was a challenge against the dark fur and the motion didn't help.

1/1600
F/4.5
ISO 2000
Distance to subject 24 meters

Thanks for your comments

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Eirini Pajak on January 8, 2012 at 1:36 PM

Beautiful lighting! I did not realize Hyena's fur could be so long! Nice driving/shooting!

Registered on December 13, 2011, 216 Posts, 1671 Comments

Comment posted by Butch Lama on January 8, 2012 at 1:52 PM

Great shot of rarely seen mammal... Need to come to you to take driving class for steering the jeep with knee , 'cause I do all my Tiger photography while driving too

Registered on July 23, 2010, 42 Posts, 316 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on January 8, 2012 at 10:00 PM

I know the "knee-drive" feeling, Neal!

Always good to see a Brown Hyena in daytime. I like the dynamic running pose and the back-light...might boost midtone contrast here to add some "pop"

Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on January 9, 2012 at 12:07 AM

Wow! Lucky you, to see a brown hyena in daylight!

Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on January 9, 2012 at 9:16 AM

Hi Neal,

Wow, what a coat on this one. And while the "bald" head makes sense (in the same way it does for a vulture, i.e., for parasite avoidance), I never realized they were THIS bald. Lighting is nice - I especially like the rim lighting on the ears and head - shows the best on the larger version.

Overall quite well done. And, as a bonus, based on the other comments above, i suspect you could open an "African Photographers" driving school!

Cheers...thanks for sharing this...

Brad

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

Comment posted by Roman Kurywczak on January 9, 2012 at 11:15 AM

His fur makes this image for me as I had no idea it was that long!

Registered on November 20, 2009, 56 Posts, 748 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on January 9, 2012 at 12:14 PM

Hey Neal, you drive just like I do

Always great to see a brown hyena. IMO you handled the difficult light very well here (especially condering you were driving a car at the same time

) and actually that is what makes the image for me.

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

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on January 10, 2012 at 8:16 AM

I just love the dynamic pose of this unusual specie, back light adds to the image,
Jagdeep Rajput

Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on January 15, 2012 at 2:20 PM

Your efforts made for a memorable capture! I love the backlighting and the running pose.

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