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Blesbok at Sunrise
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Blesbok at Sunrise

by Mario Moreno

Gallery: WildlifePosted August 18, 2012267 views8 comments
The Blesbok ( Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi ) is an antelope found in South Africa and Lesotho. It occurs naturally in the Fynbos and Renosterveld areas of the Western Cape. This image was captured in the early hours on the Kanonkop loop in The Mountain Zebra National Park in South Africa.

EOS 5D - 1/250 sec @ f5.6 - 400mm - ISO 100

Comments

8 comments
Comment posted by Andreas Edman on August 18, 2012 at 7:39 AM
I think its to saturated, otherwise its a great photo with a good composition.

Registered on September 19, 2011, 19 Posts, 22 Comments
Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on August 18, 2012 at 5:53 PM
I love this park and the scenes like this one can capture here Mario.
Are you sure this isn't a BLESBOK? I don't think Bontebok occur in MZNP? :confused: Remember they look alike in many ways...
:wink:

I love that the animal is "framed" by the mountain in the BG.
I too feel this is a bit overdone in terms of saturation and contrast - e.g. there should be more detail on the animal and the yellow channel in the sky appears to be clipped? :smile:
Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments
Comment posted by Lon Sharp on August 19, 2012 at 12:39 AM
I agree with the others that the colors feel a bit overly intense, but I like the comp and the warm colors alongside the blue mountains.
Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments
Comment posted by Mario Moreno on August 19, 2012 at 1:54 AM
Hi Everyone ! thanks for your comments.

I agree that it seems over saturated but believe it or not the only processing on this image is the 1x2 cropping and a Graduated ND filter applied to the bottom half to lighten the foreground. I do however agrre with Morkel with regards to this antelope possibly being a "Blesbok" which is a very close relative to the Bontebok and can be easily confused.
Registered on January 24, 2012, 163 Posts, 369 Comments
Comment posted by John Tobias on August 19, 2012 at 9:10 AM
I like the overall image, but do wish the antelopes face was more towards the camera rather than looking away. TFS.
Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments
Comment posted by Andrew Sentipal on August 19, 2012 at 2:57 PM
Mario,

Stunning image. I like that the animal is looking at something that makes me wonder what is on the other side of the hill. Andrew :toast:
Registered on February 16, 2008, 200 Posts, 317 Comments
Comment posted by Ed Williams on August 19, 2012 at 4:45 PM
I find the colors really intense and interesting. This is very artistic. I like the equal layer effect and the pose of the antelope. I can see what others are saying about saturation, but that doesn't take much away from this overall.
Registered on December 28, 2010, 636 Posts, 3499 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Teller on August 20, 2012 at 2:07 PM
The composition is very well done, but I to feel the sky especially is a bit over saturated.
Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments