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The Thirsty Herd
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The Thirsty Herd

by Morkel Erasmus

Gallery: WildlifePosted November 10, 2012131 views6 comments
I spent some time with this herd earlier during the year in the central Kruger Park. I was the only one at the sighting around midday on an overcast day.

You can see a giraffe leaving the scene in the background on the left.

Techs:
Nikon D7000 with Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 VR-II @ 100mm
f5.6 @ 1/1000 SS @ ISO-450
pretty much full frame

Comments

6 comments
Comment posted by John Clulow on November 10, 2012 at 11:22 AM
I like your allusion to "the rule of thirds" in this. And especially how the head, tusks and trunk, curved around, of the left-most elephant help to bring the eye into the center of the frame where the two elephants on the right are facing.

Too bad the elephant behind them is facing and walking out of the frame toward the right. Maybe you could photoshop him/her out?

(just kidding!!) Wonderful image, especially with the elephant in the center with his ears out!!
Registered on November 1, 2012, 155 Posts, 1079 Comments
Comment posted by Gary Gulash on November 11, 2012 at 1:11 AM
Wonderful arrangement of this large herd. Very sharp with great dof and a nice exposure. Very, very cool. :toast:
Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments
Comment posted by Peter Cross on November 11, 2012 at 11:20 PM
A very compelling image, Morkel. The more I look at it, the more I'm drawn into it searching out the details. Great depiction of the social aspects of this group of elephants -- from the large to the small. All the younger elephants are well inside the perimieter provided by the adults. Composed and exposed very well.
Registered on April 3, 2010, 271 Posts, 1342 Comments
Comment posted by Cam Held on November 12, 2012 at 10:50 AM
Its always tough to neatly compose a large group of animals (or people for that matter!). In this photo I think you were extraordinarily successful in doing so. Entire image is nicely exposed, and I think the sky really adds to the image too. No nits from me! Thanks for sharing!
-Cam
Registered on November 12, 2009, 59 Posts, 398 Comments
Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on November 12, 2012 at 8:04 PM
Nice image Morkel. Nothing to nit pick IMO. Just good work.
Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments
Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on November 13, 2012 at 3:53 PM
Thank you for your comments, folks. I do wish the ellies at the back were more 'cooperative'...but getting the front ones to line up so nicely was hard enough and I didn't have any peanuts left :wink: (just kidding of course :eek: :biggrin: )
Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments