The Lookout

Gallery: WildlifePosted February 24, 2013719 views7 comments

Meercat, photographed in Addo National Park, South Africa

Nikon D80
Sigma 120-400mm at 400mm
1/1250s
f5.6
ISO 200

We'd spotted a family of meercats a few hours earlier and watched them foraging on the ground for about 15 minutes.
We left them to go and look at some lions then came back again because the meercats were more interesting.
While we watched this fella climbed up to the top of this thorn bush and started looking around.

Comments

7 comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on February 24, 2013 at 2:57 PM

I love sitting with meerkats, Martin. Nice lookout pose here, with light hitting him nicely.
Late morning?
I do wonder about the central placement - perhaps more space on the RHS with some chopped off the LHS if you have the space to play with (given the direction of the gaze)?

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on February 24, 2013 at 3:27 PM

I like how this shows problem solving behavior, as in, how do you get a better look when you are only 10 inches tall, that's clever. Techs look fine, very sharp. I agree with Morkels observations on the placement of the Meercat. My solution differs slightly though, as I prefer seeing the horizontal space as presented, so wouldn't want to crop any more from the frame. Leave as is, or if you have more room on the original, place the subject further to the left.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on February 25, 2013 at 12:21 AM

This is the first time I'm seeing a meerkat on a tree! But, it sure makes a better look-out point than on the ground! Agree with others about the subject being too central.

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

Comment posted by William Bickle on February 25, 2013 at 1:56 PM

Hello Martin

Great capture, Sharp & Very interesting Pose & those Sharp thorns, ( Gotta be careful sitting in them ) . Seems very Centered, mabe a Crop off the side would Isolate him better ?

TFS

Bill

Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Zablotny on February 25, 2013 at 9:55 PM

It is amazing that this meerkat was able to negotiate its way through all of the thorns. Nice detail and focus and I agree with the other viewers that the composition might work better with the subject's placement more to the left.........................Jim

Registered on January 17, 2004, 705 Posts, 3594 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on November 6, 2013 at 11:54 AM

Love these critters, but I've only seen them at the zoo..
Great image Martin, that extra thorny perch has gotta cut both ways ;)
Well done

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on November 7, 2013 at 12:15 AM

Martin,

Great capture, strangely enough my best ever sighting of Meerkats was in Addo.
If you can I would move the subject to the left and give it some more "look into" space.

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments