Chobe Sunset

Gallery: WildlifePosted March 31, 2013238 views7 comments

Perhaps a break in my recent predator postings is necessary...

Some elephants enjoying lush green summer grass on the banks of the Chobe river in Botswana. It was a moody overcast sunset (with low light levels). I captured this perspective from a specialised photographic boat on the river we use for our safaris. Those interested in seeing a video of the setup on this boat can send me an email

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Techs:
Nikon D3s
Nikkor 500mm f4 VR-II
f4.0 | 1/200 SS | ISO-3200
Pretty much full frame

Comments

7 comments

Comment posted by Martin Dunn on March 31, 2013 at 1:20 PM

Morkel, I've come back and looked at this picture about half a dozen times and I'm still trying to make up my mind if I like it or not.
My first impressions are that it doesn't have the same impact as the shots you've been posting recently.
I like the contrast of the green grass with the pink sky but I don't really like like water in the foreground and the elephant isn't really doing anything. I keep thinking I must be missing something but it just doesn't do it for me. Sorry.
You've set the bar so high mate.

Registered on February 20, 2013, 198 Posts, 1011 Comments

Comment posted by Nora De Angelli on March 31, 2013 at 5:36 PM

Amazing photo!

Registered on March 31, 2013, 1 Posts, 3 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Marcellini on April 1, 2013 at 11:57 AM

Nice animalscape. I might have waited and gotten ahead of the elephant a bit more so the two were closer together and then weight them more to the left of frame. It is a little static and centered for me as is.

Registered on November 27, 2007, 250 Posts, 2468 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Andrews on April 2, 2013 at 10:52 AM

I like the symmetry of the two elephants seemingly adopting the same pose. On the large view however my eye is drawn to the object (perhaps a bird) to the right of the closer elephant, in the light patch of grass. Overall I think this is a nice tranquil evening shot.

Registered on December 31, 2011, 45 Posts, 222 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on April 2, 2013 at 1:01 PM

Morkel, like Martin I have come back a few times and still don't really know how to comment on this. I do appreciate the typical lush summer color scheme and the selective focus here. What works less I think is the overall composition as it feels a bit unbalanced. Perhaps if the two elephants were facing each other it would be very different. Furthermore I find the clipped off baby elephant on the left frame edge a distraction. I come in peace.

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

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on April 3, 2013 at 8:07 PM

Given relative size in the frame, I think the background elephants pull the attention away from the central (focused) subject. I like the serenity and your careful handling of colors that could have easily gone wild.

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

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on April 7, 2013 at 6:00 PM

Thanks for the honest feedback, folks.

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