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Drowsy Dog
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Drowsy Dog

by Morkel Erasmus

Gallery: WildlifePosted August 27, 2014167 views10 comments
This is from my epic time with the Wild Dogs of Mana Pools back in 2012. Taken while lying flat on my belly in a dry riverbed, after leopard-crawling for 40m with bare elbows and knees over coarse riversand to get into prime position without disturbing the pack. The alpha male eventually got up, came over to us, took in our scent at about 8meters from us, then relaxed and flopped down close to us - EXIF says focusing distance here is 15m.

I am off to Mana on Friday morning guiding a photographic safari there, and word is that the dogs have started to hunt near our campsite after being pegged to their den site in the thick jesse shrubland for the past 3 months. Perhaps some pups are even on the cards this time!

This will be my last post until sometime late next week - take care folks!

Techs:
Nikon D3s
Nikkor 500mm f4 VR-II
f5.6 | 1/400 SS | ISO-2500
90% of full frame image

Comments

10 comments
Comment posted by Howard Cheek on August 27, 2014 at 10:08 AM
Very cool, love this animals face/expression Morkel.
Excellent POV and sharp, nice work! :toast: :toast:
Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments
Comment posted by Lon Sharp on August 27, 2014 at 10:34 AM
Great perspective for this grinning yawn! How about a slight WB tweak to add a bit of warmth?
Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments
Comment posted by Soubhik Patranabis on August 27, 2014 at 11:30 AM
Nice shot.
Registered on January 25, 2010, 54 Posts, 610 Comments
Comment posted by Max Waugh on August 27, 2014 at 12:41 PM
Best of luck with the pups.

I love the expression here. Glad to see this amazing encounter is still paying dividends. :smile:

Max
Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments
Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on August 28, 2014 at 8:29 AM
Have a blast with the pups, Morkel!
Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments
Comment posted by Clinton Bauder on August 29, 2014 at 2:21 AM
My what sharp teeth you have! :toast:

Clinton
Registered on December 8, 2009, 31 Posts, 231 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Gavin on August 29, 2014 at 1:16 PM
Fascinating, yet a bit terrifying. Great image. More warmth? Not sure if this wild dog possesses any.
Registered on August 14, 2008, 293 Posts, 1250 Comments
Comment posted by Brad Hill on August 29, 2014 at 5:35 PM
YIKES! Man, I wouldn't want to be at the wrong end of those teeth when they were being put to use. Like the starkness of the image and how there is absolutely NOTHING competing for attention with that mouth!

I'm with Lon on the idea of adding a bit of warmth to the shot (probably selectively - applied to the entire image except the subject).

Cheers...

Brad
Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments
Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on September 3, 2014 at 12:18 AM
Really digging this one Morkel. Love the yawn and seeing those teeth. I also like the head on view.
Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments
Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on September 3, 2014 at 6:16 PM
Thanks folks - warmth suggestion noted and will play around soon! :smile:
Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments