Old Man

Gallery: WildlifePosted August 23, 2016125 views8 comments

The title actually refers to me rather than the Gorilla.
For many years I refused to visit the Gorillas as I do not like fixed time sightings nor groups, my experience proved my fears.
The area in which the Gorillas were found was not very photogenic and the light was not so good.
As for the behaviour of the rest of the group, it was I expected.
All in all a good reminder of our Chimpanzee trekking experience.
Taken in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda.
EOS 1DX Mk II
70-200 mm F4 at 127 mm
F4
ISO 1600
1/200

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on August 23, 2016 at 11:27 AM

Still, Ken, you got a very good image of a silver back. There seems to be a slight green cast, but my guess is that would be expected considering where you were. thanks for sharing. Really impressive image.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on August 23, 2016 at 4:40 PM

It might have been a bad experience, but this is a great image. Well done.

Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Sandor on August 24, 2016 at 5:24 PM

Ken: surprised that this image hasn't gotten more comments. It is a compelling image of the big male, especially so when viewed large. Congrats! Richard

Registered on January 12, 2014, 453 Posts, 1625 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on August 24, 2016 at 6:56 PM

Ken, given the conditions, you did pretty well with the exposure and bringing out the details in the face and eyes. It's too bad you didn't find the experience more rewarding. Though we dealt with primarily overcast and wet conditions, I found the gorilla encounters in Rwanda to be wonderful. The lone hour seemed to drag on very slowly.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Joe James on August 24, 2016 at 10:04 PM

Ken - this really is a great image! I'm with you on the whole Gorilla trekking thing but still want to go someday in spite of that because the rules are in place to protect the Gorillas.

Registered on November 20, 2009, 89 Posts, 808 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on August 25, 2016 at 2:39 AM

Thanks everybody for your comments, I agree that it looks a little too green.
As regards my comments on the "experience" they may have come across as a little to negative?

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

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on August 25, 2016 at 10:35 AM

Excellent, Ken. Regarding the green...I noticed it, but am convinced it is not in the exposure but in the surroundings, with all light reflecting off green foliage. That said, if it were mine, I would selectively remove the green from the body of the gorilla.

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

Comment posted by Brad Hill on August 28, 2016 at 1:42 PM

Hi Ken,

I don't mind the green cast and share Lon's view that it is likely natural (i.e., not part of the photographic process) and a function of the reflection off the green foliage. With the lens you had I do wonder if zooming out slightly and reframing so that you didn't clip off part of the butt (assuming this is full frame) might not have been an idea. I think it's also possible you could have added a touch more exposure at image capture to allow you the latitude to extract slightly more shadow detail during post-processing (tho' with the 1Dx MkII you do have a greater ability to "work" the shadows than you did with the original 1Dx...).

I don't think your comments about "fixed time sightings" are too negative - you simply stated you did not like them (and, as a photographer who likes to work alone with free-ranging animals in a natural and uncontrolled setting I share your view) but you didn't criticize the practice or the need to do "control" photographers and/or "wildlife viewers" in some cases (for the good of the subject).

Cheers...

Brad

Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments