Decisive Moment Photo

Photographer’s Note

Elephants crossing a leg of the Chobe river in the Chobe National Park of Botswana in the late afternoon.
ExposureTime - 1/160 seconds
FNumber - 14
ExposureProgram - Shutter priority
ISOSpeedRatings - 400
DateTimeOriginal - 2008:09:28 17:04:06
MeteringMode - Center weighted average
Flash - Flash not fired, compulsory flash mode
FocalLength - 200 mm

The African Bush Elephant is the largest living land dwelling animal, normally reaching 6 to 7.3 meters (19.7 to 24.0 feet) in length and 3 to 3.5 meters (9.8 to 11.5 feet) in height at the shoulder, and weighing between 6,000 and 9,000 kg

The animal is characterized by its large head; two large ears that cover its shoulders and radiate excess heat; a large and muscular trunk; two prominent tusks, which are well-developed in both genders, although more commonly in males; a short neck; a large, barrel-like body; four long and heavy legs; and a relatively short tail.

The animal is protected by a heavy but flexible layer of gray-brown skin, dotted with mostly undeveloped patches of hair and long, black hair at the tip of its tail. Its back feet have three toes that form a hoof, while the number of toes on the front feet have varied between four and five. The front is smoother and less convex than that of the Asian Elephant.

The trunk is the most characteristic feature of the African Bush Elephant. It is formed by the fusion and elongation of the nose and upper lip, forming a flexible and strong organ made purely of muscle.
(Wikipedia)

Loic_bzh, snunney, ImageMaker, lucasgalodoido, Emile, papagolf21, jusninasirun, Philippe, jafadabret, UlfE, paura, kermit350, feather, Bluejeans, danos, jaywalker, pierrefonds, scroller, plimrn, riclopes, Docarmo has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Loic_bzh (7027) 2008-11-07 3:22

Hi Achim,

the main subject is interesting but my favorite part of this nice pict is definitly the foggy background. Congrats for this one!

Cheers,

Loïc

snunney (34774) 2008-11-07 4:19

Hello Achim,
Interesting to see these underwater elephants. Good use of the panoramic format. I like the pink tones and the view of the herd of elephants on the far bank.

ImageMaker (83) 2008-11-07 4:33

Decisive moment indeed coz the real icing of the cake is the BG. Great one Achim.
Dennis

smarcell (14279) 2008-11-07 5:26

Really interesting, with the trunks out of the water. I think a larger view, allowing to see the second elephant too, would have been better. A very goos shot anyway.
Regards Stefano

chirasak (575) 2008-11-07 5:36

Hello Achim
nice silhouette shot, i like those brackground look like a mixing of silhouette shot and painting nice picture TFS

Regards
Chirasak

Giorgio (8692) 2008-11-07 10:31

- Funny picture and incredible meetings, excellent also the background in the fog, very successful, well done!
Have a good weekend.
giorgio

Waylim (10741) 2008-11-07 14:53

Achim,
Very cute, I like it, the reminded of the movie Jaws, Love the silhouette of the elephants in the water, the distant land full of many more elephants. Despite the lack of adequate light, you manage to get very nice details. Good composition and nice moment captured. Thanks
Way

lucasgalodoido (16597) 2008-11-07 16:48

Hi Achim,
really very interesting this elephant on the water, and other elephants ib BG is very nice too. Good soft tones im image too.
Lucas

Emile (19917) 2008-11-07 21:26

Hola Achim.
Nice shot with the elephants crossing the river and the view with so many more in the background, very good composition but i found your picture a little bit dark and dull so for that reason i tried a WS just to practice and see if doing few thing in Photoshop can change a little bit, I hope you don,t mind.
Best wishes.

[workshop] [compare] +

Graal (57773) 2008-11-08 0:02

Hi Achim,
great african scenery, good shot and fine presentation of elephants. Great safari You had.
gr., Aleksander

papagolf21 (56261) 2008-11-08 0:44

Bonjour, cher Achim,
J'aime beaucoup l'originalité de la prise de vue avec cette masse imposante traversant la rivière et la trompe qui suit supposant un bébé éléphant !
Et que dire de l'arrière-plan avec cette colonie de pachydermes !
Une excellente photo à mon goût.
Amitiés.
Philippe

jusninasirun (10191) 2008-11-08 1:07

Hi Achim. Amazing and timely shot with such a wonderful view in the backdrop. Stunning image and well done. Jusni

Didi (36064) 2008-11-08 1:11

Hello Mr President
I thought it was a submarine crossing the river :)
Well done for this good catch.
It's impossible to have a similar scene on the Loire river.
Well done.
Best regards.

Philippe (11773) 2008-11-08 2:02

Hi, Achim. A very interesting moment indeed. It is impressive to see such a large number of elephants in one shot. The background is very nice with the elephants shown in their natural habitat. But I would have like to see more details in the elephant in the foreground.
Have a nice weekend,
Philippe

jafadabret (39505) 2008-11-08 2:06

Bonjour Achim.
Cette composition est très humoristique avec les deux éléphants tête-bêche au milieu du fleuve. Les deux trompes servent de tuba et l'aspect de loin fait penser à un chapeau.
Bon WE,
Jacques

toto (18707) 2008-11-08 6:15

Bonjour,
belle photo de ce moment décisif ou vous avez pu fixer bons nombres d' éléphants petits et grands.
Bon moment qui nous montreces bouts de trompes et cette queue qui sortent hors de l' eau.
Bien vu, bien saisit.

Amitiés Thomas

Nicou (44663) 2008-11-08 8:49

Hello,

Merveilleus image, cet éléphant qui prend son bain, il est commen nous, il tâte la température de l'aut, fnatastique compo, ambianc, couleurs, détail, de toute beauté.

bravo et amitié

Nicou

UlfE (8965) 2008-11-08 11:33

Hi Achim,

An amazing shot. Very good timing and very unusual shot. I beleive that this a view that most people see once in a lifetime. You were very lucky to be able to take a photo like this. TFS and have a nice weekend!

Cheers,

Ulf

paura (38278) 2008-11-09 2:33

Achim,
Uma imagem absoultamente incomum, mostrada de ponto de especial interesse. Belo trabalho.

Abraço

Paulo

Miha2ou7 (4911) 2008-11-09 4:16

Hey Achim,

I hope you enjoyed your trip through SA and Botswana, seeing the pictures I wonder how you would not. An amazing photo. The lighting conditions were a bit difficult, I understand, but the subject really makes up for everything. Thanks for sharing.

Best regards.

kermit350 (8988) 2008-11-09 7:51

Hello Achim, attractive meeting with this impressive animal left prehistory, the photograph is filled elephant to photograph in their wild state, under beautiful colors with the incomparable colour of this African nature, this photograph is worthy of an animalist report, l' soft and vaporous environment of l' background gives all its character to the composition, sincerely ...................Bonjour Achim, fascinante rencontre avec cet impressionnant animal sorti de la préhistoire, la photo est remplie d’éléphant photographier dans leur état sauvage, sous de belles couleurs à la teinte incomparable de cette nature africaine, cette photo est digne d’un reportage animalier,
l'ambiance douce et vaporeuse de l'arrière plan donne tout son caractère à la composition, bien amicalement

feather (49858) 2008-11-09 9:09

I had no clue what this was from the thumbnail. Amazing shot. I also like the hazy background and I think you made the right choice to crop to letter-box, eliminating most of the sky.
Kath

Bluejeans (32133) 2008-11-09 9:15

Ola Achim ,
Que bela foto de animais selvagens ficou lindo estes elefantes a cruzar o rio com os outros na paisagem de fundo , gostei dos tons quentes das cores, parabéns!!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

danos (32302) 2008-11-09 13:38

Hello Achim,
really nice this derisive moment with the elephant to cross the river in the National Park.I like the pinkish environment as the other elephants that are exists on the other side of the river.Well done.

Regards,Danos

giorgimer (21090) 2008-11-10 1:27

Hi Achim,

good moment capture, the elephants' silhouettes creata an original effect.

TFS

Gio

Tobias__Ortmann (2589) 2008-11-10 6:36

Hi achim,
wow das ist wirklich ein einzigartiger Moment und dann noch auch bei diesem einzigartigen Licht
super Stimmung kommt so rüber.
Das hab ich in Tansania nicht sehen können(leider)
lg Toba

jaywalker (12190) 2008-11-10 10:52

Hi Achim, Its so nice to see so many Elephants in one place, although the Elephant in the foreground is superb, I would like it to have been a little more to the left & therefore the second Elephant would be drawn further into the shot, still a great photo & I love nature, kind regards Wilson.

pierrefonds (26189) 2008-11-10 12:24

Hi Achim,

The point of view takes our eyes toward the elephant in the middle and toward the field in the back. The diagonal line of the river is an asset to the composition. Seeing only the trunk of the second elephant has an humourus effect. The low light or lack of it is giving darker colors to part of the picture. have a nice day.

Pierre

scroller (2883) 2008-11-11 2:30

Hej Achim,
A good example of as we say in Sweden keeping the noose above the surface!
A fine silouette and a great decor in background.
Hälsningar
/Stefan

plimrn (19602) 2008-11-11 9:31

Hi Achim,
I've never seen elephants crossing the river like this; how handy is it to have a nose youyr can raiss above your head?? This must have been a truly magical moment for you; your travels continue to amaze and delight me.
HLJ, Pat

riclopes (32971) 2008-11-13 3:47

Great shot of wild life. This huge silhouette caught my attention in the thumbnails and it was a nice surprise to find here what it was. Love the details of the trunk(s) and tail out of the water and the background complete well the context.
best wishes,
ricardo

Angshu (33619) 2008-11-13 20:34

Hello Achim
A decisive moment indeed! The pastel light, the massive elephant crossing the river, the part of the trunk of the following elephant...a rare & amazing scene. Fine work!
Best Regards
Angshu

Docarmo (8830) 2008-11-17 7:28

Hallo Achim,
Very interesting picture, with these typical elements of Africa. Beautiful view of these elephants in a well composed image.
A very useful note, thanks.
MCV