Zebras and Wildebeest Photo

Photographer’s Note

Larou-La-Tau is a game camp south of Maun not far from the Makgadikgadi Pans. It's built on a bluff overlooking a river basin right above a water hole that attracts animals from the whole area. Although it was only March, it had been a very dry summer, so animals came in huge herds and stirred up huge clouds of dust.

This photo was taken shortly after sunrise from the bluff just above the water hole.

Technical: Level adjustment layers blended in soft light with opacity set around 50%. I did a lot of fiddling to come with this result and did not take notes.

dareco, pboehringer, zmey, Atousa, avene, rigoletto has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

dareco (17024) 2008-05-25 9:16

This is fantastic!! I like the lighting and the dust in the air. It makes a beautiful picture. TFS and have a happy day!

gbarto (1273) 2008-05-25 9:20

Bonjour Daniel
Très beau cliché au téléobjectif.
La lumière diffuse ajoute à l'impression d'un shoot lointain
Les dégradés des différents plans donnent de la profondeur à l'image malgré l'effet écrasant du téléobjectif.
Bien vu
Georges

plamn (561) 2008-05-25 9:37

What a beautiful tonality. Well done Daniel! Thanks for bringing that here.

dvlazar (6468) 2008-05-25 19:11

Hi Daniel - a classic image of the 2 species exisisting together - I found their relationship an interesting one for survival. The dust and morning light is a nice effect.

Thanks,
Dave

pboehringer (770) 2008-05-26 13:01

Dan,
this image and your previous post are still the dream of my life. A 3-4 weeks vacation in Tanzania to hike up the Kilimandjaro, do a photgraphy safari at Ngorongoro Crater and finally spoil the sense at Zanzibar.
OK, I realize that this isn't the place that I'm talking about but the game is and the dusty atmosphere with the diverse animals is a pretty darn shot.
Peter

vincz (19039) 2008-05-27 0:28

Wow... that's a fantastic one. The dusty atmosphere makes it really fantastic, what a great atmosphere.

pavelilioski (218) 2008-05-27 5:57

Hi Daniel
Collors is nice... Picture very good , Zebras is very very nice ...
Regg ...

zmey (7242) 2008-05-27 8:21

hello daniel

i like it. the herd stampede mood is surely captured there: the dust, the crowd, the dim light. i'm with pete on the point that this sight (with all the imaginable smells and discomforts) is a dream for me. some day maybe :)

regards,
kristaps

Atousa (3434) 2008-05-27 22:03

Salam Daniel,
Very interesting shot..the dust in the air n the colour of the image have created a mysterious atmosphere..I like it..tfs
Best wishes, Atousa

avene (10888) 2008-05-28 12:40

hi Dan,
I think it's the dust and the easily recongisable silhouettes of the animals what make this photo so powerful, I like it a lot. I can easily imagine the cacaphony and smells of the place, but I wouldn't mind going there tomorrow :)

with best regards,
Kristine

Flavia (10202) 2008-05-28 18:21

Hi Daniel,

Good one! The dust add mood here, a busy animal land it seems. Nicelly composed. One of the zebras seem to have spoted you! The light is a little low, but it may well be my monitor...

Regards,

Flavia

rigoletto (25942) 2008-05-29 8:49

Hi Dan,
The mist, the dust and the beasts make a superb "steppes of Africa" photo. Just like i dream about the place due to my narrow information about it. The light was indeed fantastic, and i appreciate you to be there so early in the morning.
Cheers,
Deniz

crckt (6971) 2008-05-29 12:18

Hi Daniel,
WOW! How did I miss this for so long?? This shot has a great feel to it. Whatever PP you did paid off completely. I wish you had kept notes, please try it again and if possible share it with us :)
Regards,
Shaeri