Playtime Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

A zebra finds a nice patch of dirt to have a roll around in, in the Ngorongoro crater in Tanzania.
I had zebras doing this from time to time - for no apparant reason just dropping down and rolling in the dirt, but never at a capturable moment. This time, I was close enough for it!

dareco, JPlumb, ribeiroantonio, angela926, zmey has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

HulyaTaskin (640) 2008-03-17 21:58

Hello David,
A quite funny shot with good timing and excellent sharpness ...
All the best,
Hulya

Wanda1 (10957) 2008-03-17 22:14

Hi David,
A good in the moment capture of this zebra rolling in the dirt. They do it as the sand and dust helps to get rid of the flies and biting insects that irritate them, I have seen elephants also suck up dirt and throw it over themselves for the same reason. Good clarity and colour.
Regards
Wanda

skippy007 (7053) 2008-03-18 0:23

Hi David,
Nice colourful shot & very well captured.
Regards
Santo

dareco (17104) 2008-03-18 0:44

Now this is an original portrait!! Very cute!! An excellent picture, great colors and I like how the dust is floating up. TFS

JPlumb (3153) 2008-03-18 0:45

Ha, that's a first, for me. I've seen lots of zebra shots, but never one where he was rolling around on his back. I guess it makes sense though, they must get an itch now and again too. Your timing was good on this shot David, with an interesting "pose" by your subject. He was even good enough to turn to face the camera for you. The colour is good, you have good sharp detail on the zebra and foreground, and I like how you caught the flying dust he's raising. Nicely done.

Thanks, John

Koala1 (112) 2008-03-18 2:42

:D this is so great :D never seen something like this :P never seen a zebra live but even on tv i haven't seen one playing :D beautiful moment

Alexandra

gelor (3224) 2008-03-18 3:18

Bonjour David,
Bel instantané ! Ces zèbres sont toujours entrain de se chamailler ou, comme ici, de se rouler dans la poussière pour se débarrasser des insectes. Il fallait saisir le moment ce que tu as fait parfaitement.
Gérard

Csilla (1782) 2008-03-18 19:26

Hi David!
I like this sand (dirt)-bathing cheerful zebra. Lovely moment, funny shot.
Thanks David!
Csilla

ribeiroantonio (21917) 2008-03-19 16:10

Capturing this great moment changes all the imaginary we have about the wild life in Africa. You really got the perfect picture. Well done.
Antonio

jmcl (13839) 2008-03-19 22:06

Hi David,

Wonderful moment .. your friend looks like he is enjoying his moment ... nice capture of some rapid motion .. very nice.

take care,

John

Waylim (10817) 2008-03-20 19:40

David,
I always love watching zebras, I have all the time in the world, I would have spent more time watching them when I was in Kenya and Tanzania. They always seem to be doing something very funny. Well funny to us anyway. Great moment you captured here. I love the spirit of this image, it makes me happy. All is fine not much to critique. Well done. TFS
Way

angela926 (1882) 2008-03-21 19:36

Hello david,
Great shot, fantastic timing, very good composition and pov, good sharpness, beautiful colors and nice contrast.
angela

Lyndall (211) 2008-04-16 6:23

Hi Dave
A lovely capture of a happy zebra having a dust bath. Excellent focus and detail and POV. The pattern of black and white is so perfect.
TFS:)
Lyndall

zmey (7250) 2008-04-22 5:07

hello, david

you have a lot of amazing shots in your gallery. this one made me stop and smile today... excellent timing with this cheerful zebra capture.

warm regards,
kristaps

smarcell (14327) 2008-05-12 0:22

Your Serengeti pictures are very interesting and rather different from the usual pictures taken in this area.
Here you have captured a very special scene.
Regards Stefano