The national symbol Photo

Photographer’s Note

The national symbol of Mongolia, the Przewalski horse or Takh, has returned to its country of origin. The only truly wild horse has recovered from a captive existence abroad to now roam free in the wild forests and steppes of the Hustai National Park. The remarkable come-back tells a story that spans well over 30 years.

First, a breeding programme secured the genetic basis that allowed to build a new population. Second, two generations of selected horses hardened-off and re-learnt their social behaviour in semi-reserves in The Netherlands and Germany. Third, groups from the semi-reserves were brought to a carefully selected natural area in Mongolia. Here, in their natural habitat, they were finally set free.

Today, Przewalski horses prosper in Hustai National Park. They display their natural group-behaviour, stand the harsh winters, protect their young from wolves and produce offspring. Once this viable population was secured, the current programme’s activities are concentrated on the park’s protection and to help ascertain a novel and durable relationship between man and the Przewalski horse.

http://www.treemail.nl/takh/

stiginthedump, leo61, paulw, thaprem, Rychach has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

paulw (2014) 2006-08-30 11:34

Lovely image. Very good use of B&W. I think though that the image is just slightly too dark. Very nice scene in your image. Well captured.

pilpel-adom (3016) 2006-08-30 11:52

Interesting picture, Benjamin! Composition is tight and smart, locating the man and horse at the edge of the frame and opening the space behind them as the "travel space" and allowing the observation of the hill and landscape sorrounding this rider...The B&W version is very nice, though Im curious as to how the original looks like...the monochrome merges the landscape and I feel that the original colors would have added depth here (I guess there was dull lighting conditions that made you choose the B&W version, as well as the prominent silhouette of the rider...).
Well taken - looking forward for more!
Chen

battousai (827) 2006-08-30 12:04

Dear Benjamin,

Thank you for this wonderful B&W photo as well as nice informative note. It's funny that national symbol of Mongolia is named after a Polish person :) I like you photo very much though I think that the rider is somewhat a little bit too dark.

Best regards

Pawel

stiginthedump (1823) 2006-08-30 12:10

Ah ha! So you've been traveling to Mongolia then. I was wondering why you've been so quiet as of late. (as have I).

Sweet black and white conversion this Ben and while it would have been nice to have the whole of the horse in the frame, I can fully relate the note to the photo.

Thanks

kebek (5434) 2006-08-30 13:18

Serwus Benjamin !
Very stylish treatment. Excellent black and white, fantastic tonality. The crop is well executed as i feel dropped into this magnifficent landscape.
Best wishes,
Mat

leo61 (42868) 2006-08-30 13:39

Hi Benjamin!
Good Mongolia shot again,one of my dream destinations.
Good composition with the horse and rider at the left side and the view at this nice landscape.Nice in B&W and good contrast.
Regards,Leo

t0mmm1 (5434) 2006-08-30 14:11

Hi Benjamin,
wonderful shot of this wild wild East ;) I like the scenery and the way you've captured the horse with the rider in this solitary steppa and I really love the B/W treatment. Wonderful!
Have a nice day,
Tomi

jinju (14265) 2006-08-31 3:35

Hey ben,

looks like I cant read TE very well:) I had expected your pigeon shot to get more feedback, for me its still your best. But here, very good. Tonality is good. What are you using to convert to b/w? Good positioning in the frame although why on this side and not on the other?

As far as the horse, why does a Mongolian national symbol have a Polish name?

thaprem (2458) 2006-09-06 12:50

Benjamin,
A very dramatic shot!...
The dynamism is well evident with the slight blur on the horse against a sharp BG!...
Fantastic light & detail.
Evokes a lot of story!...
Cheers,
Prem.