Hippo Close-Up Photo

Photographer’s Note

Back to animal portraits..... :-)

This photo was taken last week, during a work-related teambuilding event held at the Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve just outside of Johannesburg (http://www.rhinolion.co.za)

I took several shots of the hippos, to try something different, and ended up with this one, focusing on its eyes. Hope you like it.

Taken at 270mm, which is equal to 405mm on the Nikon D100 due to the 1.5x focal crop.

PLD_images, eleparc, davecall has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

snuggleaphagus (4140) 2004-03-09 3:45

Tried to look at you photo but a Hippo seems to have invaded my monitor and his now staring at me.
Amazing details. How close did you get?

Are they carnivours?
You must be very brave...

summer89 (5414) 2004-03-09 3:47

Great animal portraits, Henry.

The detail it's great and the colors too.

Well done

clodreno (0) 2004-03-09 3:49

So close.. I can touch it. I could pick his hair!! Nice catch Henry. I really have to visit your country. What a face!.

cool_s15 (4050) 2004-03-09 3:53

Wow what a great close up shot with lots of details. Very sharp image. Nice job.

PechePassion (483) 2004-03-09 3:54

lol j'aime bien ce portrait !

Ce qui est bien avec toi c'est que ta galerie c'est un peu mon theme préfére : Un zoo Virtuel !
je n'ais pas souvenir d'avoir vue un paln aussi rapprocher et surtout aussi net de cet animal .
C'est impressionant le nombres de couleurs sur son visage !

Merci Henry !

Darren (6819) 2004-03-09 4:01

This is very impressive Henry. How did you get so close? I have read that next to the mosquito, the hippo kills more people every year in Africa than any other animal. Having only seen zoo hippos,I am surprised by the redness of its skin. Good shot.

robbertjan (2906) 2004-03-09 4:20

Henry a beautful and funny close up. Super sharp with great detail. Good composition. Very well done!

Vagabond (5797) 2004-03-09 4:30

A high-quality picture with espectacular visual impact ..

jhm (83742) 2004-03-09 5:12

Back to animal portraits congratulations! Your picture for animals are wonderfull Henry, and these macro shot is very nice sharp and lovely. I like of your photo!
Dank u wel Henry, maakt er nog veel van deze.

cxxl (2680) 2004-03-09 5:42

Such small ears for such a large animal. A wonderful closeup, and a carefree expression in his face.

nwoehnl (120) 2004-03-09 8:47

Wow, I find the way he is staring at me vaguely unsettling ;-)

Great one, Henry. Incredibly sharp and detailed, and a very efficient job of cropping. It looks like he's shedding a tear out of his left eye. Very well done.

carper (66108) 2004-03-09 8:52

Wonderful macro Henry,

Goede kleuren, good cropping, and a great composition and a good note too, well done, Bravo.

avigur_11 (21307) 2004-03-09 8:58

great capture, Henry. I like the very very close view of this cute huppo. I like the colors> the eyes look like he was crying. Very well captured.

manny (21378) 2004-03-09 9:16

Composition is the top feature of this shot. The minimal colors are also interesting in a subtle and classic way. Great shot Henry.

soundsangels (1695) 2004-03-09 11:41

VRAIMENT BELLE MACRO...DES DÉTAILS À COUPER LE SOUFFLE.....les couleurs sont magnifiques...et le regard du sujet..tou à fait hilarant!!!!
Bravo!!!!

eelliott305 (776) 2004-03-09 11:56

Wonderful shot, I`ve never seen such a close-up of one of these guys. The amount of colour has surprised me, I always thought they were much darker.

Rockyboy (20582) 2004-03-09 14:13

That a very nice close-up of a very dangerous hippo. We can see a lot of details and the pink is very stunning. Impressive shot!

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jmaddocks (563) 2004-03-09 15:24

Hello Henry. Not the most beautiful picture of a hippo I've ever seen, but defintely one of the most interesting. You have captured so much detail here, and I for one love it. The hippo is truly one bizarre creature. Amazing how far apart the eyes are. They must have fantastic peripheral vision! Are those tears I see coming from both eyes?

Very well taken!

francis (697) 2004-03-09 18:49

Very interesting, great color and the image is so sharp! you have brought Hippo photography to a new level. Great shot.

orme (6746) 2004-03-10 3:40

Excellent shot, Henry. The detail is incredibly sharp. I like his 'hung-over' expression. Very well framed - as if he is pressed up against a window.

Jeppe (18623) 2004-03-12 12:43

I like this very much - I been told that the Hipo in fact the most dangerous amimal in africa and the one who's killing most people. She looks mean if you asked me - glad to see you used zoom ;-)
I noticed the nose nozzle closed - a good when living under water. Good work Henry thanks for sharing.

JudyH (700) 2004-03-12 16:59

Amazing clarity. I think I need a new camera! I'm facinated by the way you can even see how his nostril is chapped! Nice one.

dsidwell (9745) 2004-03-13 1:18

Very fun shot, Henry! I love the close up, and the eyes and the clarity. Startling that this animal kills so many people (how?). Amazing tones. Just a high quality shot.

jrj (34779) 2004-03-13 9:59

The best Hippo portrait ever?!
Indeed a great posing from the hippo where the nostrils, eyes and ears makes an incredible fine impression. Great job Henry

cloverstar (0) 2004-03-13 11:04

This type of composition really appeals to me. Love the way you only captured 3/4 of the face, leaving the rest to our imagination, and resulting in this effective shot.
Brilliant work.

PLD_images (7143) 2004-03-14 17:35

I like this one a lot Henry. So much so that it is now the backscrean on my computer. The details on this big guy are awsome and I really enjoy the way the you have framed this one.

(I have been away because of work, but I will try to get back to TE regularly soon)

gepall (1808) 2004-03-15 8:15