African Wild Dog Photo

Photographer’s Note

The highly intelligent African Wild Dog, taken at the Kruger National Park last year. This was a shot from my old Fuji "non-digital" camera - the shutter actually gave up the ghost while taking this series of shots! I know the quality is not the best, but these animals are very interesting, and since I've had my new digital, I haven't seen them again. Here's some info on the wild dog:

Lycaon pictus (painted wolf in Latin), is an unlikely creature; long-legged and slender, with broad skull and hyena-like ears, he looks like an awkward teenage boy, not yet full-grown. It lives in small packs of seven to 10 adults for cooperative hunting and raising of pups. The pack may travel a range of several hundred square miles in its search for prey. They eat anything that is edible, even insects, but generally prefer a good dose of fresh meat.

Tech: Cropped and adjusted levels (Weather was bad). Hope you enjoy.

nwoehnl, hispic, RobBrown, jrj, Kenny10pin, prlcs, spence, hojper, Jan100 has marked this note useful

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Eagle78 (1925) 2004-05-25 16:24

Love the composition Judy! The way you did not centered them in the image letting the green space around for us to explore increases the idea of the dogs runaway. In spite of this, the image looks a bit dark..too bad for the weather. Anyway i like it, good job :)

RobBrown (1789) 2004-05-25 18:34

Good view I like the open vister behind them good action of the movement too, nice to see them in natural surroundings.

nwoehnl (118) 2004-05-26 3:16

Again you show us a fine wildlife capture in the natural setting of KNP. I remember seeing those guys in a wildlife documentary a while ago, based on their distinctive ears and on the raising of pups you mention in their note of which they had some irresistable footage. I like how they are running in front of the natural green setting. Too bad that the big tree right of center in the back is cut, I would have liked to see it in all its glory. Good shot, Judy!
Sorry to learn though that this shot commemorates the end-of-life of your old camera.

jrj (34777) 2004-05-26 5:19

Good capture of this animals on their way.
Maybe alittle underexposed, on the other side very strong colours well suited for this pix.
Good job Judy

Kenny10pin (19301) 2004-05-26 13:29

great photo of the pack of wild dogs, very nice work, I guess they are dangerous together.

well done and the forestery areas are very nice, well done

prlcs (63) 2004-05-27 7:12

On voit que la météo n'était pas au rendez-vous effectivement, les nuages à l'arrière plan non pas l'air très réjouissant. Mais la photo est très équilibrée. Les couleurs demeurent très jolies. Bravo !

spence (1679) 2004-05-27 7:41

This is interesting Judy - both photo and note. I like your composition and the lovely green makes a fine background. And I like the way one of the dogs is looking straight towards you. I suspect they may be a bit similar to our Australian dingo.

hojper (2830) 2004-06-07 12:00

At first I thought, she should have cropped to concentrate on the animals, but of course you shouldn't. It's a wonderful shot where the animals are only the introduction. The real excitement IMHO is in the varied vegetation of the bush and the strange overcast and violet glow of the sky (or is that just a byproduct of the old camera? I know you say the weather was bad, but violet?). Anyway, I see this as a landscape with dogs and not as dogs with a background. I like it.

jrzufferey (7249) 2004-06-08 5:23

Superbe photographie ces Lycaon bêtes peu sympatiques par ailleur. Je n'ai pas réussi à les photographier dans le kruger il y a bien longtemps et ça me fait bien plaisir de les voir sur ton clichet.Région absolument magnifique. Amicalement/jr