Different Poses, a photo from Kweneng, South

Photographer's Note

This photo was taken at 500mm (750mm on the D100) from over 120 meters. I also had to crop the original file quite a lot, which means that the animals are not nearly as sharp as I would normally like them. The long focal length also compresses the image quite a lot.

Anyway, I still think it makes for an interesting photo, showing three Springbok in different poses. They are beautiful and graceful animals!

The Springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) is South Africa's national animal. Its habitat is open, dry shrubby veld, grass plains or dry riverbeds. Their horns are +/- 35cm long, and males weigh between 33 and 48 kg.

I've also heard people referring to them as "Mc Donalds", because there are ususally so many of them and many predators hunt and eat them....

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olli (2091) 2004-02-03 5:40

What a beautiful animal! I like the different poses of them. Technically excellent shot. Great light, beautiful tones.

As in your previous shot the simple background works well, but I just wish there were some interesting elements...

avigur_11 (22535) 2004-02-03 5:41

They look so thin and elegant. I much like the one who scratches his neck, I thought that only dogs do that. I love the three different poses, each one of the is nice, but together it makes a wonderful composition.Beautiful!
I am out of WS, and you know my way to spoil the nature (and I see here many wonderful posibilities..), so I'll not post a WS today ;-)

manny (21833) 2004-02-03 5:44

they look so elegant. your composition juxtapose them in an interesting angle. with darker background, their color would have stood out. a good shot.

PechePassion (483) 2004-02-03 5:57

Je me posais beaucoup de question sur cette objectif Sigma 50-500 F4-6.3, voila que tu va finir pas m'obliger à l'acheter !

Couleurs et détails whaou c'est encore une fois une superbe photo animalière que tu nous propose Henry !

Le fait qu'elles aient chacune une posture différente rajoute le petit plus à la photo.

Midnight_sun (1941) 2004-02-03 6:02

They look really fast.. fast food?! The colours of their fur are great, i like the contrast of the white and brown here. Well taken.

robbertjan (2906) 2004-02-03 6:02

Henry, a beautiful animal pic. What a sharp shot. (How sharp are your pictures normally.:) What can i say more.... Well done.

jrj (34843) 2004-02-03 6:21

The "posing" is very nice of these Springboks. The effect added by the tele works well. A little grain, but what to expect. Again a fine composition Henry.

pascalbene (1717) 2004-02-03 6:46

I'm not sure that this frame is the better for this nice animal scene. But it doesn't matter : movement and composition are well seen. Thank you.

clodreno (0) 2004-02-03 7:05

You'll end up having a very nice collection of wildlife shots. I am impressed by your work. Hitching I guess!!!

nwoehnl (122) 2004-02-03 7:32

It does indeed make for a very engaging photo, Henry, no matter the conditions you're mentioning in your note. Excellent colors, and a unique way of catching three of those beautiful animals with each assuming a different posture. Another quality wildlife shot from you.

jhm (191607) 2004-02-03 8:00

What a beautiful animal! What a sharp shot INCREDIBLE Henry. Very well chosen moment for taking the shot. Congratulations!

gepall (1838) 2004-02-03 8:52

Wonderful shot with great texture and quality.
The animals are very beautiful and serene in their domain

Porteplume (3996) 2004-02-03 12:24

Graceful! Perfect adjectif to discribe those animals as well as your picture. A pleasure to look at it...

PS: I understand Olli's remark about missing some attractive background, the animal having a light colour on a light background.

eelliott305 (776) 2004-02-03 12:35

Nice sharp shot. The positioning of the animals is lovely, almost like you asked them to pose.

Jeppe (18654) 2004-02-03 17:44

Truly some beautiful animals you captured Henry - and the different poses makes it even more obvious. I like the diagonal line on which they stand. The DOF and sharpness great (as usual) - Keep them coming.

orme (7219) 2004-02-03 20:50

The different poses are good, Henry, but what I really like about the shot is the wonderful colours and the clear detail. Well framed.

PLD_images (7149) 2004-02-04 8:57

Great photo Henry. The composition is really good here with all the different poses. The little patches of green help to add dimention to the shot. The animals are beautiful and you have captured them so well.

McDonals... That's funny and cruel at the same time, just like nature.

JudyH (700) 2004-02-05 14:17

Really like the McDonald's bit - a very fitting description. I like the delicate colouring in line with the delicate animal - If the background was more rugged, you would have lost the beauty of them. Excellent DOF at that distance too. Great shot!

lulululu2003 (413) 2004-02-11 11:28

The pics of your Botswana series are wonderful, the animals are with fantastic colors and the fotos are well composed.
your pics are the catalyst to my next trip to Kenya.

sunny (3069) 2004-02-12 4:40

Magnificent wildlife shot! These thin and elegant springboks make a fantastic composition with their different poses indeed!