Black and Gold

Very nice. There's just enough detail in the giraffe to keep it interesting while shooting into the sun.

I love the golden highlighting around the giraffe from the sunset. Just a stunning photograph. No nits except maybe you could make that gold highlighting even stronger?

Good environmental portrait James. I really get a sense that the giraffe is moving, based on his posture, that's a plus. I like this image as is, an alternative crop might involve showing this as a pano, with the top of the frame just below that branch extending into the frame thus eliminating the bright sky entirely. Just an idea I thought I would throw out there.

Lovely light James and a typical bushveld scene. Good detail and I really like the oxpeckers on the neck and shoulder. I am not too fond of the OOF FG branch in the TRC. One could argue it helps with framing the image, but IMO it is too destracting to succecfully fulfil that purpose. I like Gary's idea of a pano eliminating the sky.

Hi James,

First off - good job on the exposure and/or processing of this image - you've controlled the challenging (but dramatic) light very well.

The scene is stunning...but I do think the current crop doesn't do the image justice. I like the concept of the branch in the upper right corner framing the image, but to my eye its out-of-focus nature just doesn't work with the rest of this animalscape (especially the portion in front of the sky). I would be tempted to go with (or at least try) the pano crop as suggested by Gary. If you're comfortable with cloning, it also wouldn't be too much work to get rid of the overhanging branch as the background it's obscuring is quite homogenous.

Nice shot - thanks for sharing this...

Brad

Beautiful scene James! The lighting looks wonderfull! I agree with the suggestion the others made, so I won't repeat them Looking forward to your next post!

Wonderful setting! Beautiful frame with lots of mood.
I too feel, pano will look better.
Jagdeep Rajput

Thank you everone for your comments - all suggestions and feedback much appreciated! I have been experimenting with the pano version, but it does require cloning to look right. This isn't something I am too good at (yet!) and my attempt really wasn't up to posting. I will however continue and when it looks ready I will repost for a second look

Thanks again, James

This is a good scene and the detail on the giraffe with the oxpeckers are what i like. Beside, i am annoyed by the sky (especially in the larger format) and the OOF branch. I agree with the pano format IMO immediately under the branch. My best, Luca

Wonderful shot James. Congrats on the EP!

Hi James,

Congratulations on having this image selected as the "Pick of the Week" in the Fauna Gallery. I chose the image for two main reasons:

1. Compositionally the image is very strong and well-balanced. While the subject is not large in the frame, it is well-positioned and fits so well into the terrain.

2. The lighting is fantastic, and you did a great job capturing it. Every time I look at the image I see something different in it - this last time my eyes were drawn to the grasses surrounding the giraffe - they're bathed beautifully by that warm, golden light.

Cheers...

Brad

Great shot, lots of mood. My only nit is the yellow you added to the highlight area in the sky - imho it looks unnatural, and I wouldn't mind if the area was blown out.