Bat-Eared Fox No Longer

Gallery: EPA 2009Posted June 16, 20092,152 views26 comments

EPA 2009 - First Place Winner - Environmental Photojournalism Gallery

On a recent trip to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (South African side) there is one particularly treacherous road just before the park. There is plenty of wildlife just going about their business in the surrounding areas. The road is long and straight and I suppose people get complacent and put their foots down a little too hard. Judging by the various species it seems that most deaths happen in the night. Obviously this is terrible for the wildlife and potentially dangerous for the drivers. Since the wildlife will remain, it is up to us to drive responsibly in these areas, no matter how much it seems that a few extra kmph will get us there quicker...

In this image a bat-eared fox lies dead from the previous evening - the car and trailer with slow shutter hopefully adds a little effect.

Thanks for looking,

James

Nikon D700
Sigma 12-24mm (@14mm)
1/40s
f/25
ISO 100

Comments

26 comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on June 16, 2009 at 8:48 PM

This is beautifully done - and it gets the sad depressing point across. With the catchlight in the eye, the low angle and the "speeding" vehicle, it certainly tugs on the heart strings. Maybe you could send this to the park and ask them to post it with the words "Slow Down" over it.

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Paolo De Faveri on June 16, 2009 at 9:29 PM

You couldn't do it better, this goes right to the heart and it hurts!
I agree with Luke's suggestion, but I think it should be printed as large as a billboard and placed along the road to produce some effect, I'm afraid...

Paolo

Registered on August 29, 2007, 318 Posts, 1651 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Graham on June 16, 2009 at 10:55 PM

very effective, great use of a slow shutter speed to make your point

Registered on August 22, 2006, 842 Posts, 2824 Comments

Comment posted by Rudy Ruberti on June 17, 2009 at 3:12 PM

This is a powerful photograph. Very sad but very well done.

Registered on October 28, 2008, 179 Posts, 1875 Comments

Comment posted by Rebecka on June 18, 2009 at 3:21 AM

Echoing here but -- excellent photo, horribly sad.

Registered on February 5, 2009, 170 Posts, 924 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on June 18, 2009 at 6:56 AM

Very evocative and powerful image, James. Roadkill is one of my biggest peeves. I do a fair amount of driving, and ive noticed an appreciable increase in the amount of carnage in recent years, probably in good part due to the 75 mph limit that is ubiquitous now, which results in everyone driving 85 mph, even at night

I agree with Luke, this should be a billboard on the side of the highway.

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on June 18, 2009 at 8:58 AM

Whew,

It isn't often images brings tears to my eyes, but this one did.

This should be posted on a billboard along this road in an effort to slow traffic down even slightly.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Aaron Ellingsen on June 18, 2009 at 3:43 PM

What a sad story, and your photograph does an impeccable job of telling it.

These kind of images are alway very awkward for me to look at. It is so well done, yet so, so sad. I'd like to say congratulations, or nice work, but somehow it just doesn't seem right....

Registered on January 16, 2008, 56 Posts, 953 Comments

Comment posted by James Campbell on June 19, 2009 at 6:48 AM

Thank you for your comments everyone..

Aaron, I know what you mean about it not seeming quite right to say well done - it is a difficult subject to deal with.

Luke, and everyone echoing his thoughts, I have made contact with the park, offering them the image to use if they are interested. I will let you know what the response is - hopefully this can be used to help

Thanks again, i'm happy that at least the image seems to have an impact...

All the best, James

Registered on January 12, 2009, 48 Posts, 377 Comments

Comment posted by Jarrod Erbe on June 19, 2009 at 8:37 PM

Fantastic image - well done!

Registered on January 23, 2004, 34 Posts, 81 Comments

Comment posted by Paulo A.Lopes on June 23, 2009 at 6:52 AM

its the hard reality, need to balance that issue. Great image.

Registered on October 14, 2008, 122 Posts, 836 Comments

Comment posted by Greg Cope on June 23, 2009 at 3:47 PM

Wow, this is a powerful photo.

Registered on January 22, 2007, 212 Posts, 2737 Comments

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on June 23, 2009 at 4:51 PM

Very powerful image James, excellent concept and flawless execution. I actually just saw a dead bat on the side of the road near Los Angeles this weekend, so sad.

Registered on December 19, 2008, 306 Posts, 4840 Comments

Comment posted by Ganesh H Shankar on June 25, 2009 at 12:41 AM

Image speaks a thousand words - a fine example here. I think this image will not be erased from our memories - very powerful. This has to be an award winning image for sure James.

Registered on March 1, 2004, 324 Posts, 1867 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on June 25, 2009 at 3:40 AM

very poignant and sad.
Sandy r

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on August 12, 2009 at 10:32 AM

OMG i am sad as well as facinated by visuallizing you getting this shot. Super well done yet so very sad. Great EP! Byue the way Luke great idea

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Stephen on August 15, 2009 at 8:10 PM

Touching and very well done with the blurred truck speeding past.

Registered on November 11, 2007, 42 Posts, 803 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on January 2, 2010 at 7:53 PM

Powerful image, James. Congrats on the EPA!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments

Comment posted by John Williams on January 2, 2010 at 10:13 PM

Fantastic technique to capture such a story!! Congrats on the well-deserved EPA.

Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments

Comment posted by Sally King on January 3, 2010 at 10:40 AM

Makes my heart hurt and speaks volumes. Well done. Congratulations on your EPA.

Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments

Comment posted by David Bostock on January 3, 2010 at 3:58 PM

Wow! Excellent shot and technique, James. Congratulations on the EPA win.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 90 Posts, 2778 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on January 5, 2010 at 3:57 AM

High impact, very sad photo.Definitely yes, the blur of traffic juxtaposed to the corpse of the fox with its still open eyes tells the complete story and makes the commentary almost redundant. (I mean that in a GOOD way.) A 1st place EPA winner for sure. Congratulations.

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Jones on January 5, 2010 at 6:55 PM

Congrats on this well-deserved award. I don't recall seeing a better example of photojournalism on this site. Well done!

Registered on April 18, 2007, 953 Posts, 6435 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on January 6, 2010 at 9:31 AM

So sad but an amzing capture of the truth. Your pov makes it. Congratulations

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on January 27, 2010 at 2:52 AM

Congrats on the 2009 EPA! Wonderful image..
Sandy r

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Pavel Cakl on April 21, 2010 at 5:25 AM

This is just horrible ! I would like to start seeing dead bodies of people around the rounds so people will start realizing that this is just no longer tolerable !

Registered on April 8, 2010, 7 Posts, 178 Comments