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by Vincent Grafhorst

Gallery: WildlifePosted September 13, 2010252 views24 comments
This time of year, the windy season, there is often a lot of dust in the air here. That, combined perhaps with smoke from bush fires, made for very hazy conditions which obscured the setting sun and produced beautiful hues. I was frantically looking for a subject, which I found in the form of this tailless male giraffe…


Nxai Pan National Park Botswana
Camera Model Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
Shutter Speed 1/250 Sec
Aperture Value f/8.0
Exposure Compensation -1/3
ISO Speed 400
Lens EF500mm f/4L IS USM
Single exposure, several RAW conversions
Cropp is app 75% of original

Comments

24 comments
Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on September 13, 2010 at 3:26 PM
Vincent....this is stunning! no nits from me....just admiration and open mouth stare!
Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments
Comment posted by Jerry Imprevento on September 13, 2010 at 3:33 PM
I'd sell the wife to get an image like this...Glad she isn't an NPN member. Stunning Vincent!!
Registered on September 11, 2010, 29 Posts, 78 Comments
Comment posted by Max Waugh on September 13, 2010 at 3:41 PM
Sweet shot. Every time I saw a sunset like this in SA (though the sun wasn't nearly as big) I was looking for a giraffe to use in a composition, but for some reason they wouldn't comply. :wink:

Max
Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments
Comment posted by Muhammad Zaid Wani on September 13, 2010 at 3:54 PM
Great photograph, Vincent. I like the colors a lot.
Registered on August 18, 2005, 23 Posts, 1406 Comments
Comment posted by Guy Runco on September 13, 2010 at 4:27 PM
Beautiful shot Vincent - love the sunset tones!

:toast:
Registered on September 9, 2008, 77 Posts, 705 Comments
Comment posted by Bob McQuade on September 13, 2010 at 5:50 PM
Very nice comp, I like
Registered on October 8, 2009, 214 Posts, 432 Comments
Comment posted by Ken Archer on September 13, 2010 at 6:41 PM
Awesome image Vincent!!! :cool:

Ken Archer
Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments
Comment posted by Carol Nichols on September 13, 2010 at 6:45 PM
Wow, just amazing :toast:
Registered on November 7, 2007, 161 Posts, 1420 Comments
Comment posted by Neil Rossmiller on September 13, 2010 at 10:14 PM
Hey Vincent,
Clean, simple and outstanding.
No nits here.
Well done!
Neil
Registered on October 30, 2009, 156 Posts, 749 Comments
Comment posted by Butch Lama on September 13, 2010 at 11:22 PM
Man...Its such a surreal image. Except being awe, there's nothing more I can add to comment.
Registered on July 23, 2010, 42 Posts, 316 Comments
Comment posted by Steve Canuel on September 13, 2010 at 11:33 PM
Great feel to this one Vincent. Color transitions of the sky look real smooth and to have the giraffe looking into the frame really tops this off. Nicely done.
Registered on September 12, 2010, 53 Posts, 660 Comments
Comment posted by Andy Shepherd on September 14, 2010 at 3:13 AM

This is one of the best giraffe shots I've seen in a very long time, Vincent. Top drawer image :toast:

Andy...
Registered on September 24, 2006, 123 Posts, 1254 Comments
Comment posted by Sandra Hendrikse on September 14, 2010 at 4:13 AM
Wonderfull image. Very well done. :smile: :smile:
Registered on January 23, 2008, 48 Posts, 769 Comments
Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on September 14, 2010 at 8:10 AM
It has all been said!
Jagdeep Rajput :toast:
PS. Don't exchange it with someone's wife. :biggrin:
Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments
Comment posted by Patricia K. Buys on September 14, 2010 at 9:06 AM
Caught my eye, Vincent! And I immediately thought of you. Beautiful shot!! I have absolutely nothing to add...like it just the way it is.
Registered on November 12, 2009, 7 Posts, 13 Comments
Comment posted by Darren Colello on September 14, 2010 at 1:22 PM
Superb image in every regard. One of my favs, exceptionally well done Vincent. :toast: :toast:
Registered on July 27, 2009, 175 Posts, 1100 Comments
Comment posted by Sandipan Dutta on September 14, 2010 at 2:26 PM
Fabulous image... :toast:
Registered on March 9, 2009, 171 Posts, 493 Comments
Comment posted by Matt Taylor on September 14, 2010 at 2:48 PM
Superb composition and lighting
Matt
Registered on July 31, 2010, 5 Posts, 91 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Lou on September 14, 2010 at 10:38 PM
The dust and smoke helped to scatter the light to create this amazing photo. Wonderful composition with vertical framing. I will definitely visit this magic continent one day with my camera;)

Jim
Registered on August 3, 2010, 86 Posts, 273 Comments
Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on September 15, 2010 at 12:57 AM
Vincent, promise me you'll get me a scene like this in November! :toast: :toast: :toast:
Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments
Comment posted by Howard Cheek on September 15, 2010 at 8:27 PM
I have nothing but praise for this Vincent, sounds like the conditions were perfect for this type of shot.
Turned out very nice..One could even say it has that intangible or mystical quality that elevates it to higher plane :smile: A work of art.
Well done :toast: :toast:
Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments
Comment posted by Ingrid Vekemans on September 18, 2010 at 5:07 AM
A photographer's dream when the animals want to cooperate at sunrise/sunset :smile:
Absolutely beautiful shot...
Registered on August 2, 2010, 138 Posts, 780 Comments
Comment posted by Lon Sharp on September 20, 2010 at 8:38 AM
Super composition... :smile:
Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments
Comment posted by Sam Rua on September 20, 2010 at 9:54 AM
Gorgeous capture, Vincent. Fantastic comp. :toast:
Registered on September 9, 2006, 130 Posts, 2281 Comments