Another African Icon

Gallery: WildlifePosted October 3, 2010201 views16 comments

Like I explained on my previous post, the dust and smoke in the atmosphere have created amazing sunsets lately with the sun so filtered that you can shoot straight into it and still get detail in shadowed FG subjects.

I wish he had given me a slight head turn towards me rather than away, but he simply refused to co-operate…

Elephant Bull, Nxai Pan National Park, Botswana

Camera Model Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
Shutter Speed 1/320 Sec.
Aperture Value f/8
ISO Speed 1000
Lens EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM @ 400 mm
HH, lying on ground to get him above the tree line
Cropped from sides to 4:3 ratio

Comments

16 comments

Comment posted by Sally King on October 3, 2010 at 3:23 PM

Excellent comp. Love the dribbles of water from the elephant. Gives a sense of hot and dry even though the sun says it is late in the day. The texture of the skin adds another interesting aspect. Beautiful complex image.

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

Comment posted by Sam Rua on October 3, 2010 at 3:53 PM

Very nice comp, Vincent. Well seen and captured.

Registered on September 9, 2006, 130 Posts, 2281 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on October 3, 2010 at 4:40 PM

Very Dramatic, a beauty Vincent!!!

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on October 3, 2010 at 5:26 PM

Excellent composition and The lighting is very nice... kind of a sad look to it actually which can be a plus if used in the right context.

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

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on October 3, 2010 at 7:24 PM

He is near enough to a 90 degree orientation to your lens to emphasize the graphic appeal of his shape against that hazy background. Nice comp.

Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments

Comment posted by Anand Narayanan on October 3, 2010 at 9:01 PM

Amazing !!

If the sun were a little lower, it would appear as if he is holding the sun up with his trunk and tusks

Registered on October 25, 2009, 110 Posts, 835 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on October 4, 2010 at 12:56 AM

Excellent image Vincent. The elphant and setting sun make for a most dramatic composition.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on October 4, 2010 at 1:32 AM

Anyway you were lying on the ground, Vincent. All you had to do would have been to walk up towards him. You would have got your head turn!

I am licking my lips in anticipation of the impending visit. Please make sure that the dust and smoke are still there!

Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments

Comment posted by Andy Shepherd on October 4, 2010 at 3:35 AM

Yes, this is a superb piece of photography and as already mentioned, the composition is spot on.

Andy...

Registered on September 24, 2006, 123 Posts, 1254 Comments

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on October 4, 2010 at 9:03 AM

Interesting frame & composition here!
Agree about the head turn.
Jagdeep Rajput

Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments

Comment posted by Darren Colello on October 4, 2010 at 5:27 PM

I like this image very much Vincent, it is quite engaging. I would almost be interested in viewing a comp not including the background trees. Well done here though a truly iconic African image.

Registered on July 27, 2009, 175 Posts, 1100 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on October 4, 2010 at 10:11 PM

The big mammal deserves a big bold sun like that. Really strong image Vincent. The slightly low key lighting adds to the dramatic feel.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on October 5, 2010 at 12:47 PM

Vincent 6 words...print large and hang on wall!

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Canuel on October 5, 2010 at 10:43 PM

Great atmosphere on this one Vincent. Shadow detail looks very good. The head turn away works ok for me as it gives me the sense of him enjoying the unusual sunset too.

Registered on September 12, 2010, 53 Posts, 660 Comments

Comment posted by Butch Lama on October 7, 2010 at 11:13 AM

Its a visual treat, great composition.

Registered on July 23, 2010, 42 Posts, 316 Comments

Comment posted by Ingrid Vekemans on October 8, 2010 at 12:59 AM

Very nice.............

Registered on August 2, 2010, 138 Posts, 780 Comments