In trouble!

Gallery: WildlifePosted January 24, 2011248 views8 comments

Unfortunately African Wild Dogs are extremely endangered. Botswana's Okavango Delta is one of their last strongholds and one of the best places to sight them. During my November 'Back To The Wild' tour we were lucky enough to encounter a pack of 12 dogs that had just finished eating (most likely a large bird like a goose, the feather remains can be seen in this image). All of a sudden the dogs started to play and run all around us. A fantastic shooting opportunity, but also a difficult one; all happened sudden and fast and movements were hard to predict with action happening far and then very close. And of course it didn't last long enough...

Wild Dogs (Lyceon pictus)
Khwai, Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana
Camera Model Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
Shutter Speed 1/800 Sec.
Aperture Value f/6.3
ISO Speed 1250
Lens EF500mm f/4L IS USM
FF width, cropped to pano

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on January 24, 2011 at 7:38 AM

It's an action packed shot and since you had three dogs in the frame, they made your task difficult. Their tails support your story, I like how the face of last dog is framed with middle dog's tail but I do wish for better POV showing middle dog's complete face.
I may crop a bit on the left side.
Jagdeep Rajput

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

Comment posted by Butch Lama on January 24, 2011 at 9:55 AM

Great interaction of playfulness of the social bonding pack captured nicely.

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

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on January 24, 2011 at 1:05 PM

A little difficult to see what's going on here, but it carries a lot of excitement with it, which is I'm sure what you were feeling at the time. What a special experience!

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on January 24, 2011 at 3:13 PM

I did not know the situation with the wild dogs plight. Wonderful spontaneous action plus the colors on the dogs are very interesting, well done.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on January 24, 2011 at 10:33 PM

It never lasts long enough! Great experience Vincent. I really like the feel of totally candid, natural play behavior1

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

Comment posted by Oscar Benavides on January 25, 2011 at 7:45 AM

Interesting behavior captured, Vincent. I would like to see both eyes of the dog in the middle but anyway it's a nice acction shot.

Registered on January 2, 2011, 12 Posts, 141 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on January 25, 2011 at 8:20 AM

Hey Vincent,

Great experience and definitely one of those situations where you have to take (and be happy with) what you can get. I like the almost continuous line the 3 dogs form - looks like that poor guy in the middle is getting it from both ends! In a perfect world (and I'll let you know when I find it!

) I'd like a little more DOF and have that nearest dog move its left ear out of the way, but what can you do - you pretty much have to just fire and pray in these situations!

Cheers...

Brad

Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on January 27, 2011 at 12:26 AM

I remember this very well, Vincent. Yes, the sighting of these 12 wild dogs, and another pack of 9 in Savute, was one of the highlights of the trip.

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