Ground Squirrel Missile

Gallery: WildlifePosted April 11, 2011238 views8 comments

These little guys are quite tame in the rest camps of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa, and provide lots of fun for the kids and the photographically inclined.

Here I spent some time specifically trying to capture the speed at which these guys race across the hot desert sand. Overcast skies helped soften the otherwise very harsh midday light of this arid region.

I was lying on my stomach doing pan-blur shots. Only a few came out like I intended them, with this being one of the best.

Your comments highly appreciated.

Techs:
Canon 7D with 100-400mm L IS USM @ 190mm
f14 @ 1/50 SS @ ISO-200
Shutter priority with auto ISO

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on April 11, 2011 at 7:28 PM

Best motion blur I've ever seen on a ground squirrel. Great shot, fun. enjoyable, makes me grin just looking at it. Very well executed.

Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on April 12, 2011 at 6:10 AM

Absolutely wonderful image Morkel :^) The focus on the head and eye appear to be spot on - even in this small-sized image ;^) - and the motion blur you acquired with your panning is quite simply excellent, and knowing that you were laying down for this has me all the more impressed with your skill and technique!

Very well done and most enjoyable to look at :^)

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on April 12, 2011 at 7:17 AM

Good capture of the ground squirrel in motion. Like that the head is relatively sharp. Great blur! Thanks for sharing.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on April 12, 2011 at 7:42 AM

I like this a lot, Morkel. The motion blur really makes me feel the speed. Looks like the squirrel is laughing, having a good time. And the bg colors compliment the subject colors. Like to see it bigger.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on April 12, 2011 at 12:59 PM

thanks for the feedback, glad you enjoyed it folks!

Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on April 13, 2011 at 9:44 AM

Looks like you were having as good a time as the ground squirrel!

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

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on April 13, 2011 at 12:12 PM

Very well captured !
I do wish to see it in larger size to appreciate it better.