Kalahari Silhouettes

Gallery: WildlifePosted May 31, 2011219 views20 comments

Okay, I admit, I am a sucker for silhouettes and always on the look-out for a good opportunity at sunset or sunrise. On Friday night, just as we arrived at our campsite after a long drive, we were greeted at the waterhole by a co-operative herd of Giraffe. I had to act quickly though and get out of my car carefully and all stiff after a long drive over sandy roads to obtain the lowest angle possible: down to earth (literally). Giraffe of course are the most ideal animals for silhouettes as they tower so high above anything else. Yet still it is always surprising how difficult, if not impossible it is to get their bodies above the horizon line unless you make an effort to get down, particularly in areas that do not have perfect straight and clear horizons, but bushy slightly inclining dunes…

Am not too fond of the protruding tree from the left and could clone it out, but would like to gauge from your opinions how intrusive it really is… Thanks!

Khutse Game Reserve, Kalahari Desert, Botswana
Camera Model Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Shutter Speed 1/1250 Sec.
Aperture Value f/5.0
Metering Mode Evaluative Metering
Exposure Compensation -1/3
ISO Speed 400
Lens EF100-4005mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM @ 210
About FF (slight rotation correction and added a sliver on top)

Comments

20 comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on May 31, 2011 at 2:34 PM

Excellent silhouette. The trees and shrubbery all add to the flavor for me. Not intrusive at all in my opinion. The tree on the left is in the focal plane of the giraffe(s?) and is just about the only vegetation in focus, thereby lending a more detailed feel to the giraffe. If that makes sense.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on May 31, 2011 at 2:56 PM

Perfectly executed with nice color from the sun and the tail whipping adds a bit of action to this scene

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

Comment posted by Max Waugh on May 31, 2011 at 4:18 PM

I'm not fond of the tree either, but I'm less fond of cloning. Leave it in!

I love the transition from blue to gold. Gorgeous.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on May 31, 2011 at 4:46 PM

Very nice silhouette with some good colors to the background. The tree on left is no big deal and for me actually adds some sense of scale in relation to how tall the giraffes are, nice job in getting this, well done.

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

Comment posted by Butch Lama on May 31, 2011 at 6:45 PM

I'm just awe by this beautiful shot & glad you didn't clone the tree out. Beautiful variation of BG light & with the silhouetted Giraffe its striking.Thanks for sharing this Vincent. Bravo

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

Comment posted by Anand Narayanan on May 31, 2011 at 8:51 PM

FANTASTIC

Even the little things are in place, like the hair standing on the back of the neck, the popping eyelashes etc....

Regarding the tree on left, I wish it wasn't there. Hope they browse it clean by the time they pose for you again

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

Comment posted by Steve Canuel on May 31, 2011 at 10:41 PM

Great colors and they've got a nice smooth transition between them. The giraffes are nice and crisp and have provided you with a nice grouping. Tree on the left provides a nice closing element for that side and makes a nice diagonal with the bushes on the right.

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

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on June 1, 2011 at 3:50 AM

Beautiful silhouette Vincent, all the better for the low POV you acquired :^)

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

Comment posted by Harshad Barve on June 1, 2011 at 5:29 AM

very nicely done

Registered on July 25, 2010, 39 Posts, 210 Comments

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on June 1, 2011 at 7:40 AM

Great silhouette against beautiful sky !
Although not very friendly about cloning, I could have done it here.
Jagdeep Rajput

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

Comment posted by Neal Cooper on June 1, 2011 at 2:06 PM

Vincent. I agree with you on the tree on the left, but like the overall composition and the wagging tail centre frame. I like the image 10/10.

Registered on June 3, 2009, 144 Posts, 306 Comments

Comment posted by kiran khanzode on June 1, 2011 at 8:13 PM

Vincent,

Great angle ! Love the 3 distinct colors of sky here, wish the Giraffe bodies were a bit darker...so as to make a complete silhouette....

. Another vote against that tree/branches on the left...

Registered on February 21, 2009, 83 Posts, 428 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on June 2, 2011 at 12:04 AM

Superb....Leave the tree.

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

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on June 2, 2011 at 12:18 AM

For some unknown reason I seem to have forgotten to post a comment on this.

Very nice silhouette with just enough darkness, as for the bush I could take it or leave it but think that getting rid of it would probably improve the balance of the composition.

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments

Comment posted by James Campbell on June 2, 2011 at 8:03 AM

I like this shot a lot Vincent. Personally, I would prefer it without the shrubbery on the left, but like many others, am also not a fan of cloning anything out! Awesome use of low perspective though

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

Comment posted by James Campbell on June 2, 2011 at 8:05 AM

I like this shot a lot Vincent. Personally, I would prefer it without the shrubbery on the left, but like many others, am also not a fan of cloning anything out! Awesome use of low perspective though

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

Comment posted by mark cillo on June 3, 2011 at 11:44 AM

Stunning silhouette. I like how the giraffes seem to be paired up, it gives a sense of symmetry to the image

Registered on July 27, 2008, 143 Posts, 1483 Comments

Comment posted by Upjeet Singh on June 4, 2011 at 4:35 AM

Marvelous silhouette, and love the pairing of Giraffe's and of course the whipping movement of the tail as added before. The background looks wonderful, damn neat image.

Though If possible the branches on the left, if they could have been cloned it would be interesting to see the image.

Registered on May 8, 2010, 50 Posts, 55 Comments

Comment posted by David Sewell on June 5, 2011 at 9:30 AM

Personally, I would take that vegetation out - or show more of it if that is an option. However, that in no way detracts from a magnificent shot.

David

Registered on September 10, 2008, 63 Posts, 801 Comments

Comment posted by Vijay Raj on June 6, 2011 at 9:06 PM

This one is special, the two tone bg works well. The tail lashing puts it over the top.

Registered on November 22, 2010, 29 Posts, 100 Comments