Angry Elephant

Gallery: WildlifePosted October 3, 2011143 views8 comments

This African Elephant matriarch was not impressed by us when the herd suddenly appeared next to the road and we were in their way.

Captured in the far north of the Kruger National Park, South Africa.

Techs:
Nikon D7000 with Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 VR-II + 1.4xTC @ 110mm
f4.0 @ 1/400 SS @ ISO-800
The setting sun cast her in gold on the RHS
95% of full frame, cropped for rotation

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on October 3, 2011 at 9:16 PM

Morel, I think I would have had to change my drawers after this encounter

! I really like the behavior you captured...especially being in the midst of an angry elephant! The ears are dimly awesome and really show the mood of this fellow.

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

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on October 4, 2011 at 12:28 AM

I appreciate the low shooting angle making this elephant look tall (which of course she is

) The warm side light helps as well. The pale featureless sky and the elephant in the BG on the other hand detract from my appreciation of this.

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by Lucy VanSwearingen on October 4, 2011 at 4:40 PM

Glad you were there, and not I, .. I don't think I would have had to "play dead" and wait for him to go away. The stroke or the heart attack would have been enough for him to leave me alone!
Great behavior shot

Registered on May 23, 2009, 800 Posts, 2042 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Walters on October 4, 2011 at 8:34 PM

Really like the way the angle emphasizes the size. Very dramatic looking image with the flapping ears.

Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on October 5, 2011 at 3:39 AM

Fantastic shot Morkel! Love the assertive pose and the upward fling of her trunk. For all the shots I got of Elephants in the Kruger I didn't have even a single opportunity to capture on with wide spread ears, in fact, none of my Elephant shots came out pleasing at all. So real please to see at least you had some success ;^)

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

Comment posted by David Sewell on October 5, 2011 at 4:49 AM

She looks fed up with you. I do like the way the sun has lit her from the side, it adds to the drama of the picture.

David

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

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on October 5, 2011 at 7:07 AM

Thanks for the feedback and comments, folks!

Vincent - always appreciate your honest crits, and those things that bugged you are what detract from the shot for me too...

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

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on October 5, 2011 at 4:38 PM

Thanks Bill! I have not noticed much of a loss of IQ when using the 1.4x TC with the 70-200mm f2.8 VR-II...works quite nicely!

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