Wildlife - 1st HM

Gallery: EPA 2011Posted October 27, 20114,398 views38 comments

Power

Photo of the Month 12/11

This hippo was photographed in Zambia, Kafue Park (Hippo Lodge). It was 8.30 in the morning but light was not great anymore, so I made B/W photo. Only borders are darken additionally (I hope it still can be in wildlife).
Because water level in the Kafue river was very low, they had hard time to quickly hide in the water, so quite few males was angry on us gliding so closely to them on the water with our old boat. This one start coming to us, showing who is the boss, so we moved on, I just took photos while driving near him.

Regards, Gorazd

Comments

38 comments

Comment posted by Anand Narayanan on October 27, 2011 at 3:29 AM

One of the most powerful portraits ive seen here ! Intimidating and intriguing all at once. Just Exquisite

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

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on October 27, 2011 at 6:13 AM

I am not a great fan of B& W, but this works very well, getting so low has really helped here. I probably should not say so but it reminds me of Andy Rouses remarkable Hippos.

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

Comment posted by Jorne de Bruin on October 27, 2011 at 8:35 AM

This is simply superb! Love the intimidating factor in this portrait and I think b&w is the right presentation for this! (the darkend water edges work very well). ALso love the water spray at hte hippo's snout. Very well executed!

Registered on June 26, 2008, 178 Posts, 2136 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on October 27, 2011 at 8:48 AM

Your title for this image really is accurate. This image exudes power. The B&W processing looks great. Very nice.

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on October 27, 2011 at 10:34 AM

I think the tones in the face and water look great in black and white, but I'm not quite as fond of the darkened edges. Perhaps a bit too dark for my tastes. With the loss of so much detail on the sides, it makes me start wishing for a vertical crop.

Max

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

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on October 27, 2011 at 12:30 PM

This is a very powerful portrait indeed Gorazd! Excellent choice to go B&W and turn this into an artistic looking wall-hanger. A great image.

These indeed are very dangerous animals and on numerous encounters where I wanted to go closer, guides, boat drivers and polers chickened out and kept their safe distance (wisely, but to my frustration...)

Would have been nice if you shared your techs (shooting info; camera, lens, exposure etc.) with us.

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

Comment posted by Allen Brooks on October 27, 2011 at 12:38 PM

A very compelling photograph. I echo the positive comments already given. If I had a vote, this would be a weekly pick. Great job.

Registered on July 27, 2011, 262 Posts, 2597 Comments

Comment posted by Butch Lama on October 27, 2011 at 3:48 PM

Great shot & awesome POV. Love the skin tone in this B&W.

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

Comment posted by Richard Teller on October 27, 2011 at 8:04 PM

I will add my "very powerful image" comment to the rest. The low angle really makes me feel I am in the image. I too am not a fan of B&W, but this one works very well. Superb Image.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Guy Runco on October 27, 2011 at 10:17 PM

Cool B&W Gorazd. I agree that the edges might be just a bit too dark, but to my eye the water and hippo are plenty sharp and the shot certainly is "powerful". Nice job.

Registered on September 9, 2008, 77 Posts, 705 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on October 28, 2011 at 6:10 PM

This is one incredible photo. So Intimidating

Excellent B & W processing.

Excellent Photo Gorazd

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Gorazd Golob on October 28, 2011 at 7:16 PM

Thank you all for your nice comments.
First EXIF: D300, AFS-500mm f/4,0 lens, ISO 250, F/4,8, 1/750s
View from very old boat, lens was almost on the water. This boat was only one for upstream shallow waters and because of this water hippos were more nervous. So it wasn't so close (crop senzor and 500 lens), I would like to take such photo with 14-24 lens

.
And ranger was willing to go a little closer but my friend with us in the boat wasn't, so we stay on safe distance (it is nice to have someone else to blame

).
Light was good but not great, so I changed it to B&W and I think this gives impression of more powerful look then in color.
Thanks and

Gorazd

Registered on December 28, 2010, 23 Posts, 53 Comments

Comment posted by John Kerr on October 28, 2011 at 7:51 PM

Award winning shot here Gorazd. Well done.

Registered on October 28, 2009, 111 Posts, 1070 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on October 29, 2011 at 5:41 PM

Well done, with wonderful point of view. I agree the darkened corners and edges may intrude, but sometimes you go for a certain effect and I think this works well for a high drama presentation. I would have liked to know more about shooting specifications, equipment and how much of the original frame this represents.

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

Comment posted by James Campbell on November 1, 2011 at 3:27 PM

Totally awesome! Intimate eye level perspective, black and white works beautifully and great composition

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

Comment posted by Carol Hyman on November 3, 2011 at 12:17 PM

Great shot, Gorazd. The B/W treatment is perfect. Congrats on the EP. Well deserved.

Regards,

Carol

Registered on January 18, 2007, 597 Posts, 8062 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on November 3, 2011 at 7:14 PM

Wonderful image!
Congratulations on the EP

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on November 3, 2011 at 7:37 PM

Wow! Don't know how I missed seeing this before. Amazing shot Gorazd, couldn't be much more in your face! Really like the way you've practically filled the frame, very nice capture indeed and a well deserved WP :^)

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on November 4, 2011 at 5:03 PM

Congrats Gorazd! I know you like beer so I'm giving you lots of them

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Smith on November 6, 2011 at 1:25 PM

Superb! B/W covers this so well! WP...well deserved!!

Registered on September 5, 2008, 449 Posts, 2444 Comments

Comment posted by Gorazd Golob on November 6, 2011 at 1:50 PM

Thank you all.

Registered on December 28, 2010, 23 Posts, 53 Comments

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on November 7, 2011 at 12:35 AM

One of the most menacingly beautiful and powerpacked images of a hippo in a long time!

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on November 7, 2011 at 1:53 AM

Very exceptional - the B/W treatment is perfect to convey the mass and strength of this beast.
Comgrats on a very fine EP!
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on December 5, 2011 at 11:33 AM

Very interesting shot, Gorazd--congrats on the cover honor!

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Karin De Winter on December 5, 2011 at 12:21 PM

Great hippo portrait ! I do like the B&W processing in wildlife photography a lot, and here it adds up to the power of the image. I like to see textures in this kind of photos. Because of the darkened edges, all focus is on its huge and potentially dangerous snout, and the fact that the contours of its body are vague, makes the impact of the image even more threatening. Very well done ! Best regards, Karin.

Registered on February 23, 2011, 7 Posts, 13 Comments

Comment posted by Carol Hyman on December 6, 2011 at 1:18 PM

What a wonderful surprise, Gorazd. Didn't know you were on NPN. Congratulations on "Power" being selected as the Photo of the Month. Way to go.

Carol

Registered on January 18, 2007, 597 Posts, 8062 Comments

Comment posted by Jeff Hackett on December 6, 2011 at 9:49 PM

Pretty powerful and I can't look away!

Registered on March 13, 2006, 65 Posts, 1119 Comments

Comment posted by Shane McDermott on December 7, 2011 at 3:10 PM

This is absolutely superb - very striking image. Congrats!!

Registered on November 12, 2007, 49 Posts, 1074 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Speaks on December 10, 2011 at 9:23 PM

Powerful and evocative image: made all the more by the use of B/W.

Bill

Registered on September 12, 2004, 6 Posts, 10 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on January 3, 2012 at 12:47 AM

Stunning image - congrats on the 1st HM!
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by William Bickle on January 3, 2012 at 4:33 PM

Hello Gorazd

CONGRATS.... Well deserved!!

Bill

Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on January 3, 2012 at 8:25 PM

Such a cool shot congratulations on your well deserved award.

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on January 3, 2012 at 10:13 PM

They picked the right one in my opinion. Truly fantastic. Congrats

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Mohammad Hosseini on January 5, 2012 at 8:24 AM

Congrats Gorazd, You deserve it. well done

Registered on May 16, 2011, 15 Posts, 301 Comments

Comment posted by Gorazd Golob on January 5, 2012 at 8:51 AM

Thank you very much. I was really happy with photo of the week, then month and now this is great honor. Thank you all again. (now i have probles what to show next, not all my photos are that good

)

Best regards, Gorazd

Registered on December 28, 2010, 23 Posts, 53 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on January 6, 2012 at 10:06 AM

Very cool shot Gorazd, congratulations on the Wildlife 1st HM, way to go.

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

Comment posted by Roman Kurywczak on February 3, 2012 at 10:08 PM

Love the head on view and conversion. congrats on the award too!

Registered on November 20, 2009, 56 Posts, 748 Comments

Comment posted by Mario Moreno on November 30, 2012 at 1:28 PM

WOW !!! should sum it all ........... outstanding image and superb in monochrome

Registered on January 24, 2012, 163 Posts, 369 Comments