Playful Elephant

Gallery: WildlifePosted January 13, 2012200 views12 comments

I enjoyed watching this young African Elephant "play with its food" in the Kruger National Park last year. It had its trunk curled around the branch of a Mopani tree. We were quite close to this breeding herd (which can usually have aggressive matriarchs) at last light, so I framed tight with the 500mm and was happy with this perspective.

B&W just enhanced the textures, form of the trunk and the mood here - especially placing the emphasis on that tender eye.

Everything around the youngster is also "elephant"...except the branch of course...(parts of other herd members)

Techs:
Nikon D3s with Nikkor 500mm f4 VR-II
f4.0 @ 1/1000 SS @ ISO-6400
Conversion done in Nik Silver Efex

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by John Launstein on January 13, 2012 at 2:29 AM

Morkel: I really, really like this. The B&W conversion not only seems to be the perfect choice here but is also done exquisitely. I love how the surrounding elements are all elephant, and this just makes the branch that much more an intriguing addition. But in the end, its that beautiful, expressive eye, and the wonderful look and feel to the moment captured. I also really like the vignette, whether natural here or enhanced in processing. I'd love to provide some suggestion for potential improvement, but honestly I'm simply taken with your subject thanks to the way you presented this...and in the end, isn't that our ultimate goal?

Registered on April 5, 2011, 223 Posts, 1193 Comments

Comment posted by Eirini Pajak on January 13, 2012 at 6:56 AM

What a cutie! Excellent photograph! The only thing that I remotely wonder about is the branch on the left..it is so bright that it moves my attention a little from the focus. You would know better than me about that though!

Registered on December 13, 2011, 216 Posts, 1671 Comments

Comment posted by Cam Held on January 13, 2012 at 1:52 PM

Morkel,
I saw this on your website and loved it immediately. The B&W conversion really emphasizes the superb texture. But like John said the best part is the eye! Sorry I'm not helpful, but I can't think of a single critique! Great work!
-Cam

Registered on November 12, 2009, 59 Posts, 398 Comments

Comment posted by Peter McDonald on January 13, 2012 at 8:25 PM

Really like this one, the texture and composition, I wouldn't change anything. I agree with John and Cam, that eye is something special!

Registered on October 28, 2010, 12 Posts, 13 Comments

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on January 13, 2012 at 10:02 PM

I, too, saw this on your website and liked it immediately. The eye has that naughty look that is so typical of youngsters, and love the way it is holding the twig like a flute!

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

Comment posted by Ellen deBoer on January 14, 2012 at 10:06 AM

Great shot, Morkel! I like the choice of B&W to focus on the textures. The eye is really an eyecatcher!

Registered on March 16, 2006, 419 Posts, 2076 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on January 14, 2012 at 12:35 PM

This is awesome Morkel

You captured the perfect moment here, the texture is great, but that eye is incredible. The B&W conversion seems to fit this image well.

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on January 15, 2012 at 6:31 AM

Very nice Morkel, I love the layering effect created by the elephant below and the one in the BG. The B&W conversion works, yet I am curious to see the color version.

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

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on January 15, 2012 at 9:00 AM

Thanks for the kind feedback, everyone.

Vincent, the colour version is quite "flat" with very little colour to speak of.
Might post it later, just for you

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

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on January 15, 2012 at 2:16 PM

You have made a composition that the eye enjoys scanning.

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

Comment posted by Sandipan Dutta on January 16, 2012 at 1:07 PM

Agree on your decision to process in b&w that enhanced the mood here. That playful eye makes the image for me.

Registered on March 9, 2009, 171 Posts, 493 Comments

Comment posted by Luca Mussato on January 19, 2012 at 3:41 PM

Morkel, your B&W conversion are very intriguing. I like everything in this image but the plus, to me, is that eye it attract like the honey attracts a bear.

Thumb up, Luca

Registered on November 14, 2006, 118 Posts, 855 Comments