Fresh!

Gallery: WildlifePosted February 18, 2012209 views13 comments

We were very privileged to witness the birth of a zebra fowl during my latest tour. The best image opportunities presented themselves after the actual birth when the mare was licking her young that was instinctively learning to balance on its four legs. Amazingly it could walk with ease within 15-20 minutes or so. Whilst all this was going on the lions were roaring only a few hundred meters away...

Nxai Pan NP, Botswana.
Camera Model Canon EOS 1D Mark IV
Shutter Speed 1/800 Sec.
Aperture Value f/8
ISO Speed 400
Lens EF500mm f/4L IS USM + 1.4xTC, Beanbag
Crop is 85% of original

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Anand Narayanan on February 18, 2012 at 2:57 PM

Awesome ! That pic tells the whole story

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on February 18, 2012 at 3:11 PM

What an amazing image - you were in exactly the right place at the right time, and took full advantage of it. Perfect techs and perspective.

Sandy

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

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on February 19, 2012 at 6:49 AM

Excellent framing, timing and portrayal here Vincent.

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

Comment posted by Ellen deBoer on February 19, 2012 at 10:32 AM

Great image, Vincent! You were lucky to see the whole process from birth untill the little one is up and running. And how amazing that it only takes 20 minutes to be on its feet!

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

Comment posted by wade pettitt on February 19, 2012 at 10:36 AM

Vincent This must have been amazing to see. I like the trees in the background, it really gives you a feeling for the surroundings.

Registered on May 6, 2009, 184 Posts, 471 Comments

Comment posted by Marsel van Oosten on February 19, 2012 at 10:54 AM

Great moment you witnessed there Vincent, and great timing for this shot.

Registered on March 9, 2004, 285 Posts, 2277 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on February 19, 2012 at 2:15 PM

Hey Vincent,

Whoa - if that isn't a great moment in time (captured very well), I don't know what is. Actually, the slightly less "rare" element of this image - the mother licking the foal with the tongue so visible - is what puts this over the top for me. When I look at the larger version, it almost looks to me like the background isn't produced purely by optics (looks almost digitally smoothed out, and almost too smooth). But I could be totally out-to-lunch on this (and don't hesitate to tell me if I am!).

Cheers...cool shot...

Brad

Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on February 19, 2012 at 5:38 PM

Incredible image to share such an awesome experience with us. A great moment captured.

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on February 19, 2012 at 6:24 PM

This is the youngest zebra I have ever seen...

Well done, Vincent.

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

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on February 19, 2012 at 10:30 PM

Thanks all!

Brad you said:

like the background isn't produced purely by optics (looks almost digitally smoothed out, and almost too smooth

Nope, I have done nothing with that BG at all, in fact I have hardly done any adjustments other than some minor ones during RAW conversion and in PS a curve adjustment, removal of dust spots and selective sharpening. Note that the distance between the subjects and the tree is quite big.

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

Comment posted by Robbie Knight on February 20, 2012 at 4:56 PM

Great capture thanks for sharing.

Registered on April 10, 2010, 30 Posts, 135 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Deibert on February 21, 2012 at 8:09 AM

Absolutely green with envy, Vincent! A beautiful shot of a beautiful moment. Congrats!

Registered on September 30, 2011, 48 Posts, 125 Comments

Comment posted by Basri Akcasoy on February 26, 2012 at 2:34 PM

What can I say, This is realy unbelievable.

Thank a lot for sharing,
I'm learning what the Wild Life Photo is.

Registered on February 16, 2012, 118 Posts, 767 Comments