Giraffescape

Gallery: WildlifePosted April 11, 2012661 views8 comments

The Masai Mara is known for its open plains where one can see for kilometers on end. Came across this scene early one morning where a fairly large group of giraffe (?related) was making its way across the plains. The background was provided by the gently rolling hills and undulating grasslands. The scene was so peaceful, yet, by the way the giraffe carefully negotiated their way through the thick grass, you could sense that peace was only ephemeral.
Species: Masai giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi)
Location: Masai Mara, Kenya
Date: May 2011
Equip: Canon 1D Mlll, Canon 70-200 f2.8 at 200
Specs: ISO 400, f9.0, 1/2000s, beanbag on vehicle

Thank you for taking the time out to look, and for your comments/critiques

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Eirini Pajak on April 11, 2012 at 1:41 PM

I like the simplicity of the scene! Great to see them all in a row like this!

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

Comment posted by Anand Narayanan on April 11, 2012 at 8:44 PM

The first thing that stuck my mind was the resemblance to illustrations of the evolution of humans from apes of four legs to bipeds. If only there were just one erect giraffe upfront, it would look like a depiction of the evolution of the long neck

I love the expansive feel and the cool grey clouds. Most of the background looks distinctly blurry, especially given the small aperture. Not sure if its rising thermals or postprocessing. If its the later, i would hold back on the blurring.

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

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on April 11, 2012 at 10:16 PM

I didn't touch the blur tool, Anand!

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

Comment posted by Brad Hill on April 12, 2012 at 8:12 AM

Hi Ajit,

Very nice 'scape - I like the simplicity, the colour palette, and how you've positioned the subjects in the frame. I'm a little bit torn on the dark band running through the grassy field, simply because it drew my eye a bit and I pondered what it was for a few seconds (rather than simply taking in the rest of the image). But nothing you could do about it and I wouldn't go so far as to call it a "nit"...

Cheers...thanks for sharing this.

Brad

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

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on April 12, 2012 at 8:45 AM

That dark band, Brad, is the shadow cast by a large cloud!

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

Comment posted by Oscar Benavides on April 12, 2012 at 3:46 PM

Nice animal landscape image Ajit. I like the way the long shadow of the cloud breaks the monotony of this landscape. I really like the image.

Oscar

Registered on January 2, 2011, 12 Posts, 141 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on April 15, 2012 at 5:02 PM

Nicely seen and captured Ajit.
I like the simplicity. What time of day was this? The light looks a tad harsh (very slightly) - was it late morning?

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

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on April 15, 2012 at 6:17 PM

Nice capture.

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