Neck Stretch

Gallery: WildlifePosted October 9, 2012108 views6 comments

Hi guys,
Sorry its been a while since I've posted, I've been super busy! I'm currently studying wildlife ecology and management in Tanzania and Kenya, an absolutely amazing experience! There is nothing better than field "work" where I get to bring my camera along! So far I've been here a month and have been to Lake Manyara NP, Tarangire NP, and the Ngorongoro Crater. We will be spending a week camping in Serengeti NP, and I absolutely can't wait!
Anyhow, this giraffe was one of 14 we saw on Saturday walking along the "shore" of Lake Manyara in Lake Manyara National Park in northern Tanzania. During the dry season (which it is now) the saltwater lake recedes several kilometers and leaves behind huge swaths of dry salt flats (the light colored background here). Bordering the salt flats is a .5-1 km wide strip of grassland where it floods every wet season limiting the growth of larger vegetation. This area is frequented by grazers like wildebeest and zebra, but some browsers like Giraffes can be found here too because, given their height, it is easier to cover distance there than in the bushland and dense forest that border the grassland on the other side. This particular giraffe stopped walking for a minute and stretched its neck upwards, and I was lucky enough to get a photo before the moment slipped away! Hope you like it!
Feel free to shoot me any questions or comments, I greatly appreciate any feedback!

-Cam

Tech Specs:
Canon EOS 7D
Canon EF 500mm f/4 IS @ f/5.6
ISO 400
1/1000 sec

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by Charlie Baugh on October 9, 2012 at 4:03 PM

Great clear open shot of this big (I guess) female. So well done.

Registered on April 18, 2011, 329 Posts, 1985 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on October 9, 2012 at 4:33 PM

Love the strong horizontal layers framing the vertical giraffe! The face seems to be a bit dark. Perhaps a little lightening would improve this already excellent photo.

What is the little bird on the giraffe's back?

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Cam Held on October 10, 2012 at 12:37 AM

Charlie, it was a big female. Her baby was tagging along behind. And Phil, it's a red billed oxpecker. I was actually studying "habitat" (animal) preference of oxpeckers.
-Cam

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

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on October 10, 2012 at 5:11 PM

The stretch of his raised head and neck really works well to emphasize the nature of the animal. Your choice of vertical format turns this into a portrait, in a sense. I agree that the background horizontal bands are visually interesting and as such (if this is a crop) a little more width to a different ratio might be pleasing in showing them more and giving the giraffe virtual room to step into. Perhaps some lightening around the face and muzzle and a bit of selective contrast would bring out detail a bit more for closer examination. All in all this is a pleasing image and thanks for sharing it!

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

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on October 11, 2012 at 5:41 PM

love the simplicity and graphic quality here, Cam
sounds like you're having fun - looking forward to more from your "studies"

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

Comment posted by Marsel van Oosten on October 12, 2012 at 10:10 AM

A giraffe with an altitude, sorry, attitude.

Elegant creatures they are, hard to frame. This is a nice, straightforward shot.

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