Elephant Twist

Gallery: WildlifePosted November 14, 2012738 views13 comments

A group of large bull elephants covered in white mud stand motionless like life size statues around a waterhole in the barren landscape of Etosha National Park. A passing dust devil set the mood and provided an opportunity for a unique scene. The image begged for a B&W conversion, particularly since it makes the dust devil stand out even better due to the black on white contrast. I only wish I would have been able to direct the elephants into a compositionally better grouping and more attractive individual poses, but they did not want to listen.

Etosha National Park, Namibia
Camera Model Canon EOS-5D Mark II
Shutter Speed 1/160 Sec.
Aperture Value f/11
ISO Speed 400
Lens EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 24mm + CP
slight crop after lens correction

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on November 14, 2012 at 10:04 AM

It's a fascinating scene, Vincent, just bizarre enough to make the "infrared" look quite appropriate, I think.

Though the positioning of the elephants isn't ideal as you mentioned, you were certainly fortunate to get them in the same frame as the twister to begin with.

Max

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

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on November 14, 2012 at 10:17 AM

I understand about not being able to arrange for composition. I just wish the elephants occupied more frame real estate. Still, this tells a story quite well, which is what counts.

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

Comment posted by Russell Colletta on November 14, 2012 at 7:52 PM

A great image that has to been seen in the larger version to be fully appreciated. Yeah, those dad gum wild animals that don't understand us photo folks. The B/W conversion works well and is executed skillfully. Like this a lot.

Registered on October 31, 2009, 114 Posts, 1008 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on November 15, 2012 at 2:02 AM

Very stark and hauntingly beautiful image. The degree of manipulation in the sky seems perhaps a bit too emphatic, bordering digital art perhaps. Did you use Silver FX by Nik to accomplish this conversion, or Photoshop? I'm ok with the casual arrangement of the elephants, might not want them too neatly positioned.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on November 15, 2012 at 8:46 AM

Hi Vincent,

Real striking scene - and well scene (in B&W) to boot! I do like the drama here and don't mind the arrangement of the elephants even one bit (and I do love how low they are positioned in the frame). I will echo Gary's comments that the uber-dark sky (and near-white elephants) does make this image look almost like photo art (i.e., appears almost too obviously digitally manipulated). But super striking nonetheless...and a great moment to capture...

Cheers...

Brad

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

Comment posted by Colin H Sillerud on November 15, 2012 at 7:21 PM

Absolute magic. It does what a photo is supposed to do - tell a story. The white dry backs of the elephants, the white dry ground, and the white cyclone of struggle coming right at them.

Registered on May 26, 2011, 17 Posts, 58 Comments

Comment posted by Saurabh Singh on November 16, 2012 at 7:06 PM

Dear Vincent Sir,

Highly commendable!
And
Well executed !

Really loved the dramatic ! elements created by the twistor ( esp.. the slender funnel - shaped translucent dust in the upper half ) in this image , for me the processing is top notch. B/W conversion was the most appropriate choice of displaying this unique barren landscape .

If anything I would have preferred a sliver is some ELE backs are tad on the brighter side which could be toned down by just 1 – 2 stop ( just my thoughts ) . Otherwise it's very compelling shot.

And I will remember this image for a long time .

Regards
Saurabh Singh

Registered on September 6, 2012, 3 Posts, 22 Comments

Comment posted by Jorne de Bruin on November 17, 2012 at 7:36 AM

Superb scene Vincent, the b&w treatment is great and the dust devil really adds something special to the image!

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

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on November 18, 2012 at 2:27 PM

A very unique image here Vincent! I hear you on the ellie positioning, but heck I would still love this in my portfolio. IMHO you can punch the contrast even more...

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

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on November 18, 2012 at 2:28 PM

BTW the sky does not look overdone to me - if you were using a polariser that's exactly how I would expect it to come out in conversion...

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

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on November 18, 2012 at 8:11 PM

Another image that makes for compelling viewing, Vincent! You seem to have had a ball with Amit on your one-on-one trip!

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

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on November 19, 2012 at 12:58 PM

Hi Ajit, yes we had a trip with some good opportunities for sure. When are you coming over again

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

Comment posted by Derrick Lipinski on November 28, 2012 at 9:56 PM

A very cool capture, Vincent.

B&W really works well for this.

Registered on October 5, 2007, 58 Posts, 2039 Comments