Wildlife - 1st HM

Gallery: EPA 2013Posted February 19, 20131,726 views26 comments

Centre Of Attention

Little elephants take up a central position in the herd- they are never out of the adult's sight and as soon as there is imminent danger, the herd will form a protective circle around the little ones. This calf already knew where he belonged: in the middle :-) - Amboseli, Kenia.

200 ISO
300mm
f/8
1/250s
Nikon D300/Nikkor AF-S VR 300mm f/2,8

Comments

26 comments

Comment posted by Rick Turner on February 19, 2013 at 9:15 AM

What a striking tree and action.

Well done

Registered on February 18, 2012, 534 Posts, 2755 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on February 19, 2013 at 9:39 AM

This is outstanding Ingrid, especially when viewed large. Powerful composition and technically well executed.

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

Comment posted by Michael Cothran on February 19, 2013 at 10:41 AM

A very powerful image. I like how it's presented. I must confess that I thought the title referred to the tree, not the calf in the middle.

Registered on December 5, 2012, 31 Posts, 730 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on February 19, 2013 at 11:01 AM

This is an outstanding image. The young elephant standing at the base of the tree trunk really draws the eye to both. The tree caught my eye first, but led me right to the young elephant. His action really adds to the dynamic of the image.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Roel Wijtmans on February 19, 2013 at 2:41 PM

This image is really great! Especially the little one vs the huge tree! And I like the background as well, the image would have been less interesting if that would have been the sky for example. Well done!

Registered on September 30, 2012, 116 Posts, 2257 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on February 19, 2013 at 3:27 PM

Very nice image with some interesting activity - particuarly the little on ein front of the tree. There is a lot of halo'ing around the tree (and I believe some of the elephants as well). I would tr and correct this

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel & Loana on February 19, 2013 at 5:05 PM

Great shot! Congrats

D&L

Registered on October 7, 2008, 166 Posts, 3044 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on February 19, 2013 at 5:07 PM

Very pleasing! Thumbs up.

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

Comment posted by Carol Nichols on February 19, 2013 at 9:54 PM

The larger photo is really amazing Ingrid. The calf stands out so well in the middle of the frame and you can see that he is being well protected. Very nice.

Registered on November 7, 2007, 161 Posts, 1420 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on February 19, 2013 at 11:53 PM

I am glad you included a larger version of this Ingrid! This is very special with the little one in the dust right at the foot of that huge tree. The BG is what really puts this over the top for me.

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

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on February 19, 2013 at 11:57 PM

A wall-hanger, very nicely executed!!!
A minute suggestion is, if you have some canvas at the left side, please include the full tree in the BG.
Jagdeep Rajput

Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on February 20, 2013 at 12:42 AM

It is clear that the little calf has wandered a wee bit away from its mother and is looking a little agitated; or, it could just be playing like little ones do - just run around like mad when there is security all around, as in this case, and try and scare away birds and stuff

Beautiful image. Typical Amboseli!

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

Comment posted by William Bickle on February 20, 2013 at 12:37 PM

Hello Ingrid

Sweet!! What is the Crop?

Large Version, is a MUST SEE!:)

Bill

Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments

Comment posted by Ingrid Vekemans on February 20, 2013 at 12:52 PM

Thank you all for your feedback!
@Michael and Richard : the title can refer to both

@Luke: I do see a little bit of halo-ing around the top of the tree which I think is due to the sharpening, I will check and correct - nothing around the elephants, though...
@Jagdeep & Bill: this is 90% of the original image. There is some space on the left (not on the right) but I want to keep the 2:3 format and the tree in the middle, therefore I think this is the best solution.
@Ajit : the calf was totally at ease and was just playing in the dust

Thanks again!!!!

Ingrid.

Registered on August 2, 2010, 138 Posts, 780 Comments

Comment posted by Clinton Bauder on February 20, 2013 at 5:30 PM

Fantastic. Really exceptional composition.

Clinton

Registered on December 8, 2009, 31 Posts, 231 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on February 24, 2013 at 2:29 PM

Lovely shot Ingrid - love the dust and the little on in the middle by the tree!

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

Comment posted by Julia Flanagan on February 27, 2013 at 6:06 PM

One of the things I like about this -and there are several - is the ability to look into the distance. The bg is not so sharp and clear as to take attention away from the elephants as the primary subject, but at the same time I get a better feel for the vast landscape they are in. The primary tree is emphasized, but I see that there are more beyond, and in fact the landscape continues to right out of the picture. Very appealing.

Registered on November 13, 2003, 59 Posts, 986 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on February 28, 2013 at 5:19 PM

Ingrid, this is such a refreshing image of family life in an elephant herd. I love it that there are many elephants of different ages, the action, the cutest little one in the middle and the wonderful surround of the landscape. Captivating. Congratulations.

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on January 5, 2014 at 10:16 PM

Ingrid, congratulations on the Honorable Mention for the annual editors' picks. I believe this was posted while I was out of the country last year, so I never saw it. The centered youngster really sets this scene apart.

Max

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

Comment posted by Ingrid Vekemans on January 6, 2014 at 1:49 AM

What a great surprise on a Monday morning

Thanks for the HM!

Registered on August 2, 2010, 138 Posts, 780 Comments

Comment posted by Marsel van Oosten on January 7, 2014 at 3:19 AM

Hey Ingrid - congratulations on a stunning picture.

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

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on January 7, 2014 at 8:10 AM

Great image and well deserved, Ingrid!

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

Comment posted by Basri Akcasoy on January 7, 2014 at 3:04 PM

Ingrid, congratulations for your Wildlife - 1st HM.
Thank you very much for sharing this amazing shot with us.

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

Comment posted by Kory Lidstrom on January 8, 2014 at 9:04 PM

Love the symmetry in this one. That tree growing out of the baby elephant is very compelling -- having that small dust cloud behind the elephant really helps him stand out. Very cool stuff.

Registered on November 19, 2008, 49 Posts, 1035 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on January 23, 2014 at 4:03 PM

Sweet! Love the perspective and baby elephants -
congrats on the 2013 EPA!

Sandy

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

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on January 25, 2014 at 12:15 PM

Congrats on this well-deserved 1st HM !, Cheers, Hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments