A Rare One

Gallery: WildlifePosted May 30, 2013113 views7 comments

This antelope is a Bontebok, probably the rarest antelope species in Southern Africa which is restricted to the Western Cape.Depending on who you believe there were as few as 17 of these animals left in the early 1930's,thankfully local farmers set aside an area for them and they are
now quite plentiful in National Parks and private reserves.The current population is estimated as around 3,000.
This image was taken in one of their strongholds De Hoop Nature Reserve in the Western Cape which also has plenty of Eland, Mountain Zebra and WHALES.
EOS 1DX
500mm F4 MkII
F7.1
ISO 800
1/3200

Comments

7 comments

Comment posted by William Bickle on May 30, 2013 at 8:54 AM

Hello Ken

Sharp & Clear Image. Those horns or Antlers ? sure are prominent. with intersting texture and designs!
Is this Cropped ?

Thanks for sharing.

Bill

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

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on May 30, 2013 at 11:03 AM

Colors appear rich and the exposure looks perfect, as evidenced by the detail in the whites. Interesting antelope...one I knew nothing about. I like the action pose.

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

Comment posted by Don Westbrook on May 30, 2013 at 1:51 PM

As usual from you, nice and sharp with good colors. Very interesting animal.

Registered on January 4, 2013, 11 Posts, 332 Comments

Comment posted by Joe James on May 30, 2013 at 10:14 PM

Nice Bontebok Ken! We don't see too many of these guys on this site so it's nice to see one. They are one of my favorite antelope, I just love the colors. They look like they ran through a paint shop. I like the great light and nice action you captured here.

Registered on November 20, 2009, 89 Posts, 808 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on May 31, 2013 at 2:15 AM

Thanks everybody for your comments, I have to admit to being obsessed with Antelopes and seeing and hopefully capturing images of as many species as possible, for me at least variety is the spice of life
William,
This around 55% of the full frame.

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on May 31, 2013 at 4:13 PM

I agree with others about the excellent exposure, nice work, especially when carried out on a rare species! For some reason the body position seems slightly awkward, as if he was back on his heels a bit. Maybe just the way these guys run, but I just want to dial in a bit of cw rotation. This may just be an illusion of course, and it detracts little anyway from a beautiful action shot.

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

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on June 1, 2013 at 2:24 AM

Gary,

Thanks for your comment, the awkwardness does I think come from the galloping pose, rather than rotation, as I seem to remember trying to level this up to the background vegetation which disappeared in the crop

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments