Watching the King

Gallery: WildlifePosted October 21, 2013374 views16 comments

A scene from the Mara Triangle on an overcast morning. We were watching something else when we heard the males roar not 100m up the road. I love how giraffes keep their eyes fixed on nearby predators and even follow them around...

Oh, and we were the only vehicles with them for more than 45 minutes...so much for the horror stories people tell about how busy the Mara is during migration season.

Techs:
Nikon D800
Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 VR-II @ 200mm
f6.3 | 1/250 SS | ISO-1400

Worth viewing the larger file!

Comments

16 comments

Comment posted by James Blue on October 21, 2013 at 5:25 PM

Morkel, that's a very handsome lion for sure, and the gawking giraffes really makes the shot interesting. Perfect DOF. I guess it's relative, but if 45 minutes without other vehicles is a big success - I'm more spoiled in the Serengeti than I realized. Anyway, glad you had some quality time with him!

Jim

Registered on June 16, 2013, 16 Posts, 144 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on October 21, 2013 at 5:34 PM

LOL Jim - I should make my way to the Serengeti then.
By the way - that doesn't mean that after 45 minutes, 12 other vehicles came onto the scene...more like 1 other vehicle.

The quality time wasn't spoiled by others arriving...it was spoiled by the two males ducking into the bushes to go and sleep for the rest of the day

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

Comment posted by Don Westbrook on October 21, 2013 at 5:42 PM

Beautifully captured. Great exposure choice for the overcast sky that captures the colors really well.

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

Comment posted by James Blue on October 21, 2013 at 6:08 PM

Registered on June 16, 2013, 16 Posts, 144 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on October 21, 2013 at 8:57 PM

The giraffe must ascribe to the "keep your friends close and your enemies closer" school of thought. The way those trees are browsed off to a certain height suggests the giraffe must hang out there often. Love the dof in this image and the general composition.

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

Comment posted by Joe James on October 21, 2013 at 10:12 PM

Great shot Morkel! I really like the composition on this one with the lion sitting almost regal in appearance and the wary giraffes in the background. Very well done.

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

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on October 21, 2013 at 10:22 PM

Morkel, this made me smile because the three giraffe on the left are so similar, I had to look to make sure you didn't give us a clone job!

The lower middle location of the lion is perfect. Thumbs up.

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

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on October 22, 2013 at 6:52 AM

Morkel,
An interesting composition which I am finding hard to review at this low resolution

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

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on October 22, 2013 at 1:19 PM

Thanks everyone.
Ken - that's why there's a "view larger photo" option

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

Comment posted by Clinton Bauder on October 23, 2013 at 12:41 AM

Really excellent composition Morkel. Lots of depth in this photograph. I love how totally unconcerned the lion seems with it all while the giraffes are all very much paying attention.

Clinton

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

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on October 23, 2013 at 12:44 AM

Morkel,

Yes I know that, but the large version is still too small

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

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on October 23, 2013 at 8:39 AM

Great setting n royal pose !!!
Jagdeep Rajput

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

Comment posted by Max Waugh on October 25, 2013 at 2:23 AM

Morkel, it sounds like Ken wants to buy a print.

Out of curiosity, did you try a composition with the lion in the lower right corner? The giraffe lineup is very cool, but the empty space on the right (where another giraffe would've been perfect!) throws the balance off a bit for me. Wondering if you played with not centering the lion and how that turned out.

Max

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

Comment posted by Martin Dunn on October 26, 2013 at 5:15 AM

Neat shot Morkel.
Interesting interaction between the lion and the giraffe, ie they are interested and he is totally not.
Composition wise I'd chop a bit off the bottom to remove the collapsed earth in front of the lion and I would also chop a bit from the right hand side to come closer in to the RH giraffe although that would mean that the lion is no longer central and would perhaps spoil the effect you were going for.

It is great when you get lucky with a sighting and have it to yourself, the reward for going your own way and not just following the crowd.

Registered on February 20, 2013, 198 Posts, 1011 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on October 28, 2013 at 5:22 PM

Thanks folks. I have various compositions and focal lengths here, albeit it was only a minute or two before the big guy upped and walked off...will see what I can dig up

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on November 5, 2013 at 2:06 PM

Love this - sharp detail in the lion and perfect DOF to blur the giraffes.
Nice WP!
Sandy

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