Giraffe Feast

Gallery: WildlifePosted December 15, 2013122 views6 comments

Ruaha National Park, Tanzania is home to many Lions, and one particular pride specializes in hunting Giraffe.
We found them one morning with their latest victim a young Giraffe.
The pride at the kill numbered around 12 , no males, but several cubs.The kill was unfortunately in not quite the best place for light or tidyness
EOS 1D MkII
70-200 mm F2.8 at 185mm
F 5.0
ISO 400
1/2000

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on December 15, 2013 at 9:31 AM

Hey Ken,

Yes, I agree that the lighting and surroundings weren't on your side on this one and that collectively they hampered your ability to make the most of the opportunity. Perhaps you should try presenting this one in B&W - might be more powerful? Or perhaps you should have waited until they went to sleep?

Still, the subtle tug-of-war over the giraffe protein bit is interesting and adds a nice diagonal flow to the image. Somewhat of a shame the third lion (with its head turned) is in the frame and takes away a little from the dominance of the interaction of the other two. But a nice bit of documentation of lions using giraffe's as a prey source.

cheers...

Brad

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

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on December 16, 2013 at 12:35 AM

Brad,

It is a cold and rainy morning here in the Western Cape (it is a Public Holiday!), your comments brought a smile to my face

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

Comment posted by Martin Dunn on December 16, 2013 at 3:49 AM

Ken, the shot is interesting, mainly because lions on a giraffe kill are not as common as some others but ultimately, as has been agreed already, it is a bit untidy and the LH lion spoils the composition.

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

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on December 16, 2013 at 10:47 PM

I leave and don't post for a few months, return and see not one, but two Lion Giraffe kills posted form different kills and photographers? Pretty glad I returned to look and didn't miss these. Nice work Ken.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on December 16, 2013 at 11:56 PM

Martin and Kurt,
Thanks for your comments

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

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on December 19, 2013 at 9:13 AM

Gruesome in emotional impact, but excellent documentary.

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