Weary Kudu

Gallery: WildlifePosted March 10, 2014111 views8 comments

A young "Greater Kudu" bull, ever mindful of the threat of crocodiles in the Chobe river.

This photo was taken on the banks of the Chobe river in Botswana, from a dedicated photographic boat. I am headed there guiding a safari this week again, and I can't wait. Kudu are possibly the most graceful of African antelopes.

Techs:
Nikon D3s
Nikkor 500mm f4 VR-II
f4.0 | 1/250 SS | ISO-1000

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Rick Cloran on March 10, 2014 at 4:50 PM

Top marks Morkel. I like everything about this one. Comp, pose, colors and detail are all working together.

Registered on April 6, 2004, 119 Posts, 1989 Comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on March 10, 2014 at 6:08 PM

I too like everything about this. I especially like the lowered head pose. It keeps the horns in a position that makes for a more pleasing crop. Well done.

Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments

Comment posted by Guy Nelson on March 10, 2014 at 9:54 PM

Hi Morkel,

When a photograph tells a story, and no words are necessary..... then that image is"picture perfect" in my opinion. This is one of those pictures.

Great image!

Guy Nelson

Registered on October 12, 2012, 24 Posts, 138 Comments

Comment posted by Martin Dunn on March 11, 2014 at 4:12 AM

A beautiful looking antelope Morkel.
As always, exposure is great and detail is super. Personally I find the composition a bit tight. i can see why you have cropped the way you have and it really thrusts the Kudu to the fore, but I find it a bit too tight on top. Adding a bit to the top would alos probably mean adding a bit to the LH side as well.

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

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on March 11, 2014 at 4:24 AM

Thanks guys. Martin I have some on top, but there was a distracting band of colour on the opposite river bank that I chose to crop out. Will revisit this...

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

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on March 11, 2014 at 11:33 AM

Beautiful subject, Morkel. I know the ground is probably sloping, but the line of bright green in the background suggests a water line and I feel a clockwise rotation would make this feel more balanced.

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

Comment posted by William Bickle on March 11, 2014 at 4:45 PM

Hello Morkel

Well Done! Impressive Capture with great looking Specimen too! Like the Isolation from surroundings :)

Sure has beautiful head dressing; Are they Horns, Antlers or ? & Are they Shed each season?

Thanks for sharing.

Bill

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

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on March 17, 2014 at 3:47 PM

Thanks Lon - will have a look at that!
Bill - I can't think of a single African antelope that has antlers that shed, they're all "horned" permanently.

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