On Another Level

Gallery: WildlifePosted March 24, 2014325 views17 comments

I thought the title was apt given the placement of these young elephant bulls...but also since this particular Chobe river safari was just that - on another level. We saw so many amazing moments of natural history...of which this was one.

We were able to slip our low-key photographic boat right up to a part of the riverbank where a herd of elephants were playing in the water and frolicking in the aftermath of a huge storm that had passed through.

This is one of many images I took with my 24-70mm lens at this lengthy sighting. My guests also got to use their wide angle lenses here, which is great fun around relaxed elephants like those you find along the Chobe river.

Techs:
Nikon D800
Nikkor 24-70mm f2.8 @ 62mm
f5.6 | 1/320 SS | ISO-560
Slight crop for rotation and composition (it was tight to begin with on the LHS)

Worth clicking on the big file!

Comments

17 comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on March 24, 2014 at 1:21 PM

I really like this perspective Morkel, different! The elephants seem very animated, the trunks are the main points of interest for me. Must have been quite a site for you and your guests. Nice job on the exposure, considering the sky forms much of the scene.

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

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on March 24, 2014 at 1:36 PM

A great shot! I really like the diffused light, the dramatic sky and the poses of the elephants. No complaints at all from me. Just wish I could get a shot of elephants this nice.

Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on March 24, 2014 at 8:19 PM

Sweet - something a little different, nice exposures in a tough situation, tack-sharp, and very fine detail.
Sandy

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

Comment posted by Andrew Sentipal on March 24, 2014 at 8:30 PM

Amazing image. Great detail. Wow. Thanks for sharing.

Andrew

Registered on February 16, 2008, 200 Posts, 317 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on March 24, 2014 at 8:54 PM

Truly a spectacular image with perfect lighting and lots of drama. The only minor thing would be to get more room on the left side which was possible with the zoom but maybe not so much in the moment. I really love the tones and colors as well as the layering of the clouds

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

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on March 25, 2014 at 4:10 AM

Morkel,
Elephants on the Chobe are plentiful to say the least and love to misbehave in or around the water.
Nice perspective here one of the major benefits of shooting from a boat,
Why is it "low key".
Great background.

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

Comment posted by Martin Dunn on March 25, 2014 at 7:00 AM

Nice to see a wide angle shot amongst all the telephoto pictures.The interaction between the elliesand the low POV give this added interest.

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

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on March 25, 2014 at 7:41 AM

Great interaction n beautiful frame!
You could add a touch more canvas on LHS and I wish the ears of right elephant were not covering his face.
Jagdeep Rajput

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

Comment posted by Thomas Haney on March 25, 2014 at 4:54 PM

Love the feel of this photo and the posture of each elephant. Well done Morkel.

Registered on April 7, 2013, 138 Posts, 537 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on March 25, 2014 at 8:20 PM

A wonderful behavior capture of this pair in a great African scene. Love those flared ears.

Great Work Morkel

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Rebecka on March 26, 2014 at 1:57 PM

I could look at this all day. The angle really puts us on the level of the young elephant and enhances the image's feeling of intimacy. The action is wonderful. And the dramatic sky just takes this shot over the top.

I've been to Chobe, but never rode in a boat on the river. I think I'd be kind of scared of the hippos!

Registered on February 5, 2009, 170 Posts, 924 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Cloran on March 26, 2014 at 2:47 PM

You nailed the basic capture and the timing was wonderful to catch this interaction. The sky is super. I would just open up their sides a bit more to let that nice detail show more clearly.

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

Comment posted by Upjeet Singh on March 27, 2014 at 3:19 AM

Morkel this is absolutely a gorgeous frame. love the interaction but a little more canvas on the LHS and more sky on top would have had more impact. Nevertheless something different

Registered on May 8, 2010, 50 Posts, 55 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on April 1, 2014 at 3:13 AM

Thanks everyone.
I do have more sky on top (and more space on the right, go figure

), but this crop felt more "balanced" given the tightness on the left due to a slight rotation I needed to make.

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

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on April 1, 2014 at 5:05 AM

Morkel,

Just out of interest was this taken from one of the gimble mounts this boat is equipped with, or hand held?

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

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on April 1, 2014 at 6:03 AM

Ken - the gimbals are for the long lenses, I would never put a camera with a wide angle lens in a gimbal head

This was taken sitting flat on my bum on a platform in the nose of the boat, we use this to get low like this (even lying flat on your belly works well) for wide-angle close encounters.

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

Comment posted by Jenaya Launstein on May 6, 2014 at 8:06 AM

Gorgeous color in this one, Morkel! Great moment captured. It does give us a reminder to get nice and low for the shot. I just love the perspective!

Registered on February 8, 2011, 254 Posts, 1302 Comments