Greater Kudu

Awesome all the way around. Really like the composition with the slightly off-center look and the vertical. I would warm up the image a touch though

Hello Nate

SWEET Capture of an impressive Kudu!:)

Well exposed to catch detail in darker areas and longer hairs from his neck area. The mask he is sporting is great and draws your eye into the stunning Head with impressive lighting on the large ears showing off the small fringed fur . The black points of nose and eye are powerful !

Enjoy this image Very much.

Cheers

Bill

I sure like the intensity of his stare, how well he's set off against the background and the placement in the frame.

A handsome fellow he is, what a great intensive stare you capture. I like the layers of habitat surrounding him, I may be tempted to crop it a bit tighter to put more emphasizes the Kudu.

Sweet Portrait Nate

What a great animal, those horns are truly amazing. The composition seems just a bit awkward to me Nate, it's ok but leaves me wanting a slightly tighter crop as Ken suggested. Easily done as this is full frame.

Nate,
Always great to see some of Africa's magnificent Antelope especially a fine looking male in a great post. I agree that a slight crop maybe a good idea.
I presume you got some good Elephant shots there as well, it is a great park.

One of my two favorite antelopes. The other is the Sable. This is one regal looking dude. I really like how the vegetation helps to frame him. That intense stare is great. Well done.

Thanks for the suggestions. Here is a repost with a tighter crop. I certainly don't think the first version is "awkward" I composed it that way in the camera to include the foreground vegetation to frame him, I like the framing elements and layers of vegetation in the shot. To me it gives a feeling for how you usually see these animals at Addo, a little bit hidden and wary of people. I think the tighter version works well here too it gives a closer look. One problem with this crop is that is leaves just a little bit of vegetation in the foreground which almost becomes a distraction rather than something which adds to the image. If I crop higher than the vegetation I don't like where I am cropping it. So in this case I prefer the original version, although I realize composition is often a matter of taste.

Thankyou for the repost Nate. I also appreciate your nice explanation regarding the composition. The original with the Kudu edging into the frame now makes a lot of sense to me understanding a little more about their timid nature. I also agree that the vegetation frames the subject, especially in the foreground. My crop intentions involved just taking a little from the top and maybe a sliver off the right while leaving the bottom as is. I should have elaborated more.

Nice alert pose, excellent separation and solid detail. You can't ask for much more.

Truly a regal antelope - I also quite like the almost unconventional framing here with the "room to breathe", Nate.
Looks like he's lost an eye?

Thanks Morkel, it looks like he has both eyes in the raw file.