Mr Handsome!

Gallery: WildlifePosted May 5, 2014549 views11 comments

I am posting after a very long time. Lots of events (trip to Antarctica with Joe Van Os safaris), son's wedding, surgeries, etc) prevented me from processing my images from Antarctica.
Species: Southern Elephant Seal (Mirounga leonine)
Place: Salisbury Plains, South Georgia
Camera details: Canon 5D Mlll, Canon 300 f2.8 lens
Specs: ISO 200, f5.6, 1/320s, Eval metering, +0.33 exp comp, Gitzo tripod, Wimberley head

The Southern Elephant Seal is larger than its northern counterpart (found from Baja California to Vancouver), measuring about 15 feet in length, and weighing about 4-4.5 tonnes! The beach master, as he is called, has a large harem of females whom he has to guard from other males. These result in frequent fights between rival males and this explains the wounds on this huge male.
As always, all critics and critiques welcome!

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on May 5, 2014 at 2:01 PM

HI Ajit,

Good to see you posting again - was wondering where you got to!

I really like this one - everything from those big doleful eyes through to the piled up sand in front of the face (and up on the cheek). Particularly like how the subject totally fills the frame. I wouldn't mind a tad more DoF on this one (bringing the foreground sand and a bit more of the body into slightly sharper focus), but very interesting as posted - nicely done!

Cheers...

Brad

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

Comment posted by William Bickle on May 5, 2014 at 5:58 PM

Hello Ajit

My first time seeing this specimen. Sure is a Unique looking guy with very interesting features. As already mentioned by Brad, a little more DOF to see those detailed areas, just oof , Like those Battle Scars I see.

Bill

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

Comment posted by Rick Cloran on May 5, 2014 at 6:45 PM

Excellent shot. I like the tight crop and the piled up sand. The tales of battles past are written on his hide. Well done.

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

Comment posted by Marsel van Oosten on May 6, 2014 at 8:02 AM

Ajit - I was there in December. Great place. The elephant seals never disappoint - they fights are really impressive.

Nice and tight portrait. That sandy bit makes the shot for me,.

Registered on March 9, 2004, 285 Posts, 2277 Comments

Comment posted by Jenaya Launstein on May 6, 2014 at 8:18 AM

Love the low angle on this one. Perhaps not "Mr Handsome" to me, but I'm sure the female elephant seals find him irresistible

! It's amazing how vicious they can be while battling.

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

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on May 6, 2014 at 2:06 PM

I think this works in all ways.

Great eyes, expression, point of view, depth of field, battle scars and use of minimal elements to make composition.

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

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on May 7, 2014 at 12:15 AM

Fantastic angle and pose. Love the hints of blood, the sand this beast has its face buried in, the subtle changes in colors and the somewhat sad/heavy eyes.

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

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on May 7, 2014 at 5:18 AM

It feels great to be back, and to have none other than Brad Hill be the first one to comment (mostly, favourably!) on my image.....just great to be back! About the need for more dof, some of these big guys are so close that even stopping down on the aperture will not bring about any effective increase in dof

Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on May 7, 2014 at 12:34 PM

Ajit,
Great pose of this less than handsome creature, great detail in eyes

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

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on May 16, 2014 at 5:37 PM

Welcome back, Ajit. A great photo of this big guy. I think the DOF is just right but the low angle is what makes the shot for me.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Mike Ramy on May 18, 2014 at 12:51 PM

Outstanding Portrait of this Fellow Ajit,
It tells the story of being a 'Beach Master' very well.
Congratulations on the WP . . .

Registered on June 16, 2012, 567 Posts, 2809 Comments