Beat It!!

Gallery: WildlifePosted September 16, 2014225 views10 comments

During a drive through the bush, we were charged by a Cape Buffalo. The tracker, who sits in a seat attached to the left front of the vehicle, stood up, clapped his hands above his head and shouted loudly. Thankfully, this was enough to stop the charge. As the buffalo turned away, it was apparent that its left rear leg was greatly swollen and had a deep gash on it. Later that day, we learned that the same buffalo had charged a walking safari and was shot by the guide.
I got this shot early in the morning, a few mornings later when there was a lone hyena in addition to numerous vultures on the carcass. When this vulture landed too close to the hyena, it was met with a snarl.
Taken with a D4, 80-400 at 310, 1/640, f/5.6 and Auto ISO. Richard

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Jim Zablotny on September 16, 2014 at 7:43 PM

Hi Richard,

This is a powerful image with added details from your narrative. I have no nits and like the warm, early morning light..........................Jim

Registered on January 17, 2004, 705 Posts, 3594 Comments

Comment posted by John Neukirch on September 16, 2014 at 8:57 PM

So raw and awesome. Thank you for sharing!

Registered on July 9, 2012, 207 Posts, 1476 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on September 17, 2014 at 7:47 AM

The large version is a must see. An awesome moment you captured Richard. Great light too.

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

Comment posted by Gary Reed on September 17, 2014 at 7:55 AM

Richard, the lighting adds a lot to this scene. It almost looks like its the hyena's last stand before he was brought down by the vultures LOL. Great as captured.

Registered on September 19, 2009, 198 Posts, 1074 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on September 18, 2014 at 12:14 AM

The sweet light, the lunging hyena and the flaring vulture make this a real keeper. I think the "mob" of other vultures does much to enhance the feeling of frenzy, too.

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

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on September 18, 2014 at 8:21 AM

Great interaction n beautiful light !
I do wish that framing was better, but understand, how difficult, it would have been.
Jagdeep Rajput

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

Comment posted by Brad Hill on September 18, 2014 at 11:51 AM

Hi Richard,

Great "decisive moment" shooting! I don't think it would have possible to have timed this better - even if we went down to milliseconds. Just a super (and dramatic) shot that shows the competition between scavenging species incredibly well. The slight clipping of the vulture's wings is a BIT unfortunate, but really understandable (What? You didn't have 10 minutes to plan this?

) - and it certainly doesn't harm the image much at all.

Techs look MOSTLY good - I think a little higher shutter speed might have helped sharpen this one up a little more, but not sure if you were already maxed out on ISO or not (again - What? You didn't have 10 minutes to plan this?

). In a perfect world it would be nice to see a little more separation between subject and background (to have the action pop even more), but that would have required a different lens (e.g., a 300mm f2.8) and it isn't what was in your hands (you didn't have 10 minutes to plan this?) - and you did great with what WAS in your hands.

Nicely done...

Cheers...

Brad

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

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on September 18, 2014 at 9:22 PM

That's a stunner, Rich. The larger version is a knockout. No nits from me.

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

Comment posted by John Launstein on September 20, 2014 at 6:04 PM

Mind-blowing image, Richard. The light is gorgeous, the comp is compelling, and the moment captured is incredible. I, too, appreciate the narrative. I don't have any suggestions beyond Brad's comments. Stunning.

Registered on April 5, 2011, 223 Posts, 1193 Comments

Comment posted by William Bickle on September 27, 2014 at 8:24 AM

Hello Richard

Wow ! as all have already mentioned! lighting is so warm and beautiful with amazing interaction! while losing the top of wing is unfortunate, I think a slight crop off the bottom , to the ground level grasses would make this even more Powerful !!

Bill

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