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Big Vic
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Big Vic

by Morkel Erasmus

Gallery: WildlifePosted October 4, 2014114 views7 comments
Big Vic is one of the legendary elephant bulls of Mana Pools. He is the biggest of the lot (bulk-wise), cool calm and collected, and quite approachable. Besides coming right into our camp at one point during our recent safari, we were able to get close to where he was feeding with 2 of his cohorts one morning in the floodplains. This photo was taken with a wide angle lens as we were sitting on a fallen log right next to the tree he was picking his breakfast from. An awe-inspiring experience to be so close on foot, and one that keeps me going back again and again to Mana Pools!

Techs:
Nikon D800
Nikkor 24-70mm f2.8 @ 29mm!! :eek:
f5.6 | 1/320 SS | ISO-400

Comments

7 comments
Comment posted by Jerry Austin on October 4, 2014 at 9:44 AM
Amazing experience to be so close to this magnificent creature. I like the elephant's form with the arched back. It looks like the lighting was not totally in your favor, but a great image nonetheless.
Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Sandor on October 5, 2014 at 6:09 PM
As Jerry said, it's always amazing to be so close to the animal. It's also interesting to see a different type of behavior or pose by the animal. Richard
Registered on January 12, 2014, 453 Posts, 1625 Comments
Comment posted by Lon Sharp on October 5, 2014 at 8:34 PM
Very cool capture from a great perspective! The dappled light is a little unfortunate, but this is a real grabber for the outstretched pose and behavior.
Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments
Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on October 7, 2014 at 9:31 PM
LOVE the pose on this one Morkel. I do wish the light was more even and you didn't have to deal with the shadows...but hey...can't ask for everything right? Really nicely seen and created. :toast:
Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments
Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on October 8, 2014 at 2:26 AM
24-70 at 29! Wow, that is really close, Morkel! You certainly know this guy well enough to try this. :smile:
Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments
Comment posted by Ken Watkins on October 8, 2014 at 3:47 AM
Pity he did not stand on his hind legs for this one, at least he was not one of the many recently collared by Craig van Zyl for his TV show.
Mana Pools allows everybody to walk even without a guide, so the elephants are "habituated" to close attention.
Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments
Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on October 8, 2014 at 4:02 AM
Thanks for the comments, folks.
Ajit - you need to visit Mana someday. As Ken says the big old bulls are quite habituated and there are many of them that allow you this close if you are respectful and know how to approach and read their demeanour.

Ken - as far as I know this guy cannot go bipedal, but he is big enough to reach the high stuff without doing it.
Don't even get me started on the senseless collaring "for protection" of Boswell (not sure which others are collared), if the recent Desert Lion fracas has shown us anything it's that people who want to shoot animals don't give a crap about whether it is collared or not. Anyway, not a discussion for this forum in any event :mad:
Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments