Shake it Off

Gallery: WildlifePosted November 18, 2014352 views14 comments

A large solitary elephant bull in a remote corner of Etosha.
He was in musth and shook his head indignantly as he caught my scent - I was safe in an underground concrete bunker though...

By the way, I chose the title of this photo long before Taylor Swift had a hit song with that name... ;)

Techs:
Nikon D800
Nikkor 24-70mm f2.8 @ 36mm
Kenko PRO Circular Polariser
f11 | 1/200 SS | ISO-900

Comments

14 comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on November 18, 2014 at 11:51 PM

Once again, I like your choice for the monochrome conversion.

I do have to dock you points for knowing the title of any Taylor Swift song though.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Balan Vinod on November 19, 2014 at 12:19 AM

Morkel ..another powerful image from you...beautifully crafted image

Balan Vinod

Registered on March 20, 2006, 889 Posts, 2312 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on November 19, 2014 at 1:15 AM

LOL Max, bloody tune keeps playing on the local radio station that's always on in the office

Thanks guys.

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on November 19, 2014 at 6:52 AM

Very dramatic photo of this majestic bull Morkel. You captured the perfect moment. I really like this presentation and composition.

Sweet Photo

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

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on November 19, 2014 at 6:59 AM

It's a cracker Morkel ! Great action n nicely executed!
May prefer to place the Ele,, slightly on the left side of frame.
Jagdeep Rajput

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

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on November 19, 2014 at 8:09 AM

Who is Taylor Swift?
Morkel,
I am not sure that this works for me, this is largely due to the majority of the head being almost totally obscured by dust, and the foreground is exceptionally "gritty"

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

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on November 19, 2014 at 10:51 AM

I love the drama and the perspective of the pose. The action is a strong positive, but I agree somewhat with Ken that I find the amount of dust across the face a bit unfortunate, totally losing the eye.

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

Comment posted by William Bickle on November 19, 2014 at 12:55 PM

Hello Morkel

I usually prefer to Comment prior to looking at others comments etc... So here is my take on Taylors capture :)

Powerful, and fits the BW conversion! I would have preferred more of the second eye But... Great perspective from the low vantage point...seeing the ground and feet without obstructions is a plus... And the stirred up dust in front leg area Adds to the whole capture...!

Well Done

Bill

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

Comment posted by D.A. Edwards on November 19, 2014 at 1:38 PM

Wow, what a shot is what I thought when I opened this. In some ways maybe more dust in front of the space might have been cool too so just the body and trunk was clear.

Registered on October 8, 2014, 226 Posts, 1187 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on November 19, 2014 at 2:43 PM

Morkel, I sympathize. The experience of driving across your country was made a lot less fun by the radio stations playing the same three songs over and over. I believe in 2012 it was Katy Perry, Adam Lambert and FloRida's "Whistle" song. Ugh.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Mario Moreno on November 19, 2014 at 3:02 PM

Incredible low angle and nice conversion Morkel

Registered on January 24, 2012, 163 Posts, 369 Comments

Comment posted by Thomas Haney on November 20, 2014 at 8:40 AM

Awesome shot Morkel, very dramatic. The B&W looks great.

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

Comment posted by Hisham Atallah on November 23, 2014 at 7:08 AM

This one definitely works for me. I don't mind the obstructed eye. The low POV and sense of movement reproduce the awe of coming face to face with one of those giants.

Cheers,

Hisham.

Registered on November 5, 2014, 121 Posts, 352 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on November 25, 2014 at 11:07 PM

Thanks a bunch, folks...

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