The Promise of Rain

Gallery: WildlifePosted July 12, 2015197 views14 comments

By now, if you've followed my work for some time, you would know that I have this sort of fetish for contextual atmospheric wildlife photos taken with shorter focal lengths. I simply love the scenery of Africa too much to resort to frame-filling portraits in the majority of my image-making.

This photo shows a herd of desert-hardened Oryx, also called Gemsbok, moving across the barren Etosha salt pan as the first summer rains roll in from the distance. Etosha is a hot, harsh and unforgiving land for most of the year. However, towards the end of November a transformation happens - clouds start to form, moisture is tangible in the air, and storms start to build across the endless horizon. Water comes to this land, much needed sustenance, preserving life and keeping this fragile ecosystem in the right balance.

Techs:
Nikon D800
Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 VR-II @ 175mm
Circular Polariser
f8.0 | 1/400 SS | ISO-900
Grain is intentional - this is processed for my limited edition monochrome print range

Comments

14 comments

Comment posted by John Launstein on July 12, 2015 at 10:40 PM

Another stunner, Morkel...this one goes to the top shelf, joining many other masterpieces from you. Beautiful work of art.

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

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on July 12, 2015 at 11:37 PM

Morkel, I think the contextual approach to this image works quite well as an excellent example of showing wildlife in their environment. Nice work!

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on July 13, 2015 at 12:26 AM

The vortex that seems to be forming out there really gives this a great mood. Looks great in monochrome, of course.

Max

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

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on July 13, 2015 at 9:29 AM

Love it Morkel! Very nicely executed. Though works well in B&W, but I wonder there must be interesting colours too !?! angel

Jagdeep Rajput

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

Comment posted by Richard Sandor on July 13, 2015 at 10:57 AM

Morkel: this is a fabulous capture of the animals in their environment with B/W being the perfect choice for this rendering. Congrats!! Richard

Registered on January 12, 2014, 453 Posts, 1625 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on July 13, 2015 at 11:17 AM

Thanks folks!

I figured the request for a colour version would come up - here it is...

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

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on July 13, 2015 at 12:22 PM

EPIC!!! Enough said.

Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hansen on July 13, 2015 at 1:34 PM

Fantastic shot Morkel! Black and white is definitely the way to go - so much more dramatic.

Registered on May 5, 2011, 161 Posts, 908 Comments

Comment posted by Peter J. Morrissey on July 13, 2015 at 2:59 PM

HI Morkel

My vote is for the black & white.

Peter

Registered on July 3, 2011, 188 Posts, 969 Comments

Comment posted by Carey Closs on July 14, 2015 at 10:46 AM

Great animalscape; you've really captured the harshness of the environemt these animals live in. Both images are nice but the B&W is more dramatic in my opinion.

Registered on April 15, 2012, 107 Posts, 326 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Moreau on July 15, 2015 at 7:47 PM

This is a great photo Morkel! Not only is it well-composed and processed, but it tells a great story of the changing of seasons and how much it means to these animals.

I like things about both versions: the starkness and drama of the b&w, and the complementary earth tones of the color version.