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Angry Giants
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Angry Giants

by Ingrid Vekemans

Gallery: WildlifePosted October 17, 2015548 views20 comments

White rhinos are usually quite social and complacent, but sometimes territorial issues just have to be sorted out. In that event, a large horn is definitely an advantage, as the wounds of the rhino with the broken horn clearly show.

This photo was taken in Solio Game Reserve (Kenya) in preparation of my photo safari "Untouched Africa".

Nikon D810
Nikkor AF-S VR 500 mm f/4
f/5
1/1000s
1000 ISO

95% of the original.

Comments

20 comments
Comment posted by Richard Sandor on October 17, 2015 at 12:43 PM
Ingrid: this is really an exceptional photo as well as an apt caption. The dust, the action implied by the raised foreleg and the clear shot of the eye of left rhino make this photo a standout. Wish you had just a bit more room at the top. Congrats!! Richard
Registered on January 12, 2014, 453 Posts, 1625 Comments
Comment posted by Ingrid Vekemans on October 17, 2015 at 12:58 PM
Funny you should say that, Richard, I cropped the 5% off the top (and consequently L & R) because I didn't think it added to the photo and just distracted from the action. Thanks a lot for your comment and your thinking!
Grt, Ingrid.
Registered on August 2, 2010, 138 Posts, 780 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Gavin on October 17, 2015 at 2:31 PM
As Richard notes: "exceptional photo."  I agree.  It is superb.  I assume the issues were sorted out. What was the result? Is the left rhino older (horn damage appears old) and being challenged by a younger one?
Just viewed your tour site: The cropped version as background is equally superb.
Registered on August 14, 2008, 293 Posts, 1250 Comments
Comment posted by John Tobias on October 17, 2015 at 3:41 PM
WOW! Quite an action photo!  Great catch of this interaction between the two rhinos.  The dust does block some of the details, but also adds to the intensity of the action.  Thanks for sharing.
Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments
Comment posted by Mike Ramy on October 17, 2015 at 10:35 PM
Hey Ingrid,
Very powerful image.
Well done . . .  laugh
Registered on June 16, 2012, 567 Posts, 2809 Comments
Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on October 18, 2015 at 1:17 AM
An action-packed close up here, with a powerful impact !
I seem to agree with Richard, about having some more canvas at the top, further I was just wondering, if boosting some contrast could further enhance this image !?!angel
Jagdeep Rajputdevil
Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments
Comment posted by William Bickle on October 18, 2015 at 8:26 AM
Hello Ingrid,... Fortunate to  get this interaction here!  The dust and scars really make the mood!  I agree with Jagdeep and some more contrast  would work OK!
Thanks for sharing!

Bill
WWW.Billbickle.com

 
Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments
Comment posted by William Bickle on October 18, 2015 at 8:27 AM
Hello Ingrid,... Fortunate to  get this interaction here!  The dust and scars really make the mood!  I agree with Jagdeep and some more contrast  would work OK!
Thanks for sharing!

Bill
WWW.Billbickle.com

 
Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments
Comment posted by Jerry Austin on October 18, 2015 at 9:20 AM
Looks like an unfair fight to me. That guy on the right has a serious weapon. Like the action. Well done.
Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments
Comment posted by Ingrid Vekemans on October 18, 2015 at 12:40 PM
Thanks all for your comments and appreciation!

Jim, the issues were sorted out. This went on for quite a while. Whenever he could, the short horned one ran away, but the other one always caught up. In the end they stood facing each other for a long time…short horn with ears flat and head down…long horn with ears in the air and head up…then the long horned one quietly walked away. The short horned one seemed OK, but had various cuts, so don't know really...

The one with the short horn wasn't older in my opinion. The shorter horn was also longer with the long-horned one (hope this still makes sense enlightened).

I took the comments about crop and contrast into consideration and 'uncropped' the photo and added contrast. Don't know what you guys think? I'm leaning towards the cropped version and am totally not sure about the contrast. I usually wouldn't, but am open to your opinions once again. Thanks a lot in advance!

 
Registered on August 2, 2010, 138 Posts, 780 Comments
Comment posted by Gary Minish on October 18, 2015 at 8:49 PM
Excellent action shot, Ingrid.  The close zoom makes you feel like you're right in the middle of it!  I personally prefer the first version, both crop and contrast. A spectacular opportunity and a great capture of the scene!
Registered on February 4, 2006, 625 Posts, 3583 Comments
Comment posted by Lon Sharp on October 18, 2015 at 10:43 PM
Count me as one who immediately preferred the original posting.  Adding contrast minimizes the wonderful effects of the dust.  The subtle difference in crop makes the original stonger, IMO, as it places them ever so slightly higher in the frame and therefore more imposing.  I really appreciate the detail of minute bits of blood and the expression of the eye...and raised front foot amid the stirred up dirt and dust.  Excellent.devil
Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments
Comment posted by Ingrid Vekemans on October 19, 2015 at 12:44 AM
Thanks, Gary and Lon, for your feedback. You are echoing my thoughts exactly.
crying
Ingrid.
Registered on August 2, 2010, 138 Posts, 780 Comments
Comment posted by Balan Vinod on October 19, 2015 at 3:16 AM
Beautiful piece of work from you Ingrid..!! You dont get to see such images often.

Balan Vinod
Registered on March 20, 2006, 889 Posts, 2312 Comments
Comment posted by Hisham Atallah on October 19, 2015 at 4:16 AM
Excellent Ingird. The dirst blown under the leg adss to the sense of motion and the power of the shot.

Cheers,

Hisham.
Registered on November 5, 2014, 121 Posts, 352 Comments
Comment posted by Joe James on October 22, 2015 at 9:31 PM
This is a great photo, well composed and really captures the action!
Registered on November 20, 2009, 89 Posts, 808 Comments
Comment posted by May Haga on October 23, 2015 at 6:05 PM
Great action.  Love the dust.
May
Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments
Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on October 24, 2015 at 7:23 AM
So intense!
Love it...
Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments
Comment posted by William Bickle on October 31, 2015 at 4:32 PM
Hello Ingrid, Congrats on the images featured in the new Inspiration category of Africa!

Bill
WWW.Billbickle.com
 
Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments
Comment posted by Ken Watkins on November 3, 2015 at 3:17 AM
To my eye the oroginal post is much better, just a pity you do not have more at the top.
Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments