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Wildlife - 1st HM
EPA 2015 GalleryNext ›

Wildlife - 1st HM

by Morkel Erasmus

Gallery: EPA 2015Posted December 11, 2015498 views10 comments
Stripes in Dust

A moment frozen in time on the banks of the Mara river, as a dazzle of zebra contemplate crossing the daunting waters. 
The key lighting through the dust assisted with the mood and emphasis here.

I am already looking forward to returning to the Mara Triangle in August next year! 

Techs:
Nikon D3s
Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 VR-II @ 200mm
f22 | 1/40 SS | ISO-200
(settings chosen as I was actually busy shooting some slow shutter stuff when this scene unfolded in front of me)

Comments

10 comments
Comment posted by Cay-Uwe Kulzer on December 11, 2015 at 1:26 PM
Morkel,

exactly, the light is a compositional elemet and that is very well shown here. Nice usage of it enlightened

From my postprocessing experience I must say that you also made a good job with the digital processing of the image. It looks very clean and clear which is for me an indication that you worked fine. Also that should be said devil
Registered on January 27, 2004, 494 Posts, 4021 Comments
Comment posted by David Bogener on December 11, 2015 at 5:38 PM
The thumbnail on this one really does not do it justice.  Just outstanding.  The light filtering through the dust gives the image a moody feel.  I like your compositional choices.
Registered on October 30, 2013, 417 Posts, 1255 Comments
Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on December 11, 2015 at 7:47 PM
I really like the chaos in this image Morkel. The flying dust, Zebras going in every direction. Very nicely done.
Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments
Comment posted by Brad Hill on December 12, 2015 at 9:15 AM
Hey Morkel,

This one is just an epic - love it! Great job on both the capture and post-processing (you know that they have to go together or hand-in-hand to create an image like this). Love the light filtering through the dust and the "chaos" of the scene.

Kinda chuckled when I saw f22 but then I read your note about how you were working on something else when this unfolded in front of you.

Cheers...and thanks a ton for posting this one!

Brad
 
Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Sandor on December 12, 2015 at 10:24 AM
Morkel: as they say about photography, it's all about the light. You've captured it here along with the dust and chaotic action. Excellent! Richard
Registered on January 12, 2014, 453 Posts, 1625 Comments
Comment posted by Lon Sharp on December 12, 2015 at 9:03 PM
One of your very best!  I would hang it on my wall.

Two thumbs up.
Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments
Comment posted by Gary Minish on December 15, 2015 at 3:27 AM
An exceptional capture with lots of great action and fantastic lighting!  It's amazingly clear and clean despite the high contrast lighting and I can't believe you stopped the action so well at 1/40!  Very nice processing also.  The large version is essential viewing with this image as the details are impressive and it has much more presence.  Great Photo, Morkel!  devil
Registered on February 4, 2006, 625 Posts, 3583 Comments
Comment posted by Mario Moreno on December 18, 2015 at 3:44 PM
An extremely atmospheric image Morkel ....... Nice work ! <div id="myEventWatcherDiv" style="display:none;"> </div>
Registered on January 24, 2012, 163 Posts, 369 Comments
Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on December 23, 2015 at 11:43 PM

Thanks a bunch, folks :D
Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Fach on January 10, 2016 at 3:31 PM
Morkel: Congrats on the EPA and a wonderful image. Fantastic scene and light and a spectacular capture. >=))>
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments