The Gauntlet

Gallery: WildlifePosted July 5, 2016144 views9 comments

The massive migratory herds have already arrived in the Maasai Mara ecosystem, a tad early but it promises to be an amazing safari season again. I can't wait to get back up there early in August to introduce a group of eager photographers to one of nature's most spellbinding spectacles!

This is from last season - we had so many mayhem-filled crossings that we lost count on this particular safari.

Techs:
Nikon D3s
Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 VR-II @ 180mm
f11 | 1/1000 SS | ISO-640

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on July 6, 2016 at 7:26 PM

The vertical works well for this bit of action, but what I really like is how the bottom three wildebeest pop with extra contrast and deeper tones while the rest are obscured by all the dust.

Max

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

Comment posted by Richard Sandor on July 6, 2016 at 9:44 PM

Morkel: wonderful transition from the lighter colored elements at the top of the frame to the darker elements at the bottom of the frame. That transition serves as an effective leading line. It looks like you've captured an avalanche of wildebeests. Richard

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

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on July 7, 2016 at 3:09 AM

An action packed frame from corner to corner... very nicely executed!
Love the wildebeest emerging from cloud of dust.
Jagdeep Rajput

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

Comment posted by Marylynne Diggs on July 7, 2016 at 12:18 PM

This is absolutely spectacular. What a great job capturing the movement, energy, and chaos.
ML

Registered on December 14, 2010, 122 Posts, 1034 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on July 10, 2016 at 3:02 PM

Hey Morkel,

You know I like this one! I agree whole-heartedly with both Max's and Richard's comment on how effective it is having the maximum contrast on the wildebeest in the bottom of the frame (with less as you progress upwards). To me this adds some great depth to the shot.

My only very small nit is that to my eye there appears to be some over-sharpening (or an over-sharpened LOOK) in the bushes above the three lower wildebeest.

Thanks for sharing this excellent shot.

Brad

Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments

Comment posted by mark cillo on July 13, 2016 at 10:26 PM

This is awesome! The B&W works really well for this shot.

Registered on July 27, 2008, 143 Posts, 1483 Comments

Comment posted by S Govindarajan on July 13, 2016 at 11:59 PM

Spectacular image, Morkel. I too really like the contrast between the dusty top half and the clear bottom. I also like your choice of vertical composition that captures the action-packed scene and going B&W.

Registered on April 19, 2008, 115 Posts, 1921 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on July 25, 2016 at 1:01 PM

Thanks folks!!

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

Comment posted by Ingrid Vekemans on July 26, 2016 at 11:04 AM

Last year a tad late, this year a tad early... we must send a calendar to these wildebeest! In any case, you'll get to see them for sure when you're there early August... enjoy!

Oh yes, and great image, by the way enlightened

grt, Ingrid.

Registered on August 2, 2010, 138 Posts, 780 Comments