Hippopotamus Amphibius Impressivus

Gallery: WildlifePosted March 7, 20081,902 views19 comments

This image was taken one early morning just before sunrise, at the Caprivi-strip in the far north-east of Namibia. The rest of Namibia may be extremely dry, this narrow strip of land bordering Angola and Botswana is humid and wet. The combination of low light levels, a moving subject, a long lens and a wobbly boat made it difficult to get critically sharp images, but luckily I managed to get a few.

D2Xs, AF-S 600/4.0, 1/125 @ f/4, ISO 800

Comments

19 comments

Comment posted by Billy Fairburn on March 7, 2008 at 7:05 AM

Beautiful colours Marsel, fantastic image!

Billy

Registered on March 3, 2007, 123 Posts, 717 Comments

Comment posted by David Chauvin on March 7, 2008 at 7:11 AM

Awesome! Sweet light and color.

Registered on August 5, 2004, 1007 Posts, 5595 Comments

Comment posted by Alessandra & Rocco on March 7, 2008 at 8:20 AM

Fantastic photos and beautiful color

Registered on March 3, 2007, 122 Posts, 778 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Inglis on March 7, 2008 at 8:28 AM

Hi Marsel,

Superb, absolutely superb!

Registered on October 23, 2007, 26 Posts, 2832 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on March 7, 2008 at 9:43 AM

You had to have fun shooting this series if from a small boat! This has the appearance of sepia tone. I most appreciate the detail in both eyes.

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

Comment posted by Dan Harbour on March 7, 2008 at 10:00 AM

Incredible photo. wonderful light on the water, great low view, eye contact and a very impressive subject.

Registered on January 4, 2008, 113 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by renae sandberg on March 7, 2008 at 5:59 PM

I'll say he is impressive as is the shot, I love the tonalities and the incredible detail in the hippo.

Registered on December 29, 2004, 313 Posts, 2476 Comments

Comment posted by David Cobb on March 8, 2008 at 12:54 AM

Outstanding photograph Marsel, the light and the eyes are incredible.

David M. Cobb

Registered on December 14, 2007, 312 Posts, 3243 Comments

Comment posted by David Boston on March 8, 2008 at 5:17 PM

So ... this is probably the best hippo shot I've ever seen. Really, really well done.

Registered on January 4, 2008, 67 Posts, 159 Comments

Comment posted by Trym Espeseth on March 9, 2008 at 8:48 AM

Great Hippo picture

Registered on June 27, 2005, 106 Posts, 166 Comments

Comment posted by Ellen deBoer on March 9, 2008 at 9:59 AM

Great shot, Marsel! I really like those little eyes in this huge head staring at you! Well done from a wobbly boat!

Registered on March 16, 2006, 419 Posts, 2076 Comments

Comment posted by Winnie Ho on March 9, 2008 at 11:11 PM

Lovely soft light, great eye contact. Just perfect!

Registered on January 6, 2008, 93 Posts, 1788 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Binda on March 11, 2008 at 5:49 AM

congrats Marsel, this is one mean looking .....

Dennis

Registered on September 8, 2007, 56 Posts, 326 Comments

Comment posted by Pete Bengeyfield on March 11, 2008 at 11:55 AM

Excellent! The eyes are riveting

Registered on December 2, 2003, 1247 Posts, 3439 Comments

Comment posted by George Hall, Jr on March 11, 2008 at 12:36 PM

Marsel, congrats on the EPs pick! Very nice, love the look. Well done.

Registered on July 11, 2004, 283 Posts, 2395 Comments

Comment posted by Zack Schnepf on March 11, 2008 at 12:47 PM

Stunning work as usual Marsel. Grats on the EP this week.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 403 Posts, 2528 Comments

Comment posted by Judith Russell-Too on March 11, 2008 at 12:51 PM

Just magnificent. Wonderful lighting and capture.

Registered on November 10, 2007, 129 Posts, 403 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on March 11, 2008 at 1:18 PM

That is one alert, menacing monster of the river! Nice going with a 600mm lens on a boat. Well deserved EP, Marsel– Congratulations on a fine shot!

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Marsel van Oosten on March 18, 2008 at 3:25 AM

Thanks everyone for all the kind words, glad you like it.

Registered on March 9, 2004, 285 Posts, 2277 Comments