FrankSomma
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18657
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Awards
Zenith Award
Creative Winter Award
Curator's Selection
Top Shot Award 21
Legendary Award
Summer 2020
Winner in Feeling Overwhelmed Photo Challenge
People's Choice in Apes and Monkeys Photo Challenge
Winner in two of your five top voted photos Photo Challenge
People's Choice in Zoo Animals Photo Challenge
People's Choice in Moment Photo Challenge
Winner in Primates Photo Challenge
Contest Finalist in Covers Photo Contest Vol 28
People's Choice in Great Apes Photo Challenge
Contest Finalist in Adorable Baby Animals Photo Contest
People's Choice in Animals That Touch the Heart Photo Challenge
Contest Finalist in Zootography Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Photographer Of The Month Photo Contest Vol 11
Contest Finalist in Glorious Moments Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Life Is A Journey Photo Contest
Winner in Nurture In Nature Photo Challenge
Winner in Emotions in Nature Photo Challenge
Winner in Animal Emotions Photo Challenge
Runner Up in Baby Animals Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Baby Animals Photo Contest
Absolute Masterpiece
Peer Award
Top Choice
Superb Composition
Magnificent Capture
All Star
Outstanding Creativity
Superior Skill
Genius
Virtuoso
Jaw Dropping
One Of A Kind
VIP Favorite
Great Find
Love it
Top Ranks
Categories
tngnj
September 14, 2014
Great capture. Frank,it's so nice to see you on this wonderful site and see all your beautiful work.
Tommy Ng
Tommy Ng
snowdon
October 28, 2014
Many congratulations on your Finalist Win in Baby Animals competition, great photograph
The-Venerable-Stan
November 28, 2014
Join the conversation. Add a comment or even better, a critique. Let's get better together!
The-Venerable-Stan
November 28, 2014
This is an excellent shot in every respect! e a comment. I wish we could see more pictures of this quality on ViewBug.
njkerosky
March 16, 2015
Congratulations!!! Your photo is a Finalist in the "Nature's Perfect Moment" Challenge. Fantastic Work!!!
barbaramillesrobinson
April 02, 2015
Congratulations for all of the well deserved awards on this magnificent photo!
pattack
April 03, 2015
Wonderful! It's very moving - especially when you consider how very cruelly these intelligent animals are abused :(
snowdon
April 14, 2015
Wow Frank another well deserved Finalist Win for this wonderful photograph in Glorious Moments ...congratulations
carolcardillo
May 04, 2015
I'm losing track of my congrats to you! :-) Congratulations in Glorious Moments!
bugsysposy
May 12, 2015
Congratulations on an awe-inspiring shot ! Please tell us more ; how and why . It looks like it was a moment captured at a zoo but none-the-less emotion-full , full of life , love , passion ; sweet . Great moment caught !
snowdon
August 19, 2015
Congratulations on your Finalist Win in Photographer of the Month Volume 11..
carolcardillo
August 19, 2015
Too bad you don't have more awards on this photo, Frank... ;-) Congrats again!!
p_eileenbaltz
September 22, 2015
Wonderful capture! Congratulations on being chosen a finalist in the 'Zootography' contest.......and, good luck.:)
Roach1969
September 23, 2015
Magnificent capture, stunning shot. Thank you for entering my challenge :D
carolcardillo
September 28, 2015
Congrats, Frank, on being a Finalist in Zootography! I have to write the contest title in order to keep track of my congrats... ;-) Yay!
nandicmb
October 10, 2015
Congratulations on ALL your wins! This moment captured is a lifetime's treasure!!!
p_eileenbaltz
October 19, 2015
Congratulations on another well-deserved award for this outstanding photo!!!
joycealicesmith
October 19, 2015
Congratulations on your Peoples Choice win! Definitely touches the heart!
darphotos
January 21, 2016
The little ones eyes, have capture his or hers feelings. They say it all.
snowdon
January 24, 2016
Great job Frank .. congratulations on your Finalist Win in Adorable Baby Animals competition ... its adorable :)
KatieMcKinneyPhotography
February 01, 2016
Congrats on winning peoples choice in my "Great Apes" photo challenge! This image is undeniably wonderful and one of a kind. Great work Frank!
~Katie
~Katie
douglaswaltersmith
March 03, 2016
This might be one of the best photos that I have ever seen... EVER!
Pascale
April 20, 2016
This is the best image i have ever seen in my life!
What is wrong with the juges? your work is better than the others.
To me your image should had win the contest :)
What is wrong with the juges? your work is better than the others.
To me your image should had win the contest :)
chrisholcroft
April 21, 2016
This is a magnificent capture. Rarely do you get raw emotion in images as clearly as in this. Respect and regards.... Awesome
overthehillfan2004
November 03, 2016
I do not know all the fancy technical words to use..but I just have to say that this shot touched my heart...thank you.?
LindieK
February 14, 2018
Just a beautiful capture! Very professionally Post Processed. Congratulations on getting People’s choice.
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Discover more photos See all
Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken at The Wild Animal Park in the San Pasqual Valley in San Diego. The African Gorilla enclosure had just re-opened after a renovation.Time
This is one of my most fortuitous captures. I remember having an early access to the park. The gorillas wake and emerge from their sleeping quarters around 8:00 a.m. I wanted to be positioned and well established in an area I knew from experience had an advantageous vantage point. The day starts slow and leisurely as they greet the day (and all of us waiting for the early morning glimpse).Lighting
The lighting in the area is a bit difficult. Heavily shaded in some areas making the action capture difficult as an ISO of 1200-1600 is required to just get to 1/500, which is still a bit slow. Some bright sunlit spots can make for a heavy contrast that is not appealing. So you have to pick your spot for an ideal exposureEquipment
This particular shot was taken with a Nikon D3. I had the Nikkor 70-200 2.8 mounted with a Hoya circular PL to cut down the glare.Inspiration
The gorilla enclosure was the highlight of the trip to the park recently with the addition of "Monroe" a baby born sometime around March 2013. Monroe put on quite a show exhibiting all the antics of youth. And the adult gorillas responses to him and the tenderness and care they provided was endearing. My focus was almost exclusively on Monroe and for this shot it paid off. At some point two egrets flew low over the area. Monroe startled let out screech. Instantly the entire community was electrified in response to the baby's call. All the adults, alerted assumed an alarmed and defensive posture. I stayed focused on Monroe as he ran to his mother for protection and security. Mom had a taken up an imposing defensive posture of fierce aggressiveness. This expression contrasted beautifully with the terrified look of vulnerability on the face of her young one who clutched at her in desperation. I shot just then. I felt very fortunate to be at the right place at the right time.Editing
There was some post processing to this image. I softened the contrast and burned down some highlights and did a bit of toning.In my camera bag
I have a pretty simple bag being what would call an advanced amateur. I have two Nikon bodies but shoot mainly with the D3. I carry the 70-200mm, a 24-70mm and a 105mm macro. I like to use a tripod often as I feel it slows me down a helps me compose and stay focused, literally. But I did not use it on the shot. And some ND and PL filtersFeedback
Patience is the first attribute the comes to mind in these situations. Waiting, still, but ready for anything.This was obviously a fortuitous moment in time. But I think my success here was due in part to being completely focused in my mind and with the camera on my subject. And throughout the commotion and spontaneous combustion of the moment I stayed with the movement until the elements co-insided and was prepared and ready to make the capture.