The March of the Gentle Giant
Aug, 2015Views
206
Likes
Awards
Zenith Award
Staff Winter Selection 2015
Superb Composition
Outstanding Creativity
Top Choice
Absolute Masterpiece
Peer Award
Magnificent Capture
Top Ranks
Top 10 rankTop 20 rank week 1
Top 30 rank
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
This photograph was taken on my second day at Amboseli National Park, Loitoktok District, Rift Valley, in Kenya Africa. It was my first time being in Kenya and seeing these creatures in the wild for the first time, it was an amazing, exciting experience.Time
This shot was taken at 11:58 on the 5th January 2015. We had already been out since dawn and were heading back in for some down time and also for the fact that it was boiling. We weren't expecting to see much on the way back, until we saw this heard walking across our path. The shots we got were amazing. The heard spanned for a good solid mile or two. All were having dust baths along the way. Sometimes the harsh part of the day, turns out to be the best!Lighting
Depending on where we were positioned in the car, depended on how harsh the sun was. It was almost midday by the time I took this photo. At the time I wasn't aiming for 'mood' lightening as their was so much happening, you had your finger on the shutter constantly. Shadow was the main problem, getting the balance right between ISO and Shutter Speed was the key.Equipment
I used a Canon EOS 60D and a EF 100-400mm lens. While leaning on a small bean bag. On the window of vehicle we were on, while driving over dirt roads. It was fun, but a challenge.Inspiration
I wasn't looking for anything in particular. I wanted to show how mighty these animals actually are, to capture the family dynamic and the day to day survival. We just happened to be in the right place at the right time when this family walked pass and decided to have a dirt bath. Everyone in our vehicle went silent, all the cameras were pointed at this heard and I'm sure some people had a plan on what they wanted, I just wanted to capture the moment in general. I was just lucky enough to get one of them looking at me with two babies next to her. Half a second later she had turned her head. So it was really luck that got me this photo. And I love it.Editing
I try not to do too much post processing, especially with my wildlife shots. I like them to be as natural as possible. I use Lightroom 5 as I find it much more easier to handle then Photoshop. With this shot, I just cropped and straightened it, enhanced the colour, brought the exposer and contrast up to enhance the Elephants and the dust. I also used vignetting, I don't know what it is but I love the effect it brings to a shot. I'm mostly self taught, especially when it comes to editing, every time I edit a photo, I find something new hidden away in Lightroom, the hard bit is remembering how to do it again.In my camera bag
I have a very small equipment list which only consists of my Canon EOS 60D, 18-55mm lens and a 55-250mm lens. I do own a tripod but at the moment its living in a box, in my parents garage in Australia. One of these days I'll get it sent over. But I seem to be doing fine without it so far. Ohh and I can't forget about my bright orange low pro camera bag. Thats all that I own.Feedback
Kenya is a amazing. And should be the top on every wildlife photographers bucket list. There is so much life happening, and no day is the same. You can visit the same spot at the same time for a week and always end up with something different. Be patient, and respectful. It's wildlife after all. Don't be afraid to cull your images right down. You will defiantly have a large number of the exact same thing. Have a fast shutter speed. And lastly, put the camera down and just enjoy it. Sometimes its better to look with your eyes and not through the lens, it'll give a new perspective on what you're trying to perceive. And just have fun!!
