Friendship
Two giraffes looking into a stormy sky n Etosha National Park, Namibia
Two giraffes looking into a stormy sky n Etosha National Park, Namibia
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Jan, 2016Views
2057
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Awards
Featured
Contest Finalist in Discover Africa Photo Contest
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Absolute Masterpiece
Outstanding Creativity
Magnificent Capture
All Star
Superior Skill
Genius
Virtuoso
Emotions
Impressed
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PRO
Pamelabole
April 21, 2016
Wonderful capture....love the golden tones! And congrats on your award!!! : )
PRO+
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
Photo was taken in Etosha National Park in Namibia.Time
The photo was taken in the late afternoon as the golden hour of light set in.Lighting
The challenge here was shooting a bit towards the sun, though this was mitigated by the clouds obscuring the bright background.Equipment
Nikon 700 with a 600 mm lens mounted in a Wimberly. No flash was requiredInspiration
I had just learned that giraffes fight by flailing their necks at one another. What I had at first thought was a gesture of affection was in fact a sign of aggression. So when I saw two giraffes looking into the distance belly to belly, I couldn’t help but believe that giraffes are more than capable of the whole spectrum of relationships. I don’t know if these giraffe were siblings, but believe that something brought them together to look into the distance side by side.Editing
This was processed in Photoshop to soften the golden light and to enhance the sky a bit from a relatively flat look. I blurred some of the image to emphasize the giraffe and minimize the distraction of the landscape. All in Photoshop, with no added texture or filters.In my camera bag
I am now carrying two Nikon D4s cameras armed with separate lenses - one long and one short or wide angle. I plan to return to Africa this Fall but this time will focus on the big cats in Kenya and Tanzania. I plan to catch video as well as still shots so will bring my hands 6sPlus iPhone just to be secure I have all the tools. I have a Nikon 200-500mm lens with a 2X teleconverter but will also have a 14-24mm wide angle lens to catch the landscape.Feedback
I really like to have a sense of place in my photography, so watch and observe before picking up a camera. Learning about animal behavior enhances the ability to capture a special moment. Finding simplicity in a complex environment is another important factor in a good photograph. There were many giraffes nearby those two in this image, and I had to wait to catch these two giraffes alone and away from the crowd to find a peaceful and evocative image. That is what I strive for.
