Vervet Monkey
Vervet monkey staring at something interesting - photographed in Kruger National Park, South Africa
Vervet monkey staring at something interesting - photographed in Kruger National Park, South Africa
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Mar, 2016Views
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
This was taken in one of the rest camps in The Kruger National Park, South Africa. This is a Vervet Monkey, endemic to the southern part of Africa. Growing to about 50cm when sitting erect and weighing up to 5.5kg. Vervet Monkeys are energetic and agile and as much at home on the ground as in the trees. Vervets are a nervy, excitable creature and can be very entertaining.Time
Vervet monkeys sleeps together in groups of two or three, huddled on the branches of high trees. The troop comes to the security of the rest camp in the late afternoons, to overnight in the security of the big trees located inside the overnight rest camps within the reserve.The monkeys have learnt that it offers a protected area from predators like leopard during night time being fenced in with an electric fence and the human activity in the camp. At this time they become quite a nuisance, scavenging for whatever they can steal from visitors on their way to their usual roosts. Caught this one peeping at me to see what is there to steal from our barbecue table. This was already taken in August 2011.Lighting
The lighting at that time of day (late afternoon) is already nice and soft (African sun can be very harsh during mid day) and I managed to get just enough reflection in the eyes as he tilted his head to keep me in his line of sight. I tried to capture the mischievous look he displayed.Equipment
Used a Nikon D300 with Sigma 50-500mm f4.0-6.3 lens at focal length of 320mm to zoom in for a portrait shot capturing the facial expression. ISO 250 at f6.3 and a shutter speed of 1/400Inspiration
Wanted to capture some of the mischievous facial expressions while rampaging through the camp, causing havoc as far as they go...Editing
Adjusted the white balance and increased contrast to bring out more detail in the hair.In my camera bag
Primary equipment used for wildlife photography in the Kruger is my trusted D300 with the Sigma 50-500mm lens combination. This is such a versatile lens for close as well as long shots. I rarely have to change lenses at all, doesn't matter if I am shooting big mammals at close range or a bird in flight. I normally carry also a Nikkor 18-55mm f3.5; Sigma 24-70mm f 2.8; Nikkor 70-300 f4 and Sigma 170-500mm f4.6 lenses with me on a trip to the Kruger National Park.Feedback
Be patient, observe your subject and be aware of the light. I also find it to be of great advantage when photographing wildlife that you know your animals and their behaviour in order to anticipate their next move.
