Drinking at Dusk
Apr, 2016Views
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jacquelinesmit
July 08, 2018
https:// viewbug.com/challenge/elephants-photo-challenge-by-jacquelinesmit
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
I captured this image while on an Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT) trip with 14 fellow photo enthusiasts. Our adventure took us through South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Botswana. This picture was taken in Chobe National Park, famed for its large herds of elephants, and proved to be one of my favorite destinations along our route.Time
I took this picture late afternoon while enjoying a sunset boat cruise along the Chobe River. Most animals are more active early morning or late in the day and it was worth a long wait in a small boat to view these majestic elephants converging on the riverbank for an evening drink.Lighting
Some of the best photography is possible in the late afternoons as the sun is dipping on the horizon. In general, the African sun is hot and harsh, and sunscreen is a must. On this particular evening, I was pleased that the light was a bit softer and lent itself to excellent pictures of the elephants, as well as the magnificent sunsets over the Chobe River. Our cruise lasted from 3 pm- 6 pm so I was able to avoid the worst of the mid-day glare.Equipment
I used a Nikon D300, a polarizing filter and a Tamron 16-300 lens to capture this shot. I often travel light (weight restrictions, luggage limitations, remote destinations), so a superzoom serves well-- one lens that goes from wide-angle through standard focal length range and to a respectable telephoto. I particularly didn't want to be changing lenses on a bumpy jeep ride or on a riverboat.Inspiration
I was hoping to see the massive herds of elephant that I had read existed in the Chobe National Park, and I was not disappointed! Our group was fortunate to get very close to this herd without disrupting them, so close that I had a staredown with one of the huge bulls. To emphasize their gigantic size, I tried to sink as low in the boat as possible to get an eye-level perspective.Editing
While the original color photograph was interesting, this image begged for a black-and-white conversion. I used Tonality, a professional black and white software for Macs, that gave me the tools and presets to create this striking image easily. My final step was to reduce noise due to my high ISO that made the photo look a bit grainy. To accomplish this, I did some minor adjustments in Noiseless, another plug-in software for the Mac.In my camera bag
I have multiple bags but my favorite for travel is the Lowepro Pro Runner 200 AW. It's lightweight and offers just the right amount of space for a camera body, spare lens, and accessories. I recently changed from a Nikon D300 to a Nikon D7500 for its smaller, lighter size and excellent low-light performance. I generally carry two lenses: my favorite Nikkor 16-80 and a Tamron all-in-one superzoom such as the 16-300, both with polarizing and UV filters. If I have room, I'll also toss in a fixed lens such as my Nikkor 50mm because I love that it forces me to move around my subject.Feedback
Nothing beats an African safari for the sheer abundance of wildlife and landscape photo opportunities. It's worth the time, money and effort--all substantial-- to get there. There are a couple of things every photographer should know before embarking on a safari. First, be prepared for very early starts to your safari game drives, usually before sunrise. This is when the animals are most active. Second, be sure to pack a DSLR camera with a good zoom lens. There is simply no way to capture a stunning wildlife photo with a cellphone or Point-and-Shoot camera. You'll end up frustrated and disappointed. And finally, try to get as close to the ground as possible. An eye-level or lower angle shot helps give the animal perspective and places it in its natural background.
