Zebra on the Ledge
A plains zebra pauses on top a steep bank after crossing a small stream in Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania.
A plains zebra pauses on top a steep bank after crossing a small stream in Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania.
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Feb, 2017Views
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Awards
Contest Finalist in Monthly Pro Vol 30 Photo Contest
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Absolute Masterpiece
Superior Skill
All Star
Outstanding Creativity
Virtuoso
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Behind The Lens
Location
I captured this image in Ngorongoro Crater, the centerpiece of Tanzania's Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which is part of the Serengeti ecosystem.Time
It was early in the afternoon, around 1:30 PM after we'd taken a lunch picnic during our game drive.Lighting
The midday sun was almost directly overhead but the light was a little diffuse with the cloudy skies evident in the background.Equipment
This was shot freehand, no flash from a vehicle with a Canon 5D and Sigma 70-300 zoom lens.Inspiration
It's not often you have the chance to look up at a zebra and catch blue sky in the background. We were about to cross a small stream when this group of zebras passed in front of us and climbed the adjacent bank. This one paused for a second on top of the bank creating this nice moment.Editing
I cropped this photo a little and adjusted the tones to better define the sky and clouds and slightly increased the contrast to sharpen the zebras stripes.In my camera bag
Because I normally focus on shooting wildlife I typically carry just my 5D- now a MkIII- and one telephoto zoom lens, either Canon 100-400 L or Tamron 150-600 that have replaced the mediocre lens I used for this image. Most days I prefer to be light but sometimes carry my old 5D (or 20D) as back-up. When I'm out to shoot wildlife I don't even bother to carry a wide angle lens as my pocket Canon Powershot and even my Lumia phone can both shoot raw files. I do sometimes use my Canon EF 24-70 L lens for landscapes and close-ups and love my Slik tripod, but rarely have the opportunity to use it. I also toy with a circular polarizer sometimes but otherwise avoid filters.Feedback
Aside from the trip to Tanzania (though I was working across the border in Rwanda) and being on a safari, there isn't anything particularly challenging about getting an image like this- it was just about keeping my eyes open and looking for something interesting. Right time, at the right spot, with some decent kit.
