Hyena Cleans the Bones
In the wild of the Serengeti the circle of life can be quite brutal, but nothing goes to waste - even the bones!
In the wild of the Serengeti the circle of life can be quite brutal, but nothing goes to waste - even the bones!
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Oct, 2017Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
In September 2016 I took a bucket list trip - a safari in Tanzania. This photo was taken in the Ngorongoro Crater, the world's largest inactive, intact and unfilled volcanic caldera. It is home to an abundance of wildlife. We were driving slowly through the area when I spotted this scene in the distance. Unfortunately, the hyena was a far enough away that it was probably close to farthest capability of my camera lens to get a good image.Time
We had driven to the Ngorongoro Crater that morning from the northern Serengeti so by the time we reached the floor and came upon this hyena it was approximately 2 to 3 in the afternoon.Lighting
It was a bit cloudy that day, but not too overcast so the lighting was at a good level to capture the image without too much glare.Equipment
I utilized a Sony a6300 with FE 4.5-5.6 /70-300 G OSS lens. I was sitting in the front passenger seat of the Landcruiser so used the window ledge for support.Inspiration
This was one of those amazing moments in the African bush where you can be an observer of the circle of life in this untamed place. After seeing similar scenes only in documentaries I was really there. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this hyena gnaw on these rib bones and sat taking photos while transfixed as it slowly made it's way all the way around the remains.Editing
Yes, I did do some post-processing work in Photoshop/Lightroom. Due to the distance involved, this photo has a crisper / more focused look in black & white. I also did a bit of auto-correction, but no major alterations.In my camera bag
I've always enjoyed photography, but never had the funds for a serious camera and lenses. When I had the opportunity to go on safari, I also was able to afford a camera kit that allowed me to move forward toward becoming a better caliber photographer. The base of the a6300 came with a 16-50mm lens and have added an additional 18-200mm to my collection. I am taking a cruise to Alaska this May so am already itching to add something bigger and better.Feedback
If you get the chance, I highly recommend taking an African safari. Tanzania was an amazing country of vast open space and wildlife that cannot be imagined. Every outing there is different and you never know what you will see. Have patience and keep your eyes open to spot something unusual. Most of all, enjoy the experience - don't rush it. I wanted to see everything from the Big 5 all the way down to a mongoose or song bird and it makes for a fulfilling adventure.
