Giraffes Four Way Look out.JPG
We were in the Imfolozi Hide in Kwa Zulu Natal when we saw this group of young giraffes come for a drink. We've read that they don't all drink togethe...
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We were in the Imfolozi Hide in Kwa Zulu Natal when we saw this group of young giraffes come for a drink. We've read that they don't all drink together because of the vulnerable positions they had to take to get their heads down to the water level. So others will forego drinking while helping to watch out...Imagine our surprise to see the group do a 4 way look-out when one of their friends drink!!! Just amazing to watch.
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Sep, 2019Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken while my husband and I were watching wildlife in South Africa. The Imfolozi hide overlooked a waterhole...so we were happily clicking away at elephants, baboons, lots of different and rare birds such as goshawks, puffbacks, waxbills, hamerkopf and the usual kudus, warthogs, zebras, water monitors and a blue-headed lizard, when this group of young giraffes came in for a drink. Now we know how difficult it is for giraffes to get a drink. They have to lower their legs at angles that would expose them to being attacked by lions - so we also knew that in a group, only one or two will get a chance to drink - while the others mill around to keep watch. However imagine our surprise when this young one decidedly was so nervous, it wouldn't take the sip until it's companions just decided to help it out by doing a four-way look-out! Wow - that was a moment to savour!Time
It was around 8 am in the morning. We usually drive to a hide and stay there for the day before heading off in the early evening because you never know what you would encounter.Lighting
We used our Panasonic FZ1000 which is a bridge camera. Nothing special but ever so versatile and light.Equipment
We didn't bother with a tripod because the hide had wooden slats through which we could see the animals - so I merely rested my camera on the window-sill. No flash.Inspiration
This was a chance in a million shot - giraffes doing a 4 way look-out while their friend is given the chance to drink water at a waterhole...used regularly by lions too. I also took a video and this is available to watch at my youtube channel. https://youtu.be/qJYgH0O18uUEditing
No, I didn't do any post-processing.In my camera bag
I always carry a spare battery and a spare SD card with my camera.Feedback
Time - you need a lot of time - and the rest is just being at the right place. South Africa is the top place in the world for wildlife photography.
