close iframe icon
approved icon GideonMalherbe avatar
GideonMalherbe
The Great Thirst
Banner

The Great Thirst



behind the lens badge

A group of thirsty elephants hurrying to the water hole in the Etosha Game Reserve in Namibia.

A group of thirsty elephants hurrying to the water hole in the Etosha Game Reserve in Namibia.
Read less
cameraCanon EOS 350D DIGITAL

settings Aperture f/9 ISO 400 Shutter 1/40 Focal Length 85/1 

upload_dateDec, 2015

Views

1858

Likes

Awards

Contest Finalist in Creative Critterscapes Photo Contest
Featured
Spring Selection Award
Contest Finalist in Herds Photo Contest
  View more
Peer Award
Ulysees gman176 Vorster PhotosByJEM SURREALIMAGE davidjprosser keithns12 +163
Superb Composition
CURUTCHET M_Metodiev Ideameus Aeri coxcraig soungeunkim Jawatson12 +49
Top Choice
geoffreynash nitwhit RandyL Photos_by_Si Vikrampillai Tshepiso isabelsilva_5772 +32
Absolute Masterpiece
leroypayne raghunadh edandaniphone timajraman annamlter jlappen countryside +22
Magnificent Capture
bclumberjack MsJudi nikkigoode mitchelrubin jjacolia adrianwhitfield davidbasson +11
Outstanding Creativity
wendyroske_9600 WalterHowor ajitkumarmajhi bogumalka sdwillcock dannerroyce Angels74 +6
All Star
alexandru_pavalache jamiesarkett RichardShore Msyskt2783 DerrickSteeves Barbpsp4 cometolifephotography +1
Genius
JeffinerRosie richardpetersen lisaannbirch texaaronpueschel
Superior Skill
diegoscaglione horus nornots mle555
Virtuoso
magikalalpha

Top Ranks

Inspired By The World Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Inspired By The World Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Wildlife Photo Contest 2018Top 10 rank
Wildlife Photo Contest 2018Top 10 rank week 1
The Talent AwardsTop 10 rank
View more
Wildlife Photo Contest 2017Top 10 rank
Wildlife Photo Contest 2017Top 10 rank week 1
Wildlife Portraits Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Wildlife Portraits Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
My Best Shot Photo Contest Vol 2Top 10 rank
My Best Shot Photo Contest Vol 2Top 10 rank week 2
My Best Shot Photo Contest Vol 2Top 10 rank week 1
Our National Parks Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Our National Parks Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
Visions Of Africa Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Visions Of Africa Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Image of the Year Photo Contest 2016Top 10 rank
Image of the Year Photo Contest 2016Top 10 rank week 1
Getting Creative Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Getting Creative Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 2
Our Natural World Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Our Natural World Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Getting Creative Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
Creative Critterscapes Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Covers Photo Contest Vol 32Top 10 rank
Covers Photo Contest Vol 32Top 10 rank week 2
Covers Photo Contest Vol 32Top 10 rank week 1
Worldscapes Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Worldscapes Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 2
Worldscapes Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Animal Kingdom Photo Contest Vol 1Top 20 rank
Animal Kingdom Photo Contest Vol 1Top 20 rank week 2
Animal Kingdom Photo Contest Vol 1Top 20 rank week 1
Herds Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Herds Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1

Categories

5 Comments |
texaaronpueschel Platinum
 
texaaronpueschel March 29, 2016
Excellent.
tomroether
 
tomroether October 21, 2016
Great photo! Love the light and the Giraffes in the background.
tomroether
 
tomroether October 21, 2016
Great photo! Love the light and the Giraffes in the background.
edandaniphone PRO+
 
edandaniphone March 07, 2017
Wonderful shot.
Neckbone
 
Neckbone July 19, 2018
Beautiful image, nicely done. Congrats!

Submitted to Photo Contests
See all

Behind The Lens

Location

The photo was taken in the Etosha Game Reserve, Namibia. There are a waterhole near the Okaukuejo camp and it is amazing how the different groups of animals come to drink water at different times of the day. The elephant herds come in at late afternoon and the young one rush up to the waterhole to have a drink and a bath after a long day out.

Time

The elephants favour the waterhole late afternoon and the photo was taken 6:24 pm in the golden hour just after sunset. The sunset gave beautiful warm golden colours to the image with the dust giving the special atmosphere to the whole image.

Lighting

The sun was just under the horizon but I still could get a nice crisp image with a 1/40 sec at f9 aperture setting.The yellow light in the golden hour at sunset gave the nice warm tones to the image.

Equipment

A Canon EOS 350 with a 17.0 - 85.0 mm lens were used without a tripod.

Inspiration

I wanted this image to portray the absolute urgency of the young calves to quench their thirst with the mothers keeping a watchful eye over them.

Editing

I cropped the raw photo a little to position the herd coming in from the top left corner of the photo. Then the hue was changed to bring out the warm golden colours of the sunset.

In my camera bag

I use two body's. Being a keen wildlife photographer the older Canon 7D with the EF24-105mmf/4L IS USM lens does a great job for the wider angle photos. The challenge of bird in flight photography always gives me the urge to get up early to take that magic shot and few combinations of equipment can do it better than my great favourite the Canon EOS 7D Mark 2 with the EF400mm f2.8L IS II USM lens.

Feedback

My late friend Basie van Zyl had a quote ''Always be prepared when the opportunity arises''. To do that you need to practise a lot. You need to know your equipment very well and have the best setting in the different light conditions you are going to find. Always be ready for the unexpected ...nature does nor wait for us... things happens in a split second ... and then the moment is gone forever.

See more amazing photos, follow GideonMalherbe

User photo
It’s your time to shine! ☀️

Share photos. Enter contests to win great prizes.
Earn coins, get amazing rewards. Join for free.

Already a member? Log In

By continuing, you agree to our Terms of Service, and acknowledge you've read our Privacy Policy Notice.