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janetlawrence
November 16, 2022
Unreal, beautiful capture! I love giraffes, saw my 1st one at the Berlin zoo when I was 5. Amazed at the clarity of your shot.
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken in Kenya at Solio Reserve, between Aberdare National Park and Mt Kenya.Time
The photo was taken late in the afternoon as we were heading back to camp following a full day of wildlife viewing. Undisturbed by our presence, this giraffe seemed to be leisurely enjoying the quiet solitude of the late afternoon. A short distance from this relaxed soul, a female giraffe with her young calf were feeding on the lush foliage surrounding them.Lighting
Always in search of magic 'golden light' when I'm out at this time of day (late afternoon), I was thrilled to come across this magnificent creature with such a relaxed demeanor. He sat in this position for quite a while, never seeming to mind the clicks of my shutter or the soft chatter from our vehicle.Equipment
Handheld from my position in the 4x4, this photo was made with my Nikon D810 with 200-400mm f4 Nikkor lens at 400mm. Settings were 1/400sec, f4.0, ISO 100Inspiration
The faint light of the lush, peaceful scene reminded me of 'A Midsummer's Night's Dream'. I fantasized that I could see Puck flitting through the trees. The added bonus of the low sun beautifully highlighting the serene giraffe was mesmerizing, compelling me to try to memorialize the scene.Editing
Nothing other than cropping.In my camera bag
Generally when I'm in the African bush I have 2 Nikon camera bodies with me along with several Nikkor lenses. The camera bodies with me these days are the Nikon Z7 and the D850. Depending on where I am and which animals I anticipate encountering, I carry my go-to lens, the Nikkor AF-S 70-200mm 2.8E FL ED VR, as well as the AF-S Nikkor 200-400mm 1.4G (both for use with the 850). For the Z7, I have my Nikkor 24-70/4 S, as well as the mount adapter for when I want to use the previously listed 2 lenses on the Z7. In addition, I always have a bag with extra camera batteries, memory cards, camera & lens cleaning equipment, rain covers for bodies and lenses, a molar beanbag (filled with rice or beans usually graciously donated by the camp I'm visiting) with a screw-on rigid platform where I mount my ball head. I always return the rice/beans to the camp when I leave!Feedback
I have 2 pieces of advice I give to anyone who wants to be successful in wildlife photography. The first is to go into the bush (or whatever environment you visit) every day - no matter how the weather presents itself at the start. Weather changes often in Africa and if you're not out in it, there's a good chance you'll miss a fantastic shot. My second admonition is to be patient. If you don't see exactly what you're hoping for, if you are patient and somewhat flexible, chances are you'll go back to camp with a wonderful story to tell.