The Great Escape

[Morkel Erasmus]

Well now. Here's my first attempt at posting a sequence/story in this new forum. I've loved seeing what all of you have shared thus far.

Our mobile camp in the Mara Triangle is an amazing experience all around. From the friendly Maasai staff who run things, to the wonderful guides who drive the Land Cruisers, to the ambience and setting and the privilege of camping on the banks of the iconic Mara river in the midst of the Great Migration in a VERY quiet part of the Mara...it's a safari I look forward to every year. :tinysmile_shy_t:

With the focus being so sharp on maximising wildlife photography on these trips, it's not uncommon to stay out in the field all day, and have our meals brought out to us to enjoy under a Balanites tree. On this particular morning, we were on our way back to camp for a hearty brunch after a good morning's sightings and photography. At the turnoff to our campsite, there is a bend in the Mara river which is evidently sometimes used for crossings. Every morning, routinely, we would see some zebra or wildebeest on our side contemplate going down this slope for a drink. Every morning, fear would get the better of them. But on this particular morning, a large herd of zebra had gathered, and the heat was thick and the thirst was great. They ventured down. We decided to park off right there, skip brunch and spend some time waiting for some action. At the end of the day we spent a total of 4 hours there!

The herd would ebb and flow between mustering courage to drink, being spooked by movement in the water, then going down again. Eventually a cluster of wildebeest also joined them...

[Morkel Erasmus]

There were two HUGE crocodiles watching the herds (they grow them BIG in the Mara!). It seemed like they were at times hunting as a team, but that is unlikely given what we know about crocodiles and their territorial nature.

Every time the herds would come down to drink, the crocs would dip underwater, and we would watch the line of drinkers with tense anticipation - waiting for the crocs to strike.
But every time the crocs would reveal themselves too soon, and the herds would scatter...

[Morkel Erasmus]

I was trying to shoot the milling frenzy as they got spooked with a slow shutter speed and a camera resting on a beanbag with my finger gently tripping the shutter at a pre-composed composition (my remote trigger had flat batteries!)...

[Morkel Erasmus]

"Croc!"
"No, it's a log..."

(more to come tomorrow!!):Whoa!:

[Morkel Erasmus]

Reminiscent of this spoof...:bg3:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMJXvsCLu6s

[Morkel Erasmus]

Then something happened which we could not have foreseen!
Two zebras came down the OPPOSITE bank...
Saw their buddies...
Drank a sip of water...
Then proceeded to wade through the MARA!

The crocs went under........

[Andre Pretorius]

Morkel, was disappointed not see the end..Only when I read it again, I saw you are continuing tomorrow!:eek3:

Will write decent comment when I see closure....:t3

[Gabriela Plesea]

Whew Morkel, a very good evening to you,

I so enjoyed viewing your story sequence, what suspense! I had to keep myself from scrolling to the next image before reading the text, such was the anticipation...When I read a good book, one that is exciting, I usually read it fast the first time because I want to know what happens and how it ends. The second time around I read it to understand it better, and finally a slow read because I wish to know how it was written - I did the same thing here with your thread:)

I love the fact that you are not only telling us about the scene and sequence of events, but also give us the photographer's perspective, that being your feelings, the rush, how you were trying to compose the frame, and yes, even the thought of you managing those flat batteries adds to the excitement I experienced viewing your thread.

The video adds a nice touch of humour to the drama you created with your images, and your last image leaves me wanting more, I am afraid:tinysmile_shy_t:

Thank you so much for finding the time to contribute in this Forum, I am absolutely delighted, very entertaining, enjoyed every image and also reading the text:5

Warmest regards,

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Morkel unusual attempt with no real end , but hey that makes it even more interesting what to expect the next time.
I quite like your chosen frames and the most i liked is the fact you used slow shutter with some subjects sharp and others blurred because of their movements :cheers:, very nice idea specially when presented as a sequence .

I also like the various WB outcome showing the image taken at different times of the day .THe video is great as well , good choice .

Great job all around , TFS Andreas

[Morkel Erasmus]

Thanks Andre, Gabriela, Andreas. The end is coming - the story is not finished, but I ran out of time to process last night :e3

[Morkel Erasmus]

The first zebra started walking through the Mara river...
and the 2nd one followed shortly after...

The croc was ready.
We first thought it was going to take the leading zebra.
But when I saw the ripples of movement (can you see it - the arrow should help) I immediately shouted to my guests: "The 2nd one, focus on the 2nd one!"

[Morkel Erasmus]

Then the croc went for it!!

Now things got interesting, frantic and frenetic all at the same time. Shutters were going off like mad, it sounded like Gatling guns on the Western Frontier!
There was SO much splashing and water spray that it was very hard to see what was going on...

(focus was off here :Whoa!:)

[Morkel Erasmus]

For a moment, it seemed that the croc had its quarry, and I instinctively panned a bit in the direction of the croc...
This made the next few images all come out as duds, as the zebra actually kicked out and started sprinting in the opposite direction - there was obviously some firm footing underneath and the water level wasn't that high!

All my guests nailed these images (many of them shooting with the benefit of shorter lenses), which is what I was there for, so I wasn't too unhappy :t3

[Gabriela Plesea]

Morkel! You tease us! Did the zebra make it?

More to follow?

I am glued to my screen...:2eyes2:

Love it:bg3:, reminds of those days - long time ago - when my dad told me bedtime stories...

Thank you Morkel...

[Morkel Erasmus]

I cut off the zebra's head here :bugeyed::2eyes2:
So I cropped in close to show the kick :w3

[Morkel Erasmus]

And the final dash back to the safety of the opposite bank...
Needless to say the herd was now totally spooked out of their thirst. The crocs were done hunting in this part of the river for the day :e3

We carried on with our afternoon drive and found lots of other sightings, including a lioness lounging in a tree.

Thanks for reading! :5

[Gabriela Plesea]

Fantastic, Morkel! You had me glued to the computer screen all along! So enjoyed this, thank you! Brilliant final shots, by the way...

Love to see the zebra stretching over the water, free from the croc's teeth, the water splash, wow, what a great story:5:cheers:

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Morkel really enjoyed the story with some very attractive images at the end !!!!
Very well done .
TFS Andreas

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hello miss mod .......eehh Gabriela , maybe i am dumb but how can i get more than 1 image into 1 posting without uploading again and again ?

Cheers Andreas

[Gabriela Plesea]

Hello Andreas,

Post New Thread - Image Title - Write your Text - Manage Attachments - Choose File - Upload (1st image). Then again, Choose File-Upload...and so on:tinysmile_shy_t:

[Andreas Liedmann]

Aaaahhhh i think i can handle this , thanks a big bunch my dear Gabriela

[Gabriela Plesea]

Only a pleasure Andreas:cheers:

[Andre Pretorius]

Love it, Morkel!

Quite a book you have published!