Crocodile Crowd

[Morkel Erasmus]

I suppose this is also a 'scape' of sorts.
On our June 2016 family trip to the northern reaches of Kruger National Park we saw loads and loads of crocodiles basking on the banks of the Levhuvhu river. One reason was undoubtedly that this was one of the very few rivers in this region that still had some water. On this bank, on this morning, we counted over 55 Nile Crocodiles on the opposite bank. Not all of them could be fit into this one frame. There were also about 20-30 on my side, below a steep embankment.

Kruger's gripping drought seems to be breaking as the area has received over 300mm of rainfall in the last 10 days.

This photo is included in my 2016 photographic memoirs on my blog: http://bit.ly/Morkel2016

Techs:
Nikon D800
Nikkor 24-70mm f2.8 @ 55mm
Circular Polariser
f8.0 | 1/200 SS | ISO-140

[Gabriela Plesea]

Dear Morkel,

Not an easy task to comment on the subjects here. They all lie there motionless and expressionless, showing no intention to wander from their spot for an impetuous journey to another river bank:)

On the other hand, what we are looking at is not only a wonderful Kruger scene or a Morkel style crocodilescape, but also a unique example of the species' behaviour in times of drought. I once thought one could never capture everything there is to see in the Kruger Park. But if anyone can do it, it must be you:w3 I like the tranquility here and the scene overall. This is a place I would visit to see my anxieties abate, but also marvel at the river and the green foliage above it.

Warmest regards,

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Morkel a unusual but interesting animalscape !!!
I like the landscape style with the three major layers , colors look quite nice and realistic !! Nice job on the rendition of them .
Overall i think the image is a bit dark from the 1/2 tones right through the blacks , well from my thinking , i could be well wrong.
All the crocs are a very nice addition to that river scene , wonder if i would have stopped and taken the camera to photograph , so glad you did !!!!

TFS Andreas

[Rachel Hollander]

Hi Morkel - That's a lot of crocs. Well seen animalscape and I bet the kids had fun counting all the crocs. I think probably to really appreciate this one you need to view it bigger so that the detail of the crocs comes through. I agree with Andreas that the image is a bit dark especially the greens of the trees. Also there's some ghosting around the tops of the trees.

TFS,
Rachel

[haseeb badar]

Hi Morkel -- A different animalscape here, and i agree with the above , appears dark to me as well and certainly a larger viewing for this image is recommended .

TFS !

[Jonathan Ashton]

I agree with previous comments a different sort of image a crocscape as it were. I too get the impression it is a little on the dark side.

[Morkel Erasmus]

Thanks folks. I will play with the shadow and midtone luminosity...

[Steve Kaluski]

Nicely executed Morkel, but as an image - it's doesn't really grab me.

TFS
Steve