Wildebeest

[Stu Bowie]

This may not be a lion or leopard, but I thought I would share another animal with you. One of a few areas in the Kruger where there was no foliage at all, thus getting a clear shot of this guy. The colours in the BG are natural, and just love the hint of the yellows.

Canon 50D
100-400 @ 285mm
1/500
F/6.3
ISO 400

Exp Comp +0.67
Hand Held from the car

[Betsie Storm]

Stu, Like this one- cannot recall that I have actually seen a blue wildebeest's hooves before- they are always up to their knees in grass:). Like the BG showing habitat, nice & sharp subject- cool shot.

[Robert Amoruso]

Stuart,

Well composed. The Wildebeest is nicely framed front and back by the dark-brown tree branches with one branch matching the curvature of his rear-end. The warm color pallet of the BG contrasts well with the brown tones of the animal. Got him looking at you so we get to see the detail in the head and nose.

Did you get one with the head parallel to you?

On the lower edge, I would crop/clone (as is your preference) the dark rocks protruding into the image.

[David Fletcher]

This is lovely Stu. Love the colors of course, and the eye contact you have. The soft light helps bring out so much more detail. Very well done.

[John Ippolito]

A very fine wildebeest capture. I like the light, tones, your composition-agree with Robert on the dark rocks lower edge. Eye contact is good, and for me the best part is the mud crusted face. Very well done.

[Morkel Erasmus]

surely one of the best gnu portraits I've seen Stu! lovely light, colour palette and details. I hope I find some open spots like this with animals standing waiting when I hit Kruger next month...

[Susan Griffith]

They say a wildebeest is made of all the parts left over during creation, but i have to day you captured the majestic side of this animal really well. Fantastic composition.

-Susan

[Marc Mol]

Lovely composition and soft lighting Stuart creating nice earthy tones. Speaking of earth, is that mud on his muzzle?

[Harshad Barve]

lovely image with nice expo, soft light , compo and eye contact
TFS

[Hendri Venter]

What a healthy looking wildebeest. We tend to always just drive past them but they are actually very photogenic I see. You did very well with this one mate. Lovely colours and good clarity.

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

Very lovely image of this wildebeest. Great pose and the warm colors and composition make this a most pleasing image. Fine work Stuart.

[Stu Bowie]

Thank you all so much guys and girls for the kind words. Much appreciated.

[Roman Kurywczak]

Hey Stuart,
I deep down inside I may want a few BG elements digitally cleaned up......the body definiton on the wildebeest is super!!! This may be one of my favorite animals in Africa (yeah I'm wierd!)......you made "God's left over parts" look great!

[Kiran Khanzode]

I like the sharpness, the soft lighting and the colors, this is 3 D !

[Stu Bowie]

Roman, Kiran, thanks a stack guys.