It was a long day

[Stu Bowie]

I suppose everyone dreams of getting a hippo yawn, and this is my first. To be spoilt there were 9 hippo's fooling around all in one place. This was taken from a hide at Lake Panic in the Kruger National Park during a weekend visit in April. Taken late afternoon. The sun caught the inside of his mouth, so I realise it looks a touch hot on the edges, but not blown at all. :w3

Canon 50D
100-400 @ 360mm
1/1600
F/5,6
ISO 640

Exp Comp 0
Hand held

[Ken Watkins]

Stuart,

Well this is not bad for a first yawn:w3

You have what to my mind an absolute necessity in this type of shot the whole jaw is out of the water, and also the icing on the cake is the weed hanging out.

I would however try to tone down the bright whites a little.

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Stu, good to see you posting on here again, at this rate you will be wanting your own Wildlife Moderators mug and armchair, LOL. :bg3:

Love the very dramatic light on this one, really makes a very dramatic image. Knowing where to place the FP on this angle can be tricky, likewise the DOF, but you have pulled it off nicely, with good detail. Just watch the coloration of the highlight areas either side of the mouth, they are not blown, it's just a hint of colour I think just creeping in on those parts. The vegetation trailing from the mouth & tusks is a nice touch. BTW is that a big bug on the LHS just below the eye?

TFS
Steve :w3

[Charles Glatzer]

Love this image.

Chas

[Stu Bowie]

BTW is that a big bug on the LHS just below the eye?

TFS
Steve :w3

Thanks Steve. I actually think the 'bug' is his ear.:w3
Thanks Ken and Chas too.

[Steve Kaluski]

actually think the 'bug' is his ear.

Yep, it's were it went into the shadow area, DOH!!!:bg3: Cheers Stu.

[Grady Weed]

The above says it all. Very nicely done. With all of the yawn out of the water, it makes for a "this is what I would have envisioned image". Thanks for sharing.

[Dumay de Boulle]

A cracker bud..... Love the light and detail.

[Rachel Hollander]

Stuart - congrats on getting it and very well done. Those teeth are huge and the greens add a nice element.

TFS,
Rachel

[Riaan Marais]

Hi Stuart, nice low angle, great shot in good light!!

[Stu Bowie]

Thanks a stack for the feedback everyone.

[Morkel Erasmus]

I love hippo yawn shots, Stu, and you had some great light and a good angle here.
I too see the weird hotspot/colours on the lining of the jaws?
It looks like you were toning them down and it now looks strange?

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Stewart,
great pose,great POV,great IQ,colors etc. All in all love this image. Well done.!!

Cheers An dreas

[Arno Ellmer]

Terrific capture,Stuart ! Yet to capture one of these.

[Steve Canuel]

Very nice Stuart. Highlights mentioned, I love the open mouth, the shadowed bank, and all the veggies in the water.

[Danny Laredo]

Excellent in every way.