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Thread: Mana Pools Scenery

  1. #1
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Default Mana Pools Scenery

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    Breaking away from the elephants and wild dogs just for a moment...
    The quality of light in Mana Pools is really sublime, particularly in "golden hour" of course!

    This was taken on the morning of our first full day in the Park. You can see impala, waterbuck and baboons, and of course those huge iconic trees. I miss the place already! I was lying on a termite mound a little elevated from this plain for this shot.

    Techs:
    Nikon D3s with Nikkor 500mm f4 VR-II
    f4.0 @ 1/250 SS @ ISO-1100
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Hi Morkel,
    Wonderful light, detail and composition makes for a wonderful image. Those trees are look amazing.
    TFS and best wishes,
    Mark.

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    Lifetime Member gail bisson's Avatar
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    This is so Africa! I cannot wait to go back.
    I really like how the light is illuminating the top of the trees,
    Gail

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    Looks like a magical place Morkel. Did you trek in on foot or by vehicle?

    I like how the tree splits the image

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    thanks a lot folks.
    I found it very hard to capture the encompassing grandeur of this place with my camera.
    wide angles didn't work as it "removed" you from the forest...I found "animalscapes" to work best.

    Quote Originally Posted by Jamie_Douglas View Post
    Looks like a magical place Morkel. Did you trek in on foot or by vehicle?

    I like how the tree splits the image
    Jamie - how you been? How's the little man?
    We went in by vehicle and you drive around in the Park but the road network is limited. This is the only Park in Southern Africa I know of that allows people to get out of their vehicles at will, so we trekked on foot much of the time after driving to a certain spot. It helped having 2 qualified FGASA guides with me as I don't think it is wise for anyone to just saunter around too far from their vehicle without intimate knowledge of animal behaviour. I know my animals, but haven't spent too much time on foot with them, which is a different ballgame.
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Morkel, sweet light and a gentle, tranquil, early morning scene. I agree with Gail about the light illuminating the trees, adding to this classic habitat image and the animals going about their daily business.

    TFS
    Steve
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

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    Super light and the image does draw you into the forest as hinted Morkel...

    My trip to Mana which was to be the end of this month will no longer be!

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    Lifetime Member Marina Scarr's Avatar
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    Lovely habitat capture, Morkel. I can see how you were drawn to this park. Those trees have so much character.

    Question: You were shooting at F4 and I wonder if you might share how you decided where to place our point of focus?
    Marina Scarr
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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Morkel - really like the tranquil feel to this. Light is great too. Interesting techs (not what I expected when I saw the image).

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    Killer animalscape Morkel. Shallow DOF is woking great.

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  19. #11
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Thanks so much folks!!


    Quote Originally Posted by Marina Scarr View Post
    Lovely habitat capture, Morkel. I can see how you were drawn to this park. Those trees have so much character.

    Question: You were shooting at F4 and I wonder if you might share how you decided where to place our point of focus?
    Marina - the waterbuck and the central tree were more-or-less in the same plane of focus so I focused on the waterbuck.


    Quote Originally Posted by Rudi van den Heever View Post
    Super light and the image does draw you into the forest as hinted Morkel...
    My trip to Mana which was to be the end of this month will no longer be!
    Oh no Rudi! Were you going with someone else? Why cancelled?
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Beautiful light Morkel. I like the scene & think the baboon adds balance to your image.
    Andrew

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    BPN Viewer Steve Canuel's Avatar
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    Nice light and what a neat looking place. Reminds me of a eucalyptus grove near where I grew up. Nice to see the locals out and about too.

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  24. #14
    Ken Watkins
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    Morkel,

    This captures the beauty of Mana perfectly

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    This is such a brilliant perspective of the place, and the light looks perfect!
    TOTALLY enjoyed it, Morkel!
    TFS

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  28. #16
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Thanks so much guys - glad you enjoyed it!!
    Morkel Erasmus

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