Results 1 to 16 of 16

Thread: Mara Mayhem

  1. #1
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    14,858
    Threads
    1,235
    Thank You Posts

    Default Mara Mayhem

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Nothing can prepare you for capturing the Great Migration on camera. The chaos, the noise, the randomness and of course the drama, it's all hitting you front and centre in all your senses.


    I tried to work with some slow shutter speeds with my lens resting on a beanbag. This was a precarious crossing point which necessitated some nice leaps and jumps by the wildebeest as they take the plunge.


    Shot vertically and this is pretty much full frame.


    Techs:
    Nikon D3s
    Nikkor 500mm f4 VR-II
    f16 | 1/80 SS | ISO-360
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


  2. #2
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Hyderabad, India
    Posts
    5,088
    Threads
    1,356
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Excellent image Morkel. The DOF is good, the details are there in the dark areas and water drops are not blown, superb exposure on this one. The drama, emotion and commotion are all there. TFS.

  3. Thanks Morkel Erasmus thanked for this post
  4. #3
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Russellville, Arkansas
    Posts
    5,189
    Threads
    674
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Very dynamic! I would not have thought to try such a slow shutter speed on such action but the image turned out so crisp and full of detail. Awesome composition with a V of incoming animals, the group splash and then separate heads and horns so visible in the water. Spectacular! This is on my bucket list to experience.

  5. Thanks Morkel Erasmus thanked for this post
  6. #4
    BPN Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Northern Rockies
    Posts
    1,273
    Threads
    106
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    A good sense of motion Morkel. I like the image design (Y shape)—with topography, vertical was the way to shoot this scene. The green grass adds a nice touch of color to the image.
    Andrew

  7. Thanks Morkel Erasmus thanked for this post
  8. #5
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    NYC
    Posts
    14,320
    Threads
    929
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Hi Morkel - interesting choice to try some slow ss. It works. The vertical also works here with the sort of 2 lines of wildes. Nice choice on dof too. The only thing I don't love is the large green clump of grass as I feel it draws the eye. I don't think the partial wilde in the trc with the twig across its head adds much either so how about an alternate crop along these lines?

    TFS,
    Rachel

  9. Thanks Morkel Erasmus thanked for this post
  10. #6
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    UK / RSA
    Posts
    407
    Threads
    38
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Nice head on shot Morkel. The migration is never short on drama.

    I like the depth of this image. The slow ss has really made the most of the water splashes without affecting the sharpness of the wildebeest.
    I can see Rachel's point about the clump of grass but I think I prefer the original crop.
    For me the grass adds a splash of colour in an otherwise brown image. Yes it does immediately catch the eye but I find that it makes an excellent starting point as my eye then follows the action down into the water.
    I even would keep the partial wildebeest on top right as - for me - it shows that the action is ongoing.

  11. Thanks Morkel Erasmus thanked for this post
  12. #7
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Phoenix AZ
    Posts
    644
    Threads
    85
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I like the grass, adds some color contrast
    This picture is fantastic

  13. Thanks Morkel Erasmus thanked for this post
  14. #8
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    NY Metro
    Posts
    312
    Threads
    46
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I like it as presented, Morkel!
    The shutter choice works well here - gives a great sense of action.
    TFS

  15. Thanks Morkel Erasmus thanked for this post
  16. #9
    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Somewhere else in the World
    Posts
    4,797
    Threads
    708
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Good drama here Morkel, and prefer your posting, love the 3 heads in the 2nd row as they grapple to keep their heads up.
    I think 1/80s was just about right to capture this moment.
    TFS


  17. Thanks Morkel Erasmus thanked for this post
  18. #10
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    637
    Threads
    78
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Morkel your vertical crop is great. Super capture. For me the grass adds to the image as it also allows one to see another wildebeest coming in from there. With all the other It tells the story.TFS

  19. Thanks Morkel Erasmus thanked for this post
  20. #11
    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    7,738
    Threads
    455
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I too give my vote to Morkel's crop, even though Rachel is right about the grass, it does catch the eye somehow. But I would not want to lose the dramatic tumble of the two beesies (wildebeest) at the top, and especially the one on the left-such a precarious descent, well captured Brendon, dramatic indeed!

    Warmest regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

  21. Thanks Morkel Erasmus thanked for this post
  22. #12
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Perth Western Australia
    Posts
    2,546
    Threads
    171
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Great shot Morkel...! Though about B&W?? bet you have...

    DON

  23. Thanks Morkel Erasmus thanked for this post
  24. #13
    BPN Member dankearl's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Portland, Oregon
    Posts
    8,825
    Threads
    1,355
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Killer action photo, the SS looks about perfect to me, nice execution of your vision.
    Dan Kearl

  25. Thanks Morkel Erasmus thanked for this post
  26. #14
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, South Africa
    Posts
    820
    Threads
    135
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Lovely image Bud, i do like Rachels RP, comp wise it works better for me, i really like the three sharp heads in the middle and there is some nice movement in the image, in a perfect world i would have liked to see a little more movement and still maintain the three sharp heads in the middle but i appreciated these image are not that simple to capture.

  27. Thanks Morkel Erasmus thanked for this post
  28. #15
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    14,858
    Threads
    1,235
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Thanks for the wonderful discussion, folks.
    Rachel - I understand why you want to crop like that, and it does work for me, but I prefer the OP comp for the same reasons others have pointed out.
    I took many photos of this crossing so perhaps there's one in there that looks more blurry and still has something sharp, will have to dive in!
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


  29. #16
    Forum Participant edwardselfe's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    South Luangwa, Zambia
    Posts
    701
    Threads
    26
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Morkel,

    Good thinking with the slow ss. I think you might have gone slower as in this size of image, I'm only just discerning the motion blur. Perhaps it would be more visible at a full size image...

    Ed

  30. Thanks Morkel Erasmus thanked for this post

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Web Analytics