Baby Elephant

[Nancy Bell]

I recently returned from a wonderful trip to the Chobe River area at Kasane, Botswana. I have mega-amount of elephant images! Watching these magnificent animals for nearly 2 weeks has helped me understand & truly appreciate their deep sense of family and community. I almost felt I was intruding into their home & personal lives with my camera. Then the guide mentioned these animals have been surrounded by tourists for their entire lives and we are just part of the moving scenery. But what an awesome experience for me!

I photographed this baby in Chobe National Park from a safari vehicle. I rented a Canon 600 lens (the old heavy version) and loved the 600 part but had a bit of trouble lifting and freely moving the heavy lens around!

Canon 1Dx, Canon 600 f4 L IS, 1/400, f8, ISO 800.

All comments and critiques most appreciated.

[Rachel Hollander]

Hi Nancy - Welcome back! Nice light and you brought out great detail and texture. Love the raised trunk. It's great that you can see the eye, something often difficult with elephants. I just wish that you had the whole ear in either by shifting the comp down or being a bit further away. Looking forward to seeing more from your trip.

TFS,
Rachel

[Tobie Schalkwyk]

What a cute shot, Nancy! The crop is a bit tight for my liking but that's just me.

I recall standing on a river bank at Chobe and counting 95+ elepants in a 180 degrees view. An amazing part of the world! Let's see more!

[Gabriela Plesea]

Mmm..talk about golden light, dear Nancy! Love the colours and textures and expression - indeed the eye is stunning!

Sorry about the ear, it would have been great if it was in but no big deal for me, I am so taken with that pointy trunk - I guess this little guy is still learning what to do with it, and therefore trunk is all over the place...so cute, I adore ellies, love your post and wish to see more images from you in Wildlife

Kind regards,

[Nancy Bell]

Thanks all for your comments. I did find it difficult sometimes to create the "perfect" composition with the 600 lens and a close subject, such as this little one. Partly one is restricted within the safari vehicle, which effects your angle and your distance to the animal. So I concentrated on the eye and trunk, but I would also have liked the rest of the ear.

[Loi Nguyen]

Hi Nancy, beautiful golden light and nice baby elephant. It is very hard to get the eye, so congrats on this image. Yes, the 600 is a real beast inside a safari vehicle I can imagine and you were a bit close here and above the baby. There was the strong dark shadow on the left which is a bit distracting, why not crop tighter and remove the dark shadow? If you don't mind me playing with the crop, here is a RP. Would love to see more from your trip. Which camp did you visit? Loi

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Nancy, I think Loi's RP has addressed my first concern, well done. Nice golden light which has helped bring out the lovely texture & tones within the skin. Just watch those shadows on the tip of the trunk. If you are renting then the 500 is perhaps your best option next time, lighter and a bit more forgiving than the 600, unless you want small birds . At ISO 800 the image should be as close to a standard 400, the OP is perhaps looking a little crunchy, either through Contrast, Clarity and or some sharpening? Perhaps backing off on one of those may help.

TFS
Steve

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Nancy , good to see you back, hope with tons of images.
Nice golden light and a very cute close up. Agree in going tighter to avoid that dark shadow.
I also feel the OP is a tad crunchy , back at my large Quato screen .

TFS Andreas

[Nancy Bell]

Loi, thanks so much, that crop is exactly what the image needed. Steve, I did rent both the 600 & 500 for this trip and my husband and I traded off. After the 1st few sessions I kept the 500. I believe the crunchiness is from my web sharpening. Will reduce values. Thanks everyone for your helpful suggestions.

Loi, we were based at the Chobe Safari Lodge and took a morning and afternoon trip each day, mostly on the river since the waterholes in the park did not yet attract animals. The rainy season lasted several week longer than usual.

[Morkel Erasmus]

Lovely light and details, Nancy. Loi's repost is a better crop for me.
I trust your Chobe experience was great!

[edwardselfe]

Lovely - Loi's crop is better for me but the light is special and no adjustments needed there.
Ed