Get off my back

[Stu Bowie]

Im not sure if Hippo's can feel these Herons when they are 'perched' on their backs, but this Hippo decided to submerge himself below the water. The result - a quick exit out the water from the Grey Heron. Taken from a dam in Kruger National Park.

Canon 1D Mark IV
Canon 300 F/2.8 +1.4 TC = 420mm
1/2500
F/7.1
ISO 800

Exp comp +0.33
Hand held from the car

[David Salem]

Very cool Stuart. That's how to get rid of those pesky birds. The frame looks great and the Herons pose is perfect as it loses it's perch. Your techs and details look great and I like the inclusion of the Hippos in the BG. My only wish would be that we could see a bit more of the submerging Hippo. Nice capture!

[Mark Needham]

Great image, Stuart. Perfect timing, great light on the subject, and love the OOF hippos in the background to add context. Great work!

[Satish Ranadive]

Excellent image take off. Great timing. I like the pose, nice HA, wing position and nice muddy flash of water.
Beautiful color pallet and composition.
Love the frame, Stuart Sir.

Regards,
Satish.

[Ian Wilson]

Great action captured here Stuart. Your wonderful images keep telling me it's time to revisit your part of the world. Looks like high sun and harsh light but it has turned out well. Technically spot on. Well done. Regards, Ian.

[Rachel Hollander]

Hi Stu- Great timing. The wing span and splash take this to another level. I also like the hippos in back. They help tell the story and that the other hippo has just submerged. Well done!

TFS,
Rachel

[Karl Egressy]

Excellent image, Stuart. Love the splash of the water and the take off pose. If you have one with the perch, it would be very cool to see it.

[Stu Bowie]

Looks like high sun and harsh light but it has turned out well.

Thanks for your feedback Ian. Whilst not the earliest light, this was shot in winter light around 9.00am, so not that harsh.

Thanks to everyone else for your feedback and comments.

[Richard Flack]

That is a super cool image Stu! Love the BG (which tells the story) and the flight pose and water splash captured. Awesome! (The only thing that could have pushed this even further would be more of the disappearing hippo in the image :))