Results 1 to 18 of 18

Thread: Stripes in Dust

  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 Stripes in Dust

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    A moment frozen in time on the banks of the Mara river, as a dazzle of zebra contemplate crossing the daunting waters.
    The key lighting through the dust assisted with the mood and emphasis here.

    I am already looking forward to returning to the Mara Triangle in August next year!

    Techs:
    Nikon D3s
    Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 VR-II @ 200mm
    f22 | 1/40 SS | ISO-200
    (settings chosen as I was actually busy shooting some slow shutter stuff when this scene unfolded in front of me)
    Last edited by Morkel Erasmus; 12-11-2015 at 12:25 PM.
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


  2. #2
    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Cheshire UK
    Posts
    17,017
    Threads
    2,604
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Morkel when I saw this I took a deep breath - it is wonderful, I hope you put this in a competition I think it is fantastic. The more I look the more I like it, in fact I am just going to pour myself a glass of whisky - cheers!

  3. Thanks Morkel Erasmus thanked for this post
  4. #3
    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Dortmund / Germany
    Posts
    10,906
    Threads
    1,196
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Morkel this is a image one might take his /her time to look at ..... as there is so much to see and the eye can wonder from left to right or up and down to find new stuff .
    Love the beaming light , the play of light and shadow , the colors , detail and so on and so on ......
    Well timed and nicely seen .
    To sum this up .. a very fine image , Morkel .

    Being really picky i might temper the blues creeping into the whites of the Zebras .

    TFS Andreas

  5. Thanks Morkel Erasmus thanked for this post
  6. #4
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Lincolnshire UK.
    Posts
    4,951
    Threads
    187
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Morkel all I can say is the dramatic atmosphere of the scene with the flying dust and the look of confusion of the Zebras make it a wonderful image for me.

    Keith.

  7. Thanks Morkel Erasmus thanked for this post
  8. #5
    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

    Great tension and drama depicted here Morkel, enhanced by the wonderful combination of dust and lighting

    Granted the situation of f/22 and such a slow S/S, but impressed at just how sharp the image is overall, especially the zebra walking down on the RHS.

    TFS


  9. Thanks Morkel Erasmus thanked for this post
  10. #6
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Sofia, Bulgaria
    Posts
    143
    Threads
    27
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Great picture Morkel! I love the dark and light contrasts in the subjects and the environment! I always try to shoot as wide open as possible, but I see now that closed aperture can work great in many situations.

  11. Thanks Morkel Erasmus thanked for this post
  12. #7
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Nov 2015
    Location
    Malanda, Tropical North Queensland, Australia
    Posts
    46
    Threads
    11
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Fantastic picture Morkel.
    As others have said so much detail there and very thought provoking.
    Whats going through their heads? Did they Cross? How much longer will that "island" with the vegetation between the tracks last? More Zebra coming? And on and on.
    Thats one photo that would stay on a wall forever.
    The patterns of the Zebra's stripes in their different poses keeps the eye moving throughout the image.
    The only thing that I would change (if it could be changed) is the dust obscuring of the head of the sixth Zebra in from the RHS.
    Great work.
    Paul.

  13. Thanks Morkel Erasmus thanked for this post
  14. #8
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Nagpur, India
    Posts
    3,837
    Threads
    245
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Morkel -- Another lovely image with a certain feel to it ! The Stripes are looking so good against that glow of light and dust . Nothing to comment on the settings as you have already explained in your intro .

    TFS !

  15. Thanks Morkel Erasmus thanked for this post
  16. #9
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Hyderabad, India
    Posts
    5,088
    Threads
    1,356
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Morkel, tremendous lighting effect here with superb framing and PP work. I like the look of hesitation and confusion among the zebras here at the Mara river. You were lucky not to have any Gnus to spoil the zebra party!

  17. Thanks Morkel Erasmus thanked for this post
  18. #10
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    1,298
    Threads
    112
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    There's a lot of things to like about this shot Morkel! The light, the shades, the stripes, the story hiding behind the shot. I sense just a touch of over saturation & contrast which works very well in this particular case. Nice shot!

  19. Thanks Morkel Erasmus thanked for this post
  20. #11
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    NYC
    Posts
    14,320
    Threads
    929
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Morkel - A lot to like and absorb here. The sense of action from the movement of the zebras and the kicked up dust and a sense of trepidation from them holding at the water's edge. Love the light. Only thing I might do is tame the brightest HL on the branch sticking up at the bottom middle of the frame. I find my eye stopping on it each time I pass over the image. Congrats on this one.

    TFS,
    Rachel

  21. Thanks Morkel Erasmus thanked for this post
  22. #12
    Lifetime Member Mike Poole's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Manchester, England
    Posts
    3,251
    Threads
    314
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    There are lots of 'wow' shots presented in these forums, but this really has to be up there with the best of them - I knew it was one of yours as soon as I saw the thumbnail.

    The entire scene demands a detailed look, the light is fantastic, as is the action. Without a doubt one of my favourite images of the year.

    Mike

  23. Thanks Morkel Erasmus thanked for this post
  24. #13
    BPN Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2015
    Posts
    1,179
    Threads
    103
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    It is simply a stunning image Morkel,the light playing off the dust makes this for me,coupled with almost a sense of foreboding from the Zeebra nearest the water(all heads seem to be shying away from the water.It's complex and stunning Morkel utterly breathtaking thanks for the inspirational picture
    take care
    Stu

  25. Thanks Morkel Erasmus thanked for this post
  26. #14
    BPN Member Mark Needham's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Corvallis, Oregon, USA
    Posts
    252
    Threads
    11
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Awesome image, Morkel. It really captures the "essence" of the Mara. Love the light, dust, and patterns captured here. Nothing to add from what everyone else has said. Great job that you were able to get such a sharp image despite the slow SS. Awesome work!
    Mark Needham

    My Website


  27. Thanks Morkel Erasmus thanked for this post
  28. #15
    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Indian Lake Estates, FL
    Posts
    32,506
    Threads
    1,433
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Love the image and the mood but some of the really bright areas and a few black branches bugged me and I was hoping to see some more detail in the shaded zebras. So I went to work for about 15 minutes while trying my best to preserve the wonderful light and mood. Comments and questions welcome. a
    BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.

    BIRDS AS ART Online Store: we will not sell you junk. 35 years of long lens experience. Please e-mail with gear questions.

    Check out the new SONY e-Guide and videos that I did with Patrick Sparkman here. Ten percent discount for BPN members,

    E-mail me at samandmayasgrandpa@att.net.










  29. Thanks Morkel Erasmus thanked for this post
  30. #16
    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

    This is beautiful, Morkel.

    Ethereal and exquisite is the light! Well captured and I like the presentation. Fine tuned by Sir Arthur's RP. A very dramatic frame, colours are superb - congratulations!

    Wishing you happy travels to the KTP and lots of opportunities, would really appreciate some feedback when you return as we are off to the magic place in the beginning of February.

    Warmest regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

  31. Thanks Morkel Erasmus thanked for this post
  32. #17
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    14,858
    Threads
    1,235
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I see I never responded here (though I did per email), Artie.
    Thanks for your effort in the RP - I like!!
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


  33. #18
    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Indian Lake Estates, FL
    Posts
    32,506
    Threads
    1,433
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    You are most welcome Mork-man. a

    ps; heading to Namibia in APR :) First time.
    BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.

    BIRDS AS ART Online Store: we will not sell you junk. 35 years of long lens experience. Please e-mail with gear questions.

    Check out the new SONY e-Guide and videos that I did with Patrick Sparkman here. Ten percent discount for BPN members,

    E-mail me at samandmayasgrandpa@att.net.










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