Solitary Rhino

[Steve Kaluski]

Not quite the cool encounter Gabriela had, but it's always nice when you come across Rhino and this guy was quite cooperative for once and so we were able to spend some time with him before he headed off into the bush. It was also good that he came to us and close too, plus the Red-billed Ox peckers were a nice addition with their heads just peering over his back.

Thanks to those who viewed or posted a comment on the previous thread.

Steve

Subject: Rhino
Location: Undisclosed
Camera: Canon 1DX
Lens: 200-400f/4 HH
Exposure: 1/640s at f/8 ISO400 (I would have now gone to ISO 800-1600 for a better SS)
Original format: Landscape, slight crop
Processed via: LRCC (2015) & PSCC 2015

[Gabriela Plesea]

Steve? Were you under the vehicle when you took this?! Great POV!

Well framed and the colours are great, love to see so much detail on the rhino's face despite the vegetation, sharpness is spot-on - superb PP work, Sir

Really cute the way those Oxpeckers peep over the subject's back...
Very well seen and captured, Steve! Mmm...I have to say it again - outstanding PP work

Warmest regards,

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Steve this image does look great from the pure technical POV , love the very realistic looking hide !!!!! Does look even better in PS , worth to have a look folks !!!!!!!
Great low shoot angle , but you paid a bit for it as the horn/ mouth is somehow hidden behind OOF grass , sadly .
Color , tone and the nice detail are looking spot on as expected .
For me the OP do not add that much as they are barely visible , but this is just my view .

Even if not as exciting as Gabriela´s 3 rhinos well worth to look at .

TFS Andreas

[Gabriela Plesea]

Andreas, I took this is PSCC - it looks great and I am envious

Imagine I had Steve's PP skills to process my recent Rhino shots?

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Gabriela, kneeling down, although had I seen the black mamba the day prior, rather than the day after, I might have changed my mind .

Cheers Andreas, I think both Rachel and I had a window of opportunity and took it, just to try and get another option in the POV and the OOF grass was intentional. However I am rather envious that both Gabriela & Andre have opportunities to see and photograph this big old units, but don't tell them. How are you doing on this months quests, drop me a line, as I hope you have not got the weather we have.

[Andreas Liedmann]

Yes they do have the best opportunities as far as i can say , a lot more than we have , but i get another chance later in the year . For sure not in the kneeling position , cause if i get caught i will get kicked out . But the location does offer great options for low shooting angles from time to time
As it is late i will shoot you tomorrow an update

[Rachel Hollander]

Hi Steve - Nice full body shot. I'm not sure which of our encounters this was but if it's the one I am thinking of, interesting that you got a full shot. I had the 300mm and most of the images were partial or I went vertical with this sighting. I don't think I even saw the oxpeckers at the time. POV makes the image here.

TFS,
Rachel

[Steve Kaluski]

I'm not sure which of our encounters this was but if it's the one I am thinking of

It was with Mike Rachel, late morning I think?

I had the 300mm and most of the images were partial or I went vertical with this sighting.

This is why the 200-400 is so universal , although you have the new 100-400 for weight.

[haseeb badar]

Hi Steve -- The low POV really portrays its huge size , and the details , colours and PP work all look exceptional . Even i liked the way the grass blends with the rhino . superb stuff . TFS !

[Steve Kaluski]

Thanks Haseeb, hope to see you back posting images soon, but appreciate your input in feedback.

[Anette Mossbacher]

Hi Steve,

very nicely done and I do not expect it different from you in processing. I love the Oxpeckers in this one. Sadly the tree is just behind the rhino, but we cannot have everything. I agree with Andreas with the mouth, nose covert a tad from the grass. Oh well, great image anyway for me

Have a great weekend

Ciao Anette

[Mark Needham]

Awesome sighting of a rhino - sadly they are getting harder and harder to find these days. The POV here makes this - very unusual to get such a low angle on these behemoths; well done! As usual from you, processing is spot on, although I would delete the "twigs" entering the frame in the sky on the left. Good that both ears are alert and forward (often the ears are going in different directions). Do you have any images with a head-up pose?

[D. Robert Franz]

Love the low angle here. Not the greatest light but handled perfectly. BG does compete with some important parts of the animal. Like the oxpeckers!