Race you to the mudbath!

[Marc Mol]

Kicking off this months interaction theme here:

11.49am, I was watching a herd of eles ambling along to a large waterhole to drink and mud roll, scrambling out in front were a few youngsters that wanted to be the first to get there, just like a bunch of school kids!

Depicted here is a 4 year old ele in youthful enthusiasm, quickly switching to f/22 and 1/10s to capture the moment in a slow pan. One of two out of many many frames to get a result I was happy with, that's the nature of slow pan photography.

SSGR- RSA

Nikon D4s
Nikkor 400 f/2.8E FL VR
1/10s
f/22
ISO100

On foot hand held, braced against a tree, slight crop for comp, curves, levels, TK adj's, -20 clarity BG mask, in ACR & PS CC '19.

Cheers
Marc

[Basil Dardagan]

A delightful image !! The movement in the water splash takes it to another level imo

[Gabriela Plesea]

Hello Marc,

A fun image I really enjoyed viewing

Ellie running is very cute. To me the splash makes this image, I also like the sketchy feel as well as colours and the mood here.

I can just imagine you against that tree, LOL. Good thinking here Marc, well seen and captured!!!

Kind regards,

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Marc this does work really well .. almost like a watercolour painting .And for the spray the guy used the technique ...." freestyle action painting " ....
Great work in the field , to think and react quickly to capture this . I do like the colors ... but might give the ellie less black to maybe extract a small amount of detail ???

Nice one ... as the the comp makes this image work even better

TFS Andreas

[John Mack]

I usually don't care for blurs unless it is multiple animals in them. But this one works. Love the splashing water. The composition is nice with plenty of room for the elephant to run into.

[Andrew McLachlan]

Beautiful capture Marc!!! I do think reducing the blacks just a touch is a good idea.

[Rachel Hollander]

Hi Marc - This is a great panning image and the sprayed up water really adds to it but it is appropriate for April's Theme of Movement. For this month's theme we expect to see the interaction e.g. multiple animals in the frame. Good suggestions above for taking an already excellent image up a notch.

TFS,
Rachel

[Marc Mol]

For this month's theme we expect to see the interaction e.g. multiple animals in the frame.

TFS,
Rachel

"November 2018 –Interaction – Chases, greetings, play, mating, fighting and other images showing wildlife interacting"

Thanks Rachel,

but would think with play, & chases in your description equally qualifies this image. No mention of multiple animals here?

[Rachel Hollander]

Hi Marc - I would think from the title of "Interaction" that the need for multiple animals was obvious. Sorry, but in this case it is a dictatorship and my ruling stands.

[Marc Mol]

Hi Marc - I would think from the title of "Interaction" that the need for multiple animals was obvious. Sorry, but in this case it is a dictatorship and my ruling stands.

Are you serious

[Rachel Hollander]

About it being a dictatorship no, but about the Interaction Theme requiring multiple animals in the frame and my ruling standing, yes.

[Morkel Erasmus]

This is a fantastic panning image, Marc. Love the splashes, the subtle colours and the fact that's just sharp enough in the right places.

I agree with Rachel - as far as this "friendly theme" goes, it needs to have more than one animal in the frame engaged in the action/interaction. Not a biggy, still a great frame and does not really matter whether it has "theme" in front of the title or not.

[greg cowle]

Very different, good thinking and outcome.

[haseeb badar]

Great image Marc , something for me to try and experiment in the field next time. very nicely done . great vision you have.

TFS !