Meerkat Manor...

[Steve Kaluski]

Another one from the archives, the infamous Meerkat taken in Tswalu Kalahari, this one was just finishing off a scorpion it had dug up.

Thanks to those who posted or viewed on the last posting.

Steve

Subject: Meerkat (Suricata suricatta)
Location: Tswalu, SA
Camera: Canon EOS-1D X Mark II
Lens:EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM HH
Exposure: 1/2000s at f/5.6 ISO400 EV +0.33
Original format: Landscape, slight crop
Processed via: LRC 12.0.1 & PS '23 24.0.1

[Andreas Liedmann]

OoooooH Mr .... the colors of the Kalahari are looking enormously outreageous cool
I absolutely love the color palette in this one . Mr or Miss Dracula is looking frightening with the open mouth .
Nice low POV and the DOF is good to show the most important stuff .
Comp and pose is nice , albeit i wish you would have posted an image with the Scorpion involved .... if you have one.
Details and sharpness as usual spot on .

Only one thing is puzzling me a bit , the FG is very smooth and the softness has crept into his right foot ???! Looks like some trickery took place .... i might be wrong

TFS Andreas

[Steve Kaluski]

Only one thing is puzzling me a bit , the FG is very smooth and the softness has crept into his right foot ???! Looks like some trickery took place .... i might be wrong

No trickery Andreas, there was a mound right in front of me, don't need to resort to stuff like that.

[Andreas Liedmann]

OK Steve

[Sanjeev Aurangabadkar]

Wow Steve, such a cool image of Meerkat! Look at those teeth! I wouldn't want to get any close to them Colours look great, love the pose and expression. Super light and details.

[Steve Kaluski]

Thanks Sanjeev, nice to have you back.

[Gabriela Plesea]

Dear Steve,

I have not been to the Kalahari in a while, miss the light and those red dunes and its amazing creatures. Been going to Kruger Park for the past two years or so because it is closer...more holiday time...but it is not the same. Your image reminds me of those days spent in the vehicle in the KTP in scorching temperatures, waiting for the animals to pitch up at water holes and sometimes following meerkats in their pursuit for insects and grubs.

Love the framing here and intensity of light, some fantastic colours too. Super pose from the subject. Not easy to capture meerkats in action as they are incredibly fast, lots of digging involved and some dust raising but once the meal is revealed it is gobbled in seconds, LOL. POV is great, superb detail on the subject's face and I love the 'menacing' little teeth and expression. Colours spot-on.

Many thanks for sharing, such a pleasure to view,

Warmest regards,

[Jonathan Ashton]

Liking the composition and the colours all looks good to me. I would venture to say a little more DOF would not have gone amiss but having said that it does tend to make the viewer look at those sharp little teeth very carefully.

[Steve Kaluski]

Thanks Gabriela for the kind words.

Cheers Jon, glad you like it.