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Thread: Running Giraffes, Okvanago Delta, Botswana

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    Default Running Giraffes, Okvanago Delta, Botswana


    Canon 1DMkIII, 24-105mm, f/5 at 1/1250 second, ISO 800
    Hand held while shooting from a helicopter

  2. #2
    Jasper Doest
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    Hi Andy, great to see you here. I love the look of this running herd through its matching landscape. However, I think that composition-wise it would have been more interesting if they'd have some more space to run into. That also would give a better sense of scale.....with those great empty plains and a group of giraffes.....that feeling is missing a bit in this photograph. Also photographs like this bring up a rather important ethical question.....: why are they running? Without judging you, I'd say that it is often the helicopter causing these animals to run... and with the ever growing tourist industry in these area's using balloons and helicopters to search for wildlife, this might cause some problems in the near future.
    I know from the arctic area's that helicopter-tourism can do lethal damage to polar-bears....as they're not build to run longer distances, warm up easily and die of overheating. While this might not be the case in Southern Africa (because of different fysiology) I'd be curious to hear your thoughts about this...as you probably see these tourist-organizations making mistakes every day.
    I'm looking forward to see more of your work here.

  3. #3
    Vincent Grafhorst
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    I like this Andy. I agree on the one hand that more space on the left would composition wise make sense, but the use of a shorter focal length to achieve that may reduce the size of giraffes too much.

    Jasper I do think the helicopter is the reason for the Giraffes running (though I would rely on what Andy has to say), and this kind of tourism will definitely have an impact. But luckily it is not like all tourists to the Okavango also go for a quick helicopter ride, simply because it is freaking expensive! I'm also curious what Andy's point of view is.

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    Thanks for the thoughts, guys. I have cropped the image to intentionally make it tight, but I will revisit a less tight version.

    To be honest, the name of the image is actually different than reality. These giraffes aren't running, really. I think if we circled around too many times it would have turned into it, though. Looking through my other raw files it looks like they were grouped up way before we arrived to take photos. I think we passed by, grabbed a few shots and kept going. I prefer to be farther away for that exact reason of not wanting to spook the wildlife. Sometimes it isn't successful, but it is certainly a goal of mine.

  5. #5
    Robert Amoruso
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    Andy,

    I like how you have two diagonals in this image. First the line of giraffes and second their shadows - both opposed to each other. The strong sidelighting makes for a strong graphic look to the grass by bringing out its texture.

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    I like the dagonal composition a bit more room in front of the herd might be nice. Good sidelight gives texture to the grass..

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    I like this image. Good diagonals. Nice texture. I think any sane animal will run for cover when a helicopter approaches. I still remember, as a child we used to duck for cover when a helicopter used to approach for landing.

    Look forward to more of your images here.

  8. #8
    Fabs Forns
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    Red carpet welcome, Andy, great to see you posting, and what a stunner you picked for your fist image, nit a view that many people enjoy, thanks for sharing it@

  9. #9
    Paul Marcellini
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    I agree on a bit ore room to the front. but it is a great photo. It seems maybe the shadowed sides of them are a bit bright considering. Makes for a more impactful image but just something that didn't seem totally right to my eye.

  10. #10
    Roman Kurywczak
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    Hi Andy,
    Agree with the room comments.............and i also like this very much. Has a great feel to it.

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