Dejected Spotted Hyena

[Morkel Erasmus]

I took this image in the Kruger National Park in South Africa in very challenging light-conditions.
It was overcast on the horizon and the sun was just beginning to rise.

I switched to ISO 1600, upped exposure to +0.3 and hoped for the best. The 1000D didn't really disappoint. Luckily the hyena was close to our vehicle so I could retain significant detail - this isn't cropped much at all. Obviously applied NR to the BG. :)

I will be leaving for the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park on Friday, and will probably not be very active until I'm back - but I'm looking forward to returning by the 21st with some awesome avian, wildlife and landscape images (some of you might know how great the light in the Kalahari is...:eek:).

Take care everyone, and thanks for making BPN a special place :D.

Techs:
Canon 1000D with 100-400mm L IS USM @ 200mm
f5.0 @ 1/100 SS @ ISO-1600

[Stu Bowie]

This is great low angle shooting from a vehicle Mork. Scruffy characters, and I like the raised foot off the ground showing movement. Good job with the ISO too.

Enjoy your trip mate. Hope you come back with lots of keepers. Im off to Kruger next weekend (18th )for three days, so Im looking forward to that too. Cheers.

[David Fletcher]

Lucky, lucky guys.. makes the sound of a trip of a lifetime, a run of the mill, pop round the corner trip, being so familiar! :D. As Stu said....scruffy fella and lovely low view on this. Enjoy your trips, u two, :). Look forward to the results.

[Morkel Erasmus]

thanks Stu & Dave

@ Stu - enjoy Kruger, always a great trip!
@ Dave - thanks, will definitely enjoy it...

[Fabs Forns]

Interesting subject, not very much up to smile for the camera :)
You did pretty good given the conditions and ISO. Is that color noise on the snout or natural colors?

Love the raised ears and the puff of fur in the head.

[Harshad Barve]

IMHO you have done very well here ,
Have a fantastic trip and bring back lot of images
TFS

[DanWalters]

Like the vert comp and the low angle. Like the way the hyena is walking toward the viewer.

[Steve Canuel]

I like the raised paw and angle of the comp. I might remove the dark object to the right as I keep trying to figure out what it is. Have a safe and productive trip.

[peter delaney]

enjoy... Morkel.. wont be far behind you....

peter

[Dave Barnes]

Enjoy your trip, hope you get a lot of opportunities.
I think that there is colour noise on the snout.
I would tend to do a closer crop with a bit off the top and right.

[Morkel Erasmus]

thanks for viewing and commenting Fabs, Dave, Harshad, Steve, Peter & Dan

@ Fabs/Dave - I think the colour noise came out during shadow recovery...any idea how to get rid of it?? might be part and parcel of the ISO 1600 quality?

@ Peter - great, when are you going?

@ Steve - I tried that yesterday but ran out of time so decided to post as is :) it's a dead piece of log.

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

You captured a special moment Morkel and I too like the vertical composition and the low angle. Nice work !!!!

[Sabyasachi Patra]

Morkel,
I wish you had some better light. It is good that you got a lower angle from your vehicle. All the best for your Kalahari trip.

Cheers,
Sabyasachi

[Morkel Erasmus]

thanks Judy & Sabya...