Tusker in Musth

[RakeshDhareshwar]

This tusker was shot in Dhikala , Corbett National Park . It has a habit of chasing the jeeps away . Was fortunate to get him on the road chasing us :) . The reason for the thin patience is the fcat that the Tusker is in 'Musth' or heat. The temporal ducts behind the ear discharge a thick tar-like secretion called temporin .The elephant's aggression may be partially caused by a reaction to the temporin, which naturally trickles down into the elephant's mouth. Another contributing factor may be the accompanying swelling of the temporal glands; this presses on the elephant's eyes and causes acute pain comparable to severe root abscess toothache.




Shot with a Canon 1D Mk III , Canon 600mm f4 IS on a bean bag support .

Cheers,
Rakesh

[Steve Kaluski]

Interesting concept Rakesh, however for me the position is too central and doesn't quite work. I feel there might be another alternative to the cropping of your image.

Suggest you take a look at this link as it might prove fruitful to the concept and perhaps offer a more strong, powerful option for your image. BTW, is this a big crop?

http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...ad.php?t=52894

TFS
Steve

[Harshad Barve]

Rakeshbhai , this works for me big way:) , Rules of thirds are not compulsions ;)
terrific details and excellent textures , that eye is excellent
TFS

[Steve Kaluski]

Rules of thirds are not compulsions

I didn't say they were Harshad, it was only a suggestion like any comments/feedback. However, it is down to the authors to decide on what he or she wishes to do thereafter.

[Alfred Forns]

Agree with Steve on this one The central eye position does not work for me. The eye is the most prominent part of the image and first think catches our eye, central placement for most objects does not work.

Rule of thirds is not a rule but a guide which will help out with composition, I feel it helps much more than hurts. I don't mind breaking rules ( a lot ) but there ha to be a reason. Here is a re post with the eye along the rule of thirds, to me it makes a much stronger image.

One other thing that I would have changed in the image is the density difference from right to left ... very little texture on the left which also detracts in converted images !!! Maybe would have done away with that part and included more ele to the right !! Do like experimentation and hope you continue !! Its always refreshing !!!

... btw wanted to crop to a rectangle but did not want o crop out your copyright

[Sabyasachi Patra]

Rakesh,
Some good suggestions given. I would prefer slightly more space on the left than Alfred's repost.

Nice information. Also, one difference with African elephants is that in African elephants both the male and female experience musth. In Asian elephants, one instance of a female in musth was reported in captivity and I had photographed once a female wild asian elephant in musth. Infact, I was under the impression that it was a tuskless male in musth. But only later, I realised that she is female. :D

Cheers,
Sabyasachi

[Alfred Forns]

Maybe this one makes more sense :) Should have moved the copyright form the start

... btw with these type in particular is mostly taste as how you corp but did feel having the at the center was odd !!

[Rachel Hollander]

I like Al's last repost the best. I am presuming that this was converted to b&w and that there is actually some color in the eye. I would be curious to see the original version.

TFS,
Rachel

[Sid Garige]

Excellent repost by Al.

[Steve Canuel]

I prefer the original post because the faint transverse lines in the light colors give a hint of the trunk. I like the transition from brighter on the left to dark on the right. Also like the clarity of the eye and how it seems to be looking back at the secretions from the gland.

[RakeshDhareshwar]

Thanx Steve and Alfred for the composition tips . But the thought behind this was that the secretion was my main focus and not the eye . Also , I wanted to include the trunk in the compo to give a more complete picture . @ Alfred : Your 2nd post works for me too .

[Hilary Hann]

Lots of very effective debate on this image which is helpful to us all. I do like this photograph but have to say that I prefer Al's last repost the best. I can understand the reasons behind the original cropping but find the eye too central for my tastes. Knowing that the Asiatic elephant does tend to get the pigmentation loss in the trunk and face explains the lightness of the trunk but I'm not sure having so much of it adds to the completed image.

I like this in black & white, very effective.

[Rahul Sachdev]

The 2nd repost works best for me. Lovely snap Rakesh