Rwanda - Juvenile Mountain Gorilla between mother and dominant male

[Claude Ostfeld]

A family scene in the forest of Mount Visoke (part of the Virunga Volcano area) on the border of northwestern Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. This is on the Rwanda side (probably the safest right now both for humans and for the surviving mountain gorillas).

Charles (the dominant male) is in the foreground lying on his tummy, the youngster is probably asking himself "now what do these humans want?" and the two females simply ignored us.

The original is in color but fairly drab. The darkness of the forest (not jungle) at 3000 mt (nearly 9,000 ft) makes photography become a real challenge.

Mountain gorillas suffer high temperatures which is why they tend to avoid the sun.

D700
Nikon 80-200 AF-S F.2.8
ISO 1600
F5.0, 1/100.

[Morkel Erasmus]

I love the eye contact and tonal range in your conversion - great emotive moment. I would consider cropping to pano from top and bottom, mostly to eliminate the blown highlights of the silverback in front as well as the OOF grasses? this will place the emphasis more on the little one...what do you think?

[Deborah Harrison]

Having traveled in the same area I appreciate how hard this image is to capture!! Isolating the young one while including the surrounding family members make this image for me, as does the light in his eyes. Would be interested in seeing the color version - whether you consider the colors 'drab' it might also provide a different dimension to this intimate scene.

[Claude Ostfeld]

Debbie, Here is the color version.:)

Morkel, I still have not decided whether to crop this image any more. I will upload the complete image later on and you'll see an even different picture.

[Todd Frost]

You have captured this little one well. Both versions work for me, I only miss the eye color in the b/w. Not sure how big a crop this is but can see where Morkel is coming from with the crop suggestion. Well done.
TFS
Todd

[Ken Watkins]

Claude,

Not to sure whether you approve of cloning and pasting, but this expression was just too good to pass by, without giving it a try. I have done this quickly and it could be done much better on the RAW. What do you think?

[Claude Ostfeld]

Hi Ken,
I find cloning useful sometimes. Sometimes what I like to clone doesn't coincide with the taste of others but anyway I have taken the raw as you suggested and prepared a clone of my own. I will also upload the original as it offers some insight. I took about 50 images of this scene. As sometimes happens the one I like most was very last one.

[Claude Ostfeld]

This is the original uncropped version.
I think you can get the impression of how protective gorillas are of their young at least in this particular family.
I chose to crop this scene because that juvenile's eyes were so captivating.
Thank you all for the nice comments.
Claude

[Ken Watkins]

Claude,

Well you certainly seem to have sufficient IQ for a large crop, I must admit I would still like to see some work done on the blown highlights at the bottom RHS, I think you maybe able to crop it out. Whatever it looks much better than your B&W original post.

Posts crossed the full frame seems to have much less in the way of blown highlights.

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Claude, well you cannot help but get drawn into those eyes and certainly I am glad you posted the colour version, as it has so much going for it.

What I might suggest is packing an extender with you next time, if you have not already done that. It will allow you to get a little bit closer, slight loss on your stops, but would avoid cropping to much, as this in turn reduces the quality of your image. Ideally you want to do as much in camera, including the crop, but allowing some flexibility. However, saying that, the quality is quite good.

TFS
Steve

[Claude Ostfeld]

Hi Steve,
Much as I would like to go to Rwanda again I doubt that I will do that ... in this lifetime.:)
I do pack the TC-20III and the TC-14EII now but at the time there were all sorts of weight limitations which caused gear limits and, honestly, I had the TC-20EII then which was nowhere near as sharp as the TC20III that I have now.
I had a hard enough time convincing the guide to let me bring a monopod to where the Gorillas were (we had to leave all bags with the trackers 300 yards away).

I know now that if I were to go again I'd bring just the 70-200 VRII plus the 2 TC's and the Angenieux 26-70 AF and nothing more in a much smaller bag.
You can't use flash and you have 59 minutes and 59 seconds not subject to appeal (after 3 to 4 hours going up and the same amount of time going down with thick mud, stinging nettles i.e. poison ivy, altitude issues and truly ferocious safari ants to cope with).
That said I went up that mountain 3 times (twice for the gorillas and once for the golden monkeys) and I recall with joy every moment.
A memorable (and costly) experience that was well worth it.
You tend to "humanize" the mountain gorillas. Their eyes and the way they sit, walk, gesture is truly captivating. If you have sniffles or are heard coughing you get left out of the visiting group because humans and gorillas are susceptible to the same germs.
I took some great shots with the 26-70 and I will upload a few in the coming weeks.
As always thanks for the advice which I truly appreciate.

[Steve Kaluski]

I recall with joy every moment.

I bet you did and came back with some great memories & images too. Great BG info Claude, thanks for that, will look out for some new shots in the coming weeks, many thanks again. :)

Steve

[Morkel Erasmus]

Claude - the color version works very well too! I am going to throw a spanner in the works and say I actually like the "out-of-camera" composition the most! Just a great "story" image and I don't feel the little one gets lost in the wider frame at all.

Would love to see these guys in the flesh someday...

[Claude Ostfeld]

Would love to see these guys in the flesh someday...

Morkel,
I am sure the opportunity will present itself just as I am sure that you'll be thrilled by an experience that you'll never forget.

As far ar the " "out-of-camera" composition" is concerned I like all the pictures I took while visiting the Mountain Gorillas whether cropped or whole but I guess I am slightly biased.

All the best!
Claude

[Deborah Harrison]

Thanks for posting the color version - to me that is the story and no further cropping is needed. The eyes of the infant, the intimacy of the scene, the silverback in the foreground says it all. I think your crop from the original is what was needed to accentuate the eyes and still maintain the environment. That works, for me, in color but not in black and white.

[Harshad Barve]

You gotta love those eyes here , brilliant image
TFS