Battle across the Mara.

[Marc Mol]

11.03am.
Some battle the water whilst another battles for their life!
This adult Gnu is dwarfed by this giant croc with lockjaw, this stalemate went on for approximately 15 mins before the gnu managed to break free. Even though it galloped across the bank, I'm sure it wouldn't have survived long as it suffered a massive gash along its upper flanks.
Cropped out upper bankside, leaving this as a pano. Would have preferred not to crop out one of the leading Zebra.

D3s 500VR +1.4tc & CP filter 1/1250s ISO800@f/6.3 Monopod atop vehicle at double crossing carpark, Mara river Oct 2010.

C & C most welcome

Cheers
Marc

[Rachel Hollander]

Marc - this is a great story telling image. The inclusion of the oof animals crossing in the fg conveys "life goes on." I like the pano treatment of this.

TFS,
Rachel

[Dumay de Boulle]

WOW!!! My dream to one day witness this incredible migration in the Mara. Great scene well captured...It tells such a story.

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Marc, guess you seem to be always in the right place at the right time to cover these life & death struggles, well done.

I like the line of slightly OOF zebra in the FG, with the struggle going on pin sharp in the BG, really does convey the story well, good choice of format as it strengthens the overall image nicely. Personally, not sure about including the two partially clipped heads in the bottom LH corner, WDYT?

Nice one.

TFS
Steve

[Pieter de Waal]

Great story telling image Marc. Makes one's eyes wander around the image to pick up all the action. I like the pano crop and agree with Steve about the LLC. TFS

[Stephen Earle]

I like the story here, well captured. I also agree on the llc beests.

[Marc Mol]

Personally, not sure about including the two partially clipped heads in the bottom LH corner, WDYT?

Agree Steve, but as I had no more lower room, and reluctant to clone them out, also cropping them out would have left it a little tight with the swimming zebras, I left as is.

[Morkel Erasmus]

well done here Marc, as my fellow mod mentioned you certainly have the knack/luck/fortune to be where the action goes down when you are on safari...

I like the view over the crossing zebras, but do wish that none of the bottom wildebeests were there. Wouldn't mind having this in my files (and memories)...

[Brendan Dozier]

Wonderful scene portraying the struggles of life in the wild, Marc. Nice capture!