A stroll with the family

A stroll with the family
© All Rights Reserved

Nothing quite prepares you for a moment like this.

Lying in the dirt behind the relative safety of a 4x4, a long lens trained on a group of elephants, as they lazily amble their way towards you.

The whole family stops to take things in. Mom and dad look you in the eye. Sniff the air. Satisfy themselves that all is well.

And quietly continue.

Towards you.

Taken with Nikon D80, 18-200 f/3.5-5.6 @ 200mm 1/2000 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 400

07h46 Tuesday
28, April
2009
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elephants, amboseli, kenya, black and white
20 Comments
 
  1. rudzani
    Great shot Daz. Absolutely great. Did you go for the higher ISO rating so as to allow a faster speed and reduce camera shake?
  2. æ
    masterful daz
  3. Stefanie Jason
    wow...great shot
  4. Nanometa
    amazing shot...
  5. Khumbelo
    beautiful!
  6. Daz
    @rudzani Spot on. I was using a hired lens ... a magnificent Nikon 200-400 F4 VR (waaay beyond my budget, so hiring was the only option).

    Its a big lens ... and although it has VR, you need to shoot with a pretty fast shutter speed to reduce camera shake ... and given the early morning and/or sundowner times at which we shot, we invariably shot at ISO 400.

    As this was my first trip with the 'pros' ... I just followed instructions. Smile.
  7. loymad
    WHAT WHAT WHA-T!!! This is the best pic here for a while DANG!!! The power...
  8. Daz
    For any-one interested, the lens can be found here:
    http://www.outdoorphotoshop.co.za/p50-LAS200400VR/NIKON200-400mm.aspx
    Now you will see why I hired it!!
  9. lebogang nkoane
    *cough, *cough

    85 grand?!?!?!?!?

    thats 10 grand more than what I used earn per annum in 2002 --- which is 85 grand more than what I earn now.

    *sigh
  10. Daz
    Yep! That's what I said when the pro suggested it!

    But, hey ... you can hire it at R450/day ... insure it for a little more ...

    So, easy to make a plan, split the cost with a few 'graphers ... and then share the lens on a planned outing!

    Brilliant. And you get to play with real glass.
    http://www.outdoorphoto.co.za/cms/rental
  11. NguJaz
    gotta love payment plans
    *iconic shot this
  12. rangoato hlasane
    cosign with NguJaz. well done Daz! magnificence
  13. lwazi hlophe
    Beautiful family potraits.
  14. lebogang nkoane
    Hmmm, wait a *tick (LOL, pun not intended): they appear smaller than I would expect Tlou do be,,, where they very faraway?

    Or is there some optical/illusion?
  15. Daz
    They're still some way away.

    Looking at the image data, I was using 18-200mm lens, at full 200mm ... and not the hired 200-400 *beast* (a mate had 'borrowed' that at the time) ... *blush* ...

    I was on the ground, lens in the dirt, under the 4x4 ... and I guess the elephants were probably 20 to 30 metres away.

    Close enough to have me thinking about scooting back into the Landie.
  16. lebogang nkoane
    Ha! Daz!

    Elephants are not that dangerous to fear --- well, they look very peaceful and I am sure you could outrun an elephant, no?

    but then again: Mother with a child threatened is, well,,, ya worth running away from.
  17. Daz
    LOL ... as 'graphers we were oblivious to the elephants ... but the game ranger was having a wobbly.

    OK guys. Time to think about getting back into the landie.

    Guys? Helloooo ...

    Hey, you guys!

    Move your asses.

    Neeoow!

    The ellies were cool, and we were enjoying their company, but I think the ranger has seen enough, to never be comfortable with city okes in the wild!
  18. lebogang nkoane
    LOL @ Neeoow!

    LMAO!
  19. Di1
    stunning!! n fyi, an elephant can take all of u in a race!
  20. Ovidius Nkoane

    majestic

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