So the second species in the "Wildlife up close" series is the White Rhino Ceratotherium simum - a species that just a few decades ago was reduced to just a few hundred individuals in ONE game park in northern KwaZulu-Natal: now called the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park.
Now, thanks to concerted conservation efforts, the species is doing really well in South Africa. Hluhluwe-Imfolozi is a game park that is very close to my heart and somewhere where I have spent a good deal of time on foot; in touch with the land.
The images I have chosen include two of the ears - something that really characterizes the species and sets it apart from the black rhino Diceros bicornis.
two photos of the same white rhino taken three weeks apart in the same area of Kruger National Park (Berg en Dal camp)
The hind quarters are also so characteristic of the species. but not that photographically wowing. and rather hard to get a decent shot of. this is my favorite of the bum shots.
this is not really a close up, but I have included it because it is still not a classic wildlife photo - no faces. no classic poses. just chopped off bodies and bums ;-)
Here is a photo of the same youngster in different light and in a classic pose.
you can't vote for this photo
Please vote for your favorite, and at the end of the series, I will randomly choose a winner from each post in the series and send them the original full-sized image they chose.
Happy voting and good luck!
Dale Forbes
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13 comments:
Hi Dale,
The last shot is splendid! This baby in this nice light has it all. A perfect shot! Thanks to make us discover the diversity of this visit with your eyes! Fantastic.
The forth one for me. Top digiscoping..top equipment.
At first I thought #1, but, I really like #4 of cut off bodies and bums. Of course all excellent. I can see why you have a tough time deciding yourself.
Thay have done a fantastic job at the revival of the species I I salute them. I never go to ST Lucia or Richards Bay without sending some time there.
My favourite is the first ear shot Dale.
Yes, I am with Joan: ever since I was a very, very little boy and had a plastic rhino as a toy I was fascinated by their ears. They (the ears) are just incredibly cute (which is a word I as a zoologist rarely use in connection with animals, but here it fits - for me).
So there you go: pic No. 1 takes the cake.
Beautiful series and the idea of digiscoping wildlife is itself pretty exciting. I browsed through your Africa digiscoping series and was amazed at the closeup range of your shots.
#4...the other 3 are just too artistic for me. :)
hmmm, interesting. of the two ear shots most people like the first one most. but I kinda liked the saturation and darkness of the second. maybe 'cos I was caught up in the power of the sunset moment when I took the shot.
I asked Chris that question the other day about whether he ever just enjoys the splendor of the area and doesnt take a shot. that has got to be one of my greatest photographic pleasures - experiencing something stunning and just soaking it in. knowing that I could take a photo if I really wanted to. but choosing not to. nothing like the frustration of forgetting the camera lens at home. or the batteries running out...
thank you for all your comments!
hmmm, interesting. of the two ear shots most people like the first one most. but I kinda liked the saturation and darkness of the second. maybe 'cos I was caught up in the power of the sunset moment when I took the shot.
I asked Chris that question the other day about whether he ever just enjoys the splendor of the area and doesnt take a shot. that has got to be one of my greatest photographic pleasures - experiencing something stunning and just soaking it in. knowing that I could take a photo if I really wanted to. but choosing not to. nothing like the frustration of forgetting the camera lens at home. or the batteries running out...
thank you for all your comments!
Hi, dropping by from Florida,USA. I found you on SAphotographs. You have beautiful pictures of some of the most amazing animals on earth. I love Africa and my dream would be to visit there one day. It's hard to choose a favorite, the cape buffalo are great as well. Thanks for a glimpse into the animals here.
Hi Becky, thanks for stopping by, and glad I could share some of my love for wildlife with you!
The third photo, a classic bum shot, is my favorite. I think it would be interesting to collect a bunch of the bum shots and see if the animals could be identified :)
Lunachance
Don't read too much into this, but I am partial for the bum shot.
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