Sunset sable, a photo from Limpopo, East

Photographer's Note

I have been away for 10 days - taking photographs rather than posting photographs. Camping in a private game reserve - and this is one of my favourite pictures from there, although taken on a previous visit.

It is, I will admit, a bit of an African stereotype, with the sun setting through the thorn-bush. So, my question for today, especially to the non-Africans viewing it: Is it too much of a stereotype? Too much of a postcard shot?

Photographic details - shot quite late in the day, in fairly dense bush and under low light conditions. The Sable Antelope had only been introduced a few weeks earlier, so were still quite nervous of visitors and this was taken with a 300mm lens from a position I had been waiting in for over an hour.

The TE details: for those wanting to visit, this is one of my favourite campsites in Southern Africa. The owners are serious campers themselves and have made a real effort to provide an individual experience. There are only four campsites arranged so that they are kept well apart and a certain amount of privacy is guaranteed. There are 'traditional' ablutions (the male side of the ownership team was a plumber in a previous life so they are some of the best camping ablutions you will come across), but also a shower under a tree and a sit-down toilet under another tree - nicely fenced in, but open to the skies. You will not see the Big Five, but will get a chance to walk among the game that is there - and with a bit of luck the giraffe might visit your campsite. A very convenient half-day drive from Johannesburg and very nicely situated for entrance to Botswana. No 4 wheel drive hire required, our little 1300cc Mazda copes very well with the couple of kilometres of dirt-road needed to get from the main tarred approach road to the campsites.

ikeharel, pajaran, delpeoples, jhm, danos, abmdsudi, Cricri, clic, ktanska, kordinator has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Mesut09 (1095) 2016-12-16 9:51

Hello .. What is the kind of this goat??

It is very noble and great

The white colour on it's face and it's horns are very beautifull

ofcourse the sun behind the goat..

Thanks for the photo

No_One (4) 2016-12-16 10:42

Hi Iain
A stunning moment to catch, the beautiful animal, the subtle color on the sky and the blazing sun. Really cool photo

As for your question, I am not at all familiar with this area of its photography so to me is not a stereotype. If I could make one thought, I would crop the whole left side of the image. It's a great idea to place the animal on the third, but with the left side gone if works place both the animal and the sun on thirds. With the animal much more prominent in the frame then, it has a much greater presence.
Fantastic photo, thanks for sharing
Cheers
Noel

GyurMaster (25049) 2016-12-16 12:17

Hello Iain,

Stereotype or not, when I photograph wild animals (mainly birds and roes), I like to take photos in the sunset or in the sunrise. People pay more attention to these photos, rather than a photo taken in flat, dull lights. If you want to attract more people, you take these kind of photos. Simple as that.

Good work, to summarize the above mentioned.
Best Wishes,
gy.

lousat (140046) 2016-12-16 13:21

Hi Iain,for me isn't a classic postcard but a lovely masterwork! What a choice of the moment with the sun between the trees in background,and still a good sharpness on the antilope despite the terrific backlight,this is a very very difficult situation that you caught in the best way. Have a nice weekend and thanks,Luciano

delpeoples (60342) 2016-12-16 17:15

Dear Iain

Jeez your photography has come on in leaps and bounds. It's good enough for magazines I reckon. This is a beautiful, artistic and flawless photo. You managed the difficult light conditions so effortlessly.

Thanks for sharing, have a beautiful weekend
Lisa

jemaflor (148306) 2016-12-16 23:35

Hi Iain,
Lovely light capture, contrast is well managed too, excellent presentation of the animal, tfs.

jhm (211738) 2016-12-17 0:41

Hello Iain,

What a pleasant camping place for to see the different animals.
Also to make a safari with the camera in the hand.
Your picture is wonderful to look at.
Best regards, TFS.

Have a nice weekend,
John.

BennyV (34780) 2016-12-17 2:09

Great nature shot, Iain. A hint of purple in the colours, the animal is magnificent, looks quite serene, and then there's that great ball of fire rising! Goodness, gracious...nice picture!

Benny

npecanhuk (79329) 2016-12-17 2:59

Hi Iain!
Wonderful wild life & nature picture!
You were at the right place, at the right moment and did the best photo job, for sure!
I love the management of difficult light, colors and composition above all!
TFS - congrats,
Cheers,
Neyvan

danos (110407) 2016-12-17 8:47

Hello Iain,
great the snapshot with the Sable antelope to 'pose' in front of your lens under difficult lighting conditions with the sunset on its backdrop.A superb scene with the light and the colour management to make the whole scenery even more effective.

Regards,Danos

abmdsudi (95869) 2016-12-17 22:14

Hi Iain
A very well observed willing model of this quite magnificent animal I've never seen before. That must have been a real treat to see him in the wild taken under such a challenging low light condition. The sky colour in the background works a treat but feel rather disturbed, may i suggest you to tone down - soften the harshness of the fireball as it tends to distract focus of attention from main subject. None the less, you've done very well under very difficult circumstances. Enjoyed reading your in-depth write up. Cheers!
Congrats

P/S; Your constructive input is very much appreciated, Thank you
Best wishes

Cricri (176) 2016-12-18 8:36

Hi Iain
OH merveilleuse capture, nettet�, couleurs, cet animale est magnifique et vous l'avez capturer d'une fa鏾n incroyablement belle, tout simplement...
belle soir閑
cricri

clic (76) 2016-12-18 16:00

Hello Iain You show a masterpiece of exoticism featuring the lone antelope attentive to worrying sounds but unfortunately insensitive to the beauties of the setting sun! Quite different from those zoo pictures! Cheers.

ktanska (45098) 2016-12-19 10:06

Hi Iain,
As far as I can remember I didn't see this kind of postcards on my visit to southern Africa. So, definitely not a prototype.
And this must be very hard to catch with such intense sunset colours in the back. Perfect focus despite all the straws in the foreground.
I also like this framing. Head of is right on perfect spot. The sun takes balance more to right side, but that's just breaking the rule slightly to give this more original touch.
Kari

gervaso (28437) 2016-12-20 2:10

Hello, Iain!

Wonderful capture of this wild life scene, with the sun looking like fire in the background, being the highlight of the photo! Excellent light management and sharpness! Wonderful composition! Very good job!

kordinator (8738) 2016-12-21 13:36

Dear lain
Lovely sunsetcapture, contrast is well managed too, excellent portrait of the animal.
Great photo job.
Kind regards
Sa歛

CamCam (515) 2016-12-23 14:01