So this is an eerily perfect shot of an eerily motionless herd of one of the most dangerous animals in Africa. Please share how you avoided being turned into strawberry jam by them while managing to get great lighting, perfect comp and no sign of any dust/mud/birds/clouds of bugs.
It was early morning, very still, beautiful streaming sunlight from behind the buffalo. This is small part of a larger herd, about 100+ animals, that had spent the night in thick bush in this location beside a small dirt road called the Gomondwane Loop (S130 if you wish to examine a map of Kruger). There was no dust because neither the buffalo nor I were moving. There was no mud because it was dry. There were birds, but out of frame; mainly Red-billed oxpeckers that would, once the buffalo start moving, spend the day riding upon the buffalo, pecking ticks from their hides. There were many bugs attending the buffalo, but too small to register in this picture. The 'perfect' comp that you admired was just the buffalo kidding around. I was not made into strawberry jam because I was in my 4x4 about 10 metres from the nearest bull. They aren't bothered by vehicles. Step outside though and they will indeed probably kill you.
Here's a view of the diorama from a different angle (taken from the coffee shop):
And alas, I expect the picture will be disqualified. I had unintentionally used the original to crop. Silly boy.
So this is an eerily perfect shot of an eerily motionless herd of one of the most dangerous animals in Africa. Please share how you avoided being turned into strawberry jam by them while managing to get great lighting, perfect comp and no sign of any dust/mud/birds/clouds of bugs.
The lighting is magical Paul. It looks biblical in a way although
"Beast of Burden" is now on a loop in my brain. Congratulations on a wonderful image.
Definitely not the run of the mill wildlife... Such beasts yet so peaceful.The faces and the "hair" are delightful and unexpected. Magical light too, of course. Altogether, this is a stunning capture.
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