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Dame von Warzenschwein


Dame von Warzenschwein
Photo Information
Copyright: Loot Eksteen (loot) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5695 W: 603 N: 3357] (8939)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-04-02
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Cannon EOS 350D, Sigma 170-500mm f/5-6.3 AF APO Ultra DG, Digital ISO 400, UV 86mm Kenko
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/1600 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Mammals of Southern Africa, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park animals 1, A study in Mammalogy, Wildlife of Africa [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-04-08 9:16
Viewed: 1024
Points: 36
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Warthog - Phacochoerus aethiopicus

This 'lawnmower' was photographed at the gate complex of the Hluhluwe Game Reserve. As we arrived at the park, early Sunday morning, I noticed her doing her bit to keep the lawn in a well trimmed condition and to assist in saving some funds which would have been paid to a labourer to mow the lawn.

Warthog in Afrikaans is "vlak vark" which directly translated means "shallow pig". This could be referring to their feeding habit. They go right down on their front knees and feed on the roots of grass and weeds, as can be seen on the photo.

The following was extracted from "Byseewah Safaris".

The warthog is so ugly – that it's actually beautiful!

The warthog is one of the most entertaining animals to watch. Water holes are a great place to watch and film their antics, especially if there are some large old stumps or a large tree close by. Warthogs need to be able to wallow in the mud and then find themselves some old stump or tree trunk to scratch against. You can almost feel the pleasure they show when doing this.

They are great fun to encounter when out trial walking or on safari. That is when you come across lots of animals unexpectedly and many of them doing the unexpected. Because of their poor eyesight, it is not difficult to get close to warthogs, but never treat them with contempt, especially when you are close to females with young.

Don't go looking into what you think is a warthog hole, as you can get a bad surprise. Always remember, if the warthog is at home they back down their hole, which means he or she will be facing you. They will feel both trapped and threatened. This close they will more than likely charge at you. If they get their bottom tusks into you it is as sharp as razors and they are very apt at using them. More than one person has bled to death after such an attack. I have seen warthogs charge a number of times when they have been threatened. Never under estimate them.

Considering their shape and small legs they can move very fast. I have seen a cheetah chasing a warthog across a plain at full speed, the warthog changing his course as he went, both of them going flat out at a great speed. The cheetah never caught that warthog. All this adding to the real magic of Africa.

The big old male warthog is normally on his own. He has learned a few tricks over the years. His movements vary from day to day. He spends less time in one spot. One day you come across him going or coming from water then the next time you see him he is miles away drinking at another hole. He has learned to keep away from disturbed areas. In such areas you will find he moves very early in the morning and the real old boys drink late in the evening, normally just as the light starts to fade. In areas where they are not disturbed they can be seen any time of the day coming or going from waterholes.

Post Processing was done with Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0.
Fisher, ellis49, marhowie, Athila, scottevers7, ALIRIZA, manyee, wuta, jeanpaul, hummingbird24, peter_stoeckl, firelord, Dyker, Miss_Piggy, Rehanna, betsie has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To jeanpaul: On foot ±6 metres awayloot 1 04-09 16:51
To manyee: She sends her regardsloot 7 04-09 12:43
To Athila: Fill-inloot 1 04-08 15:54
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Loot,

This is a first I think on Trek N. Glad to see a warthog. Excellent capture and well done on the composition.

Mike

Hi Loot,
an ugly face that only a mother could love;-)
The composition and the low POV are very good.
Good details and colours.
Well done.

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2390 W: 194 N: 1991] (8113)
  • [2006-04-08 9:48]

Hi Loot,
nice portrait of this four legged lawn mower. You got very close, wonderful details with excellent sharpness. Nice light and good Color. Nice composition.
TFS..Sky

Hi Loot,
Crisp clear shot, and well composed.
Nice and sharp, great profile capture of this handsome guy ;} Very well done.

  • Great 
  • Athila Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 310 W: 238 N: 421] (1503)
  • [2006-04-08 11:20]
  • [2] [+]

Hi Loot!

Impressive animal. Focus looks sharp. Exposure seems to me a little bit overexposed (forehead and grass seem bright)
On the other hand, shadows are deep, and reducing exposure will increase the surface of deep shadows. It's normal in mid-afternoon light in these hot country to get such a high contrast lighting.
There is only one way to compensate that and it's fill-in flash.
At 200 mm you should be close enough to use a powerfull cobra type flash if you own one. Canon brand can probably calculate easily the amount of fill necessary to bring some nice détails in shadows without destroying the natural light effect. Sounds funny to use a flash outside on a bright sunny day, but it is very effective. Of course you would need to reduce the shutter speed to a value compatible with the flash sync speed.

An other solution would be to set your camera on a low contrast setting. Wich one is best? Fill-in or low contrast? I can't really tell. But experiment on a domestic animal in same light conditions should be a good guide.

Regards
Alain

Hi Loot,
That is a face that only a mother could love! Great portrait shot though. Nice exposure, and very sharp. We can see every ugly little detail. Well done.
Scott

Hello Loot,
Excellent capture, very well composed.POV and
framing are perfect.Thanks for sharing.
Ali Rıza

  • Great 
  • wuta Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 870 W: 2 N: 606] (2034)
  • [2006-04-09 9:17]

|Hello Loot , I lovely portret photo from this schwein ,
good details compositie and sharp ,very good ,i like it ,
nice day ,Teunie .

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3068 W: 231 N: 5840] (19618)
  • [2006-04-09 12:02]
  • [+]

Look at that expression of utter bliss, with her eyes half closed.
She is enjoying the warmth of the sun on her face, the taste of the fresh grass seasoned with a dash of dirt, in a seemingly safe space. She is totally oblivious to the feelings her looks invoke in these bipeds with their arbitrary and human-centric standards of beauty. She is perfectly happy with her lot, grateful for her little piece of heaven on earth. We should all be that blessed. : )
Great shot, Loot. A bit overexposed in parts, but a fantastic POV and very sharp details.
TFS. : )

Bonjour Loot
C'est une superbe prise que tu nous envoies de phacochère,les couleurs et les détails sont parfaits. A quel distance te trouvais-tu de cette bête car je crois que genre de bête est dangereuse et imprévisible.
Bravo et Merci et a la prochaine .....JP

Hi loot!
What a sweet face you captured!!!
Amazing view ;-)

  • Great 
  • osse Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1029 W: 0 N: 90] (7659)
  • [2006-04-10 7:13]

Hi Loot,
Excellent details and sharpnes.I agree with you "The warthog is so ugly – that it's actually beautiful"
Good Colours, DOF and POV.
Well done

osse

Hi Loot,
A lovely animal, I saw many times in documentals and I like it. Excellent close up and details, maybe a bit bright for the intense sunlight, specially BG and some hairs.
regards
Hernán

Hello Loot,

I have always had a fascination for warthogs, first because they are so ugly...
and second, because they so short and ugly... that they are almost adorable ;-)

Nicely composed shot, great details, colors and bright lighting.

Thank you for sharing her with us!

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3414 W: 144 N: 5803] (17197)
  • [2006-04-11 3:29]

Hey there Loot, your warthog has pretty eyes, very attractive, especially to a Mr Warthog! But reading your notes, I don't think I'll go visit their hole...
Good capture here, he looks very sharp and the colours are very natural too. Well done,
Janice

Hi Loot,
stunning portrait.
Sharp details, soft and tender approach to a noble and charming Warzenschwein Lady.
Very good notes, as always from you.
And I love the title. Thank you!
Best regards, Peter

Hello Loot

Het ek nou vir jou lekker gesit en giggel vir jou notas en ook veral oor die klomp nonsies wat jy en Manyee gesels het oor hierdie klomp wielbekke vanaf Trekula Naturalis. Dit was nou sommer puik ontspanning en wie sê daar is nie plek vir so 'n bietjie uitspattige humor op TN en vanuit die natuur.

Die oggend son was nogal fel op hierdie vraaitjies vark, maar ek dink jy het jou steeds goed gekwyt van jou taak. Dit is 'n pragtige gesig foto van hierdie dierasie en 'n mens kan duidelik sien hoe sy op haar knie rond kruip om by daardie soet gras uit te kom. Dankie vir die vermaak en ontspanning wat jy met hierdie bydrae gebied het.

Groete
Rehanna

Hi Loot
Ons moet hierdie een voorstel aan haar "conditioner" Hare lyk maar klapperhaaragtig! - shame nie 'n prentjie van 'n dier nie. mooi foto Loot.
Betsie

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