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Mister Handsome


Mister Handsome
Photo Information
Copyright: Anna Eksteen (Miss_Piggy) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1397 W: 4 N: 2290] (7387)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-04-07
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Sony Cybershot DSC H9, Digital ISO 100
Exposure: f/4, 1/200 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): uMkhuze Game Reserve 1 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-09-25 17:57
Viewed: 1408
Points: 70
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Nyala / Tragelaphus angasii

I personally think the Nyala is one of the most handsome antelopes. It might not be described as the lord of the antelope like the Sable, or as graceful as the Kudu, but definitely a handsome buck with lots of attractive features and characteristics, and an animal worthy to admire for its beauty.

If you would like to read a general overview on the Nyala please visit one of my earlier postings, Quenching the Thirst as today's note will not cover these issues.

One do not have to describe this animal in hundreds of words, as words is unnecessary when you look at this image, and it is even more spectacular when you have the opportunity to witness it in real. What your eyes observe and what your brain register, means much more than words could ever portray over this mammal. LOOK, ADMIRE and APPRECIATE. I was very chuffed with the outcome of this photograph, especially because of the reflection of the buck in the water is captured so beautifully.

Handsome Indeed
The Nyala, especially the male is a most striking species of antelope. The ram has a long and shaggy coat. A white, erectable mane stretches all along the midline of his back, and a black beard hangs below his head and neck. This continues as a hairy fringe all along the Nyala's belly, and over the hind legs the hairs hang down like the legs of a pair of trousers. The Nyala ram's tail is very interesting: short, wide, and shaggy. It might be helpful to know that it looks very much like the tail of a yak, in case you've ever seen the tail of a yak. If not, just imagine it as the head of a very hairy mop thumbtacked to its rump. The ram is dark brownish-grey in colour, while the ewe is bright russet. In fact, a person ignorant of the identification of African antelopes will, by looking at them in isolation, come to the conclusion that they are separate species.

Young Nyala’s, male or female, has the same colouration as the ewe. An interesting fact is that the juvenile males look like females. It is thought that this camouflages the young males and protects them from the jealous eyes of the dominant bulls. The young males are therefore allowed to grow up peacefully under the protection of the herd. The rams get their shaggy coats only with sexual adulthood. Interestingly enough, it has been observed that adult rams sometimes have deviant coloration: sandy to golden yellow and sometimes bright rufous to chestnut similar to the ewe.

The Nyala ram's coat is shorter on its face and the sides of its body. Its colour is mostly dark greyish brown, with the exception of some markings. Just in front of its eyes, at the top of its muzzle, is a neat white chevron. It has a few white spots on its cheeks, chin and neck, and white patches at the base of its ears. Its forehead is rufous to chestnut brown. It also has a white spot on its chest, a few white stripes along its sides, and some more white patches on its hips and thighs. Its lower legs are rufous brown. A prominent feature is the yellowish 'baseball' socks, on the legs.

Males stand on average about 4 feet at the shoulder, and their horns are typically 2 feet long, with a record of 33 inches. The horns are keeled in front and behind, and are spirally twisted along their length. They also have a few transverse ridges along their bottom half. From the forehead they curve outward and backward, and then inward and slightly forward again. The horns are mostly dark in color, but their sharp tips are ivory-colored. Source

I hope you enjoy looking at this photo as much as I took pleasure in taking it.
Aaltjie, rousettus, techranger, iris, gracious, siggi, boreocypriensis, gannu, lousat, robindb, cypturk, Janice, matatur, haraprasan, ramthakur, uleko, spalaxtr, goldyrs, oscarromulus, lovenature, Alex99, jusninasirun, pierrefonds, Mikolaj, kanu has marked this note useful
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Discussions
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To boreocypriensis: Surprised indeedMiss_Piggy 1 09-26 00:59
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Critiques [Translate]

hello Anna,
we are neighbour today. what a nice. Nyala is very beautiful Artiodactyla species. Nice to see it with your great post. Focus, POV/OOF, composition great. Great reflection supplies a richness for composition. So, a nice symetry occurs. Your notes also very nice and informative. Thanks for sharing, best wishes
Ahmet

Hi Anna...

Beautiful capture... I love the lighting and reflection in the water... Very informative notes... TFS.

Larry

This is a nice capture of this attractive antelope. The colors and pose look so natural. I like the reflection too.

TFS

Evelynn : )

  • Great 
  • iris Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 469 W: 60 N: 947] (3016)
  • [2008-09-25 22:01]

Dear Anna,
Symmetry again ..this time the reflection way...
This is a first for me....i 've n'ver come across this wonderful creation. The body of the Nyala looks so much like designer material ...the patterns as if drawn to perfection and white spots like sequins and embellishments.The coat on the skin, the mane on the back and fringe of hair on the belly makes him looks gorgeous ..like a model just stepped out of a show of winter collection..the horns present a curve so carefully sculpted in its contours and shape.Oh ! yes and not to miss the coloured socks on the legs...a majestic creation presented in its most natural setting...

Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful capture with some very informative notes.
Cheers
Silpa

Hello Anna,
Mr.Handsome with a beautiful reflection, just brilliant!
I loved the stripes and dots on the body in this Nyala!
and the image is sharp with good colour and details
many thanks for the notes as well
take care and have a wonderful weekend, Anna!
cheers
tony

Hi Anna
The reflection makes the phot different and special! What a beautiful animal!
Well done!
Peter

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1382 W: 56 N: 4768] (16394)
  • [2008-09-25 23:06]

Very good Anne.
Very nice antelope, good details and nice colours.
Great note.
Very well done.Regards
Siggi

Hi Anna,
What a marvelous shot of this Mr. Handsome in a wonderful posture, superb clarity and composition. Many thanks for sharing this fine image my friend!
Cheers,

Bayram
PS. Today (indeed soon) a surprise would be wait for you and Loot:)

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 4 N: 3262] (14691)
  • [2008-09-26 2:12]

Anna, This is superb composition. Excellently presented and beautifully shot. The reflections on the water and the sorroundings are brilliant. Amazing shot. Ganesh

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1978 W: 6 N: 5527] (19673)
  • [2008-09-26 2:41]

Hi Anna,this is a very artistic way to show this unknown animal! I like a lot the moment to take,the wonderfull reflections on the water,the perfect light,the details and the colors at the top!A really masterwork,my best compliments,thanks a lot to show us this beauty,have a nice day,Luciano

Hi Anna,
Great natural picture. The pose of Nyala, details, colour and reflections are beautiful. Composition perfect.
Regards,

Cypturk

Hi Anna,

Ek stem saam 'n pragtige dier baie goed afgeneem. Fokus en kleur is uitstekend en die herhaaling van die dier in die water is mooi. Dit is 'n skaars dier en hy kan ook redelik gevaarlik wees met daardie horings van hom.

Groete

robin

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3315 W: 148 N: 6113] (18648)
  • [2008-09-26 3:10]

He is a handsome fellow Anna. I do like his colours and patterns too.
And how exciting to be able to go and see it "in the flesh" and with no zoo fences and gates!!
I like how you have left all of his reflection in the water too,
Well done
Janice

A perfect capture of a beautiful bull antelope quenching his thirst at a water hole Anna, a beautiful photo showing its complicated head, flank and leg patterns and colourations in a natural surrounding. Quite good for a textbook presentation, I'm sure.
Mehmet

Hi Anna,
A nice capture of this beautiful Nyala. Very well composed with sharp details. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2405 W: 94 N: 5564] (17694)
  • [2008-09-26 4:41]

Hello Anna,
A very nice composition choice: the Nyala and its total reflection. Very beautiful. Great sharpness and natural colours.
Regards,
Peter

Hello Anna,
I have read names such as Nyala in the fiction of Wilbur Smith (my favourite author about SA) and I am sure I would never be able to see those majestic animals from your part of the world with my own eyes in the remaining years of my life.
Hence it is a great pleasure to see a fine animal like this Nyala through your very beautiful picture.
No doubt it is a handsome animal and you have captured it very well.
Thanks for sharing the image and best regards.
Ram

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2001 W: 226 N: 6845] (24727)
  • [2008-09-26 12:46]

Hi Anna,
great capture of this Nyala.
The patterns on its body are lovely.
Good sharpness.
Superb composition.

Well done,
Joe

Hi Anna..
Woooow...Beautiful post...Great natural picture....I like the pose, colors,Water reflection and composition....Excellent as usual....TFS.
Kind regards,
Leyla.

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3001 W: 162 N: 989] (2897)
  • [2008-09-27 1:00]

Hello Anna,
I love the way you've captured this beautiful Nyala by the waterhole showing it in profile. The markings and colours of its coat are very beautiful. I like the reflection in the water too and the strips of light in the background. A very fine composition!
TFS and best wishes, Ulla

Hi Anna, great capture of splendid Nyala with fantastic reflections, fine details and excellent sharpness, very well done, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • efsus Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 436 W: 10 N: 738] (3210)
  • [2008-09-27 4:25]

Merhaba Anna,
Tam su içme eylemi esnasında bu yakışıklı Antilopu çok nefis görüntülemişsin. Yaptığınız yorumlardan öyle anlaşılıyor ki bu fotoğrafları oldukça detaylı ve dikkatli inceliyorsunuz. Ve oldukça yapıcı, pozitif yüklü yorumlarla insanları teşvik ediyorsunuz.
Aynı zamanda çektiğiniz fotoğraflarda da bu özeni gösterdiğiniz belli. Oldukça güzel karelerle dolu bir koleksiyonunuz olduğunu gördüm.
Elinize sağlık.
Yeni karelerde görüşmek dileği ile...

Hüseyin

Hi Anna,
You are living in a amazing country full of really interesting animals around you. You are really lucky. Very nice capture with reflection. TFS. Regards
Mustafa

I quite agree with you on the handsomeness of this antelope, my dear friend Anna!
Everytime I see your intro page, I keep feeling you should redo it, I learn from you, as do a lot many others, my dear friend..and your beautiful work here only proves that you're a formidable photographer in your own right!
Cheers!
Goldy
PS:I do hope both Loot and you are doing good, I've been very busy with work, Mom's health and such.
Ciao!

Hi Anna,
Very nicely captured.
Reflection of this handsome nyala is a big plus.
Well done!

Ben

Anna,
What a wonderful looking BONGO.
Excellent clarity and focusing.
Love your notes; done with meticulas care.
Greetings from Canada,
Mario.

Hi Anna
Your right, he is very handsome and healthy looking. There are no ribs showing on this guy. The Nyala coat looks like several animals were put together because of the stripesl, spots and colour. A very interesting and unique looking antelope. Well done. Great note Anna.
TFS Janice

Hi Anna
Handsome indeed!! Die refleksie in die water is ongelooflik. Mooi foto Anna
Lekker vakansie hou - sien uit na mooi fotos
Betsie

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3591 W: 143 N: 5691] (18607)
  • [2008-10-05 0:23]

Hi Anna.
Amazing scene and brilliant reproduction as usual for your tremendous pictures. I like wonderful framing a lot. Reflections in the water are so fine as original objects and first of all beautiful animal. You managed to create an impressive 3D-effect. I fell myself near the animal. Lights, shadows, natural colurs are great and transparency of the image and details are surprising. Bravo. Once more breathtaking shot from you which describes rich fauna of your places. My best wishes and compliments.
Alexei.

Hello Anna
Mr Handsome is indeed handsome. You have captured the clarity of the fur and markings on this antelope very nicely. It is indeed a gracious animal. Your photography here is really sharp. If one look at the reflection in the water, one can even see the white markings very well and clear. It is a beautiful animal and although there is a few postings on the site, it always remains a pleasure to look at it. It is a very peaceful scene.
Warmest regards
Aaltjie and Hettie

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1351 W: 0 N: 5494] (16524)
  • [2008-10-25 23:44]

Hi Anna

Very similar to my shot (as you said), but the lighting conditions here are very much better - excellent detail and exposure.

TFS

James

Hi Anna. A real handsome boy captured well in fine lighting. The reflection and the framing are very good. Sharp details and lovely sharpness on the hairy boy. Thanks for the picture and the notes. Well done and have a wonderful week ahead. Regards. Jusni

Hi Anna,

The reflections in the water are assets to the composition. The point of view is showing the details and colors of the Nyala. The picture is clear and sharp. The animal being in the shadow the colors so stand out more. Have a nice day.

Pierre

Hello Anna! Wonderful animal, amazing scene, nice light and bright, very nice colours. Good capture. Well done!

  • Great 
  • kanu (5)
  • [2009-07-17 10:21]

grt frame with sharp subject.

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