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Buffalo (frame 1)


Buffalo (frame 1)
Photo Information
Copyright: Ingrid Shaul (ingridshaul) Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 40 W: 5 N: 103] (285)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-05
Categories: Mammals
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2009-10-07 6:12
Viewed: 321
Points: 8
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Here is a photo, where it was difficult to decide, whether to post it on TrekNature: it is really interesting and informative - but not great from the photographic point...

In May this year, we stayed near Komatipoort - in a flat - at the Crocodile River, which forms there the southern border of Kruger Park.

One very early morning – dawn was just breaking – I saw on the sandbank in the Crocodile River two dark shapes. They turned out to be two Buffaloes, resting. To my amazement, one of them was lying on its side, all four legs stretched out – like a dog.

Nearest to me was the video camera on a tripod... I have "grabbed" three frames from the video. (the other two I uploaded to the workshop: frame 2 the second Buffalo in "normal" pose, frame 3 both Buffaloes together.)


I emailed them to knowledgeable acquaintances, who also thought of Buffaloes as resting like cows:

"Those are interesting pics. Off hand I can not remember seeing a buffalo lying on its side but as they are usually lying in water or reeds it would be an unlikely position. To lie like that on a sand bank they must have been happy that there were no lions around."

I am very interested to hear/read your comments.

PS: I only increased the contrast by one stop - everything else is unedited. I consider the bad light and everything grayish - symptomatic for the situation.

Tom Conzemius (pirate)suggested, that I add further notes:
At first, I thought, he was dead, because for quite a while he was absolutely still; only when some oxpeckers appeared - and one nearly crawled into the buffalo's ear - did he twitch that ear...

I watched him for some 10 minutes and - when eventually I was too cold outside on the terrace and opened the sliding door - did he roll over into the same "cow like" position as the other animal.

I do not know exactly, how long he remained in the "cow position". However, this sandbank was below our terace - and when we had breakfat in daylight outside - they were both gone...
pirate, ferranjlloret has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To vanderschelden: Sandbanks in the Crocodile Riveringridshaul 1 10-11 02:55
To oanaotilia: sleeping Buffaloingridshaul 1 10-08 09:05
To ferranjlloret: Buffaloingridshaul 1 10-08 03:04
To pirate: Buffaloingridshaul 3 10-07 09:02
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Ingrid
strange indeed, never seen this, maybe he was using the sand to get rid of some skin parasites, but obviously a dangerous behaviour.
As to picture I agree that it is more a nature document (which is welcome here ;-) rather than a perfect photo. I also agree that you should not play too much on the post-treatment, the very early morning atmosphere should remain, even if it's looking dark
tfs
tom

Hallo Ingrid,
Amazing pic-landscape of this fuffalo, the most dangerous animal
TFS Ferran

Hy Ingrid
My firs reaction was: is not dead? Because i think that is the characteristic pozition when animals are...dead. But reading your notes, I find it interesting. So, TFS!
Oana

Hello Ingrid,
Guess playing dead is a bad idea here:-)
How were the light(weather)conditions in Kruger(May)?
TFS
Annick

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