The Insecurity Of Youth

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The Insecurity Of Youth
Photo Information
Copyright: Loot Eksteen (loot) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5633 W: 594 N: 3202] (8699)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-10-10
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Cannon EOS 350D, Sigma 170-500mm f/5-6.3 AF APO Ultra DG, Digital ISO 100, UV 86mm Kenko
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/200 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Travelogue: Kruger National Park - 2007
Theme(s): Wild Life, Baby Animals 4, Family Matters 2, A study in Mammalogy, Kruger National Park animals 2, Mammals of Southern Africa II, Wildlife of Africa, Mammals of Africa, RARE or SIGNIFICANT contributions to TN 2, Dedications at TrekNature Part Three, African Rare Antelope 1, 80-89 Points I [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-12-20 10:19
Viewed: 1099
Favorites: 2 [view]
Points: 82
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Mountain reedbuck - Redunca fulvorufula

This is the first ever posting of this species on TrekNature.

Another year has come and fleet footedly gone by. It feels like just the other day when we were celebrating the season of peace, harmony, and happiness and here we are yet again at the end of another year. Although I cannot wrap this gift with fancy paper and a colourful bow, I would like to dedicate this to all of the TrekNature community and their families.

May this Christmas be very special to each and every one of you, wrapped up in love, goodwill, and hope, and the sheer excitement of it all. Just remember that "Jesus is the reason for the season".

When I take a moment and some quiet time to think, about the finest blessing throughout this year, I am privileged to be reminded of my Friends, and appreciate the wonderful gift of knowing you ALL!

It was another cloudy and darkish day with sporadic bursts of rain and we were travelling along the steep and rugged S120 Steilberg Mountain road, in the vicinity of Berg-en-Dal camp. We ran into some people who apparently saw 2 male lions that disappeared into the rocky outcrops. They were frantically peering through their binoculars to try and find the lions, but it seemed as if the cats disappeared like two small needles in a very big hay-stack. We decided to move onward and about 1½km further up the road we found this seldom seen, rare, and most welcome family group. It consisted of 5 animals; this male, two adult female, a juvenile female, and the youngster on the photo. It was the first time ever that I saw mountain reedbuck in the Kruger Park. There are only ±150 of these scarce animals in the park so, I don't have to tell you how excited I was. Lights, camera, action…oops, wrong call, this is not Hollywood, but Anna knew she had to get the camera into my hands at double speed.

After the first couple of frantic shots I tried to calm down and regain some poise so I could be a little more selective in picking my shots and to take some time to quietly sit and observe these animals. Unfortunately this insecure and nervous youngster was not primed to permit me the needed extension of time.

Baby behaviour has a peculiar effect on parents. While it is true that human babies cannot run around to excite their parents they have a different, but even more potent weapon – voluble screaming. If the precious little "bundle of joy" continues to scream for a while mum would become concerned or nervous and it normally doesn't take too long before dad starts to get exceedingly agitated. Now that is a sure recipe for an emotional outburst, but parents don't run away from their crying babes. No, they would rather try their very best to appease junior to mellow out or settle down by rocking, stroking, patting, singing, pulling faces, utter all kinds of bizarre, funny, or meaningless expressions of baby jabber such as; goochie-goochie-goo, baba dada, nana banana, or whatever other weird saying that comes to mind.

This is where humans and many animals differ considerably. When animals gets nervous, frightened, or excited they normally become very unpredictable and easily take to flight. While I was busy capturing some shots of these antelope I became aware how tight strung and unsure the youngster was. He was running to and fro and this rubbed off on the rest of the group. We kept as quiet and as still as possible so as not to disturb the animals at all, but it was clear how the behaviour of this youngster impacted on the other animals. The next moment, without any obvious reason, all 5 mountain reedbuck suddenly skedaddled, each one in its own direction. The amazing thing was the speed at which they took off without breaking a leg. One went across the rocky slope, two went down a cliff (I just hope they managed ok without killing themselves), the male took to the open grassland, and the baby hit a b-line down the road. It was like white lightning and all were gone. Vamoosed as if they never were there.

Some Interesting Facts About The Mountain Reedbuck.
- They are closely related to the common reedbuck, which is a grassland species, but the mountain reedbuck is found on or near mountains or rocky hills.
- They are gregarious, and are normally found in small family parties of three to five individuals, although they are often seen in herds numbering up to a few dozen, sunning themselves on the slopes of mountains.
- Mountain reedbuck are medium-sized antelope, usually with greyish upperparts and pure white underparts.
- They have black glandular patches under the ears, which play a role in scent marking.
- They inhabit the dry, grass-covered, stony slopes of hills and mountains, particularly where there is cover such as bushes or scattered trees.
- They are almost exclusively grazers, and are adapted to digesting a low quality diet of coarse grasses, particularly in the dry, winter months.
- They are dependant upon drinking water.

Fight-Or-Flight Response
- If alarmed, they will bound away with their tails fanned out.
- To escape they run with a rocking horse motion, across the slope, or obliquely downhill.
- If danger threatens, one or more of them will utter a shrill whistle of alarm which sends the herd bolting for safety.

Social Behaviour
- They have their own answer to bad weather: they merely turn their hindquarters to the direction of heavy wind and rain; alternatively, they lie down on a sheltered slope until the bad weather is over.
- The social organisation consists of territorial males, non-territorial males, and herds of females with young and bachelor groups.
- Some males occupy their territory throughout the year, only moving off either when their territory is burned, or to establish contact with other males: they tend to be particularly nervous when they stray outside the limits of their territory.
- Female herds are loose associations, with the females and their young moving from one male territory to another.

Reproduction
- A single calf is born, and is hidden by the mother for two to three months.
- The mother approaches the calf once or twice a day to clean and suckle it; after she leaves the calf moves to a new hiding place to prevent scent marking: this helps protect it from predators.
- The bond between mother and calf is strong, but is broken when she has a new calf: if this new calf dies, the bond may continue for longer.
- When the calves are strong enough to follow their mother, they join the herd. Source

Post Processing was done with Adobe Photoshop CS2.
Debz, haraprasan, marhowie, bobcat08, SelenE, XOTAELE, undoredo, Tamrock, fartash, jmp, jhm, SunToucher, NellyD, Adanac, jaycee, Dyker, TAZ, Alex99, angybone, rcrick, Rehanna, jeanpaul, Miss_Piggy, vanderschelden has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Debz Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 597 W: 0 N: 882] (3281)
  • [2007-12-20 10:37]

Hi Loot, what a lovely dedication and a reminder of what the celebration of Christmas is all about. Here is a charming shot of the Montain Reedbuck, I can't see anyghing wrong with the light as the adult is perfectly lit and exposed. Lovely natural colours and every detail on the adult is clear and sharp. Lovely pov with the calf behind mum.
Wishing you a merry and peaceful Christmas.
tfs
debz
Very interesting note.

  • Great 
  • cako Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 327 W: 0 N: 280] (1619)
  • [2007-12-20 10:39]

Hi Loot
This is very good composition.
Very natural color and sharp details.
well done.

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2072 W: 6 N: 1848] (12716)
  • [2007-12-20 12:04]

Hello friend,
Interesting note, and my best desires of peace and blessings of the heaven, for you and your family...
Beautiful picture and excellent bg.
good focus, color and composition.
Greetings Loot

G'day loot
I love the composition! Beautiful image. Excellent exposure and DOF. Well done!
TFS Paul

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2726 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-12-20 19:59]

Hello Loot

The little one in the back ground is wonderful.
Excellent DOF and POV.
The shot is well composed with sharp focus and details.
The Reedbuck's fur shows well with texture and natural colour.
I love seeing all the different types of deer posted here on TN.
TFS

Rob

Loot
I was hoping you would do a posting before this weekend, as I will not be able to have internet access until the 10th January, next year. We are not going anywhere but my daughter has asked me if I could please stay away from the computer while the house is full of visitors. I’ll respect her wishes.

Congratulations on being the first to post a photo of this Mountain Reedbuck. I have read your interesting notes with intense attentively and found it very educational as usual. It is like always attention grabbing and takes me in my mind’s eye on the journey and adventure with you.Once again your story also confirmed that you and Anna is a team built for one another.

Lovely scene you captured here. The green vegetation is proof of the lovely rains you had in the time you have been in the Kruger Park. Interesting pose of both male and youngster in the far distance. Fascinating how the colours of the fur differs. Grey, brown and white and little black in between. Cute but strong set of horns and I especially love the big black eyes. The ears are up and the buck seems well alerted for danger.
Wishing you and your family a Blessed Christmas and YES I agree, Jesus is the reason for the season. Thanks for all you have done for the Trek Nature community and especially me during this past year. Looking forward to the road I’ll walk with you in 2008.
Thanks for sharing.
Kind regards
Aaltjie

Loot
Dit is wonderlik dat daar nog mense soos jy is wat die "spirit" terugsit in Kersfees - daar is geen beter manier om dit te doen as om die natuur te gebruik nie. Dit doen jy met oorgawe. Baie dankie dat jy ons die hele jaar deur vermaak het met jou mooi fotos en veral die interessante kommentaar - Dit is eintlik ongelooflik selfsugtig van jou om al hierdie mooi dinge met ons almal te deel. Hoop jy het 'n baie lekker kersfees.
Liefdegroete
Btsie

Hi Mr. Loot,
A lovely capture of this reedbuck along with her fawn. Very good composition and good eye contact. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1555 W: 233 N: 5091] (17959)
  • [2007-12-21 1:46]

Hi Loot,
lovely dedication! Thankyou :)
Great shot that is superbly thought out.
The composition is excellent just leaving enough space for the young 'un in the BG.
The DOF is immense and your focusing is perfect.
Nice colours and lighting.
I wish you a very Merry Christmas :)
My best regards,
Joe

Hi Loot,
Excellent background information on how you got this one..a great story, from a great story-teller :)
As difficult as in-the-wild captures can be, you have risin to the occassion most admirably.
And a first on TN no less!
Wishing you a Very Merry Christmas mf,
Howard

Hello Loot,

First of all, thanks for your good blessings and may this Christmas also be very special to you. And let we hope for a another good TFS year.

Back to your photo. What a clarity in this shot from the Montain Reedbuck. It's look 3d. Splendid colours. And the composition is complete so with this youngster on the BG. I find your South-African language very fun to read. It is lovely. Old Dutch. Interesting notes. Regards and TFS BOB

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2337 W: 59 N: 4094] (13345)
  • [2007-12-22 7:00]

Hi Loot,
Pose you captured with the baby in the background looks so cute. Details, composition and POV are very nice. TFS
I wish you a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year :o)
Greetings,
Selen

Magnífica imagen Loot.
Perfectos detalles y genial el efecto que produce el dejar a la cría alejada de la madre, con un intencionado(?)OOF.
Un cordial saludo y mis mejores deseos para tí y los tuyos. ¡¡Felicidades!!
JL.

Hello Loot,
This is a lovely dedication and great celebration of the Christmas for us. Firstly, I want to thank you for the kind and detailed comments on my photo "Happy Christmas". :-)

You've captured very beautiful friends, Mountain reedbuck, with excellent pose. Very nice portrait shot of these reedbucks with excellent details and focusing.
Also, I can see the very nice POV & composition here with fine exposure.
Well presented!! and thanks for the sharing this photo and wonderful your story. :-)
Best wishes,
Kevin
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!!

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1687 W: 20 N: 4738] (15476)
  • [2007-12-23 6:42]

Hi Loot,
Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year to you.
Wonderful shot and a fine illustration of the attentive mother and its young. Great lighting and exposure and the image is tack sharp with natural colours. I like the natural surrounding here and the chosen DOF and POV. Very nicely composed. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

Hi Loot,
that's so wonderful, a beautiful and proud mummy and such a cute baby behind.
You are living at such a good place, you can go outside in nature to find such peaceful and fantasatic moments, to get so close to these animals is amazing.
Thanks for sharing.
I wish you a Merry Christmas, peace and love to you and your family, bye
Sabine - wishnugaruda

hi loot!
many thanks for your comment on
my last post and the very nice words
i wish you the same!
god bless you!
this is a very fine animal and you
show it in a very nice way with good
sharpness and fine exposure,the unsharp
one gives more feeling to the picture
good work!

Thanks a lot for visit my pic and for this great shot,have a nice Christmas too,best whishes,Luciano

Dear Loot
What a wonderful scene you captured,
I like the great composition,DOF and lighting,
Superb shot.

Merry Christmas
Fartash

  • Great 
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1898 W: 94 N: 2375] (8394)
  • [2007-12-24 5:24]

Hi Loot,
Thank you very much for this lovely photo deditated to all of us. Natural colours, perfect exposure, the right DOF to show the young a little blurred, as being a little bit insecure and a well documented and easy to read note make a great post.
I wish you a wonderful Christmas and the best for the new year for you and your family.
José Miguel

  • Great 
  • jhm Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 661 W: 0 N: 176] (620)
  • [2007-12-24 5:38]

Hello best friend Loot,

Many thanks for your execellent note and the lovely Christmas message.
I take a your pictures as a school example how I have to taking a good shot from animals, this is lovely, with great quality and sharpness, also it eye is very important, this is class.
Thanks for sharing.

Merry Christmas, and a lot lovely pictures next year.
John.

Hi Loot,
First thanks for the very kind words you wrote in your latest critique. I am not so good with words as you are, but I do want to take this opportunity to wish you and your family a merry Christmass and a very good new year.
The photo of mother and young is a very beautiful one. I particulary like the chose DOF. The mom in full sharpness, and the young blurred, but still recognizable.
TFS,
Niek

Hi dear Loot ,
Very nice shot as always.
Vivid colours and excellent details.

Thanks for sharing
My best wishes
Saeed

  • Great 
  • wuta Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 879 W: 2 N: 605] (2032)
  • [2007-12-24 7:48]

Hallo Loot
, , daar zijn we weer een keer ,ik heb het de laatste tijd erg druk gehad dus weinig achter de computer , .Dit is weer een hele mooie ,moeder en kind , mooie compositie , Wij wensen U en de Family hele fijne dagen toe en een goed en gezond 2008 .Groeten teunie en jaap .

Hello Loot,
First of all, I would like to thank you for the most useful notes/information regarding this species!
As for the shot, captured well with exposure and focus spot on, in total sharpness, vivid colour and so much details to view and enjoy!
thank you for the sharing
Sincerely wishing you a MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A VERY VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!
May Lord's grace be with you
greeting
Tony

Hi Loot,

That's a very lovely dedication and a beautiful capture of this reedbuck, they look very elegant.
The colours are natural and you've captured this with good light. It's a beautiful image, I like it very much.
Merry christmas and a happy 2008!

Greetings, Nel

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1675 W: 8 N: 4022] (13255)
  • [2007-12-24 12:21]

Hi Loot,

You have expressed such beautiful sentiments in your notes. And fascinating remarks about the Mountain Reedback (a new animal for me). The mother is absolutely beautiful with wonderful details of the face and body. The fur is beautiful. Baby is adorable - great timing to capture its face. The setting and composition are wonderful. And - a very Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Jane

First of all, let me tell you how much I enjoyed reading your note, Loot. Various thoughts, experiences, observations and actions strung together in fluid prose. You surely would make a great writer. BTW, have you written any books?
Coming to the picture of these denizens of the mountains, they strongly remind me of a species found in the hill region in India I come from. Some of their features look quite familiar to me. I remember having seen these animals from close proximity during winters when as a young boy of 15 or 16, I would accompany my father on his official rounds of the high altitude forests he was the custodian of. The animals normally lived in the precipitous rocky cliffs on either side of the
narrow valleys and decended to the forests during winters when it snowed. My father would examine the herds and compare notes about his previous records of them.
Things have changed a lot in the last 4 to 5 decades. I have been told most of the herds are now extinct, thanks to rampant poaching by callous hunters.
Your picture captures the finnicky behaviour of these animals very well. Their posture suggests they are ready to take off any moment.

Finally, thanks a lot for your very warm seasonal greetings.
May God bless you, Anna and all other members of your family with health, peace and prosperity this coming year.
Merry Christmas!
Ram

  • Great 
  • Dyker Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 132 W: 0 N: 53] (142)
  • [2007-12-24 20:03]

Hello Loot
He-he-he. Who want to see lions if you can experience an encounter with such rare animals? You obviously made the right decision to travel onward and not hang around in search of the disappearing lions. If you have done that, it probably would have meant that you never saw these animals. I wonder if the close proximity of the lions perhaps had anything to do with their high strung behaviour. The POV and composition worked excellent and the focus came out nice and sharp. Once again your notes were a pleasure to consume. Yes, consume is the right word, because one cannot just read through it – one has to chomp it (bite by bite) and digest it to get the full wholesome & nourishing value of it.

I can assure you of my great appreciation for your beautiful Christmas & New Years wishes. My hopes and wishes are the same for you and your family. Have a wonderful and healthy year so you don't have to disappear again from time to time.
Greetings
AC

Hello Loot,
Passing by to congratulate you for this wonderful and majestic
portrait. May God bless you and have a wonderful Christmas and
a very happy new year..

Greeting from Arizona.
Everton

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2395 W: 50 N: 3190] (10896)
  • [2007-12-25 23:03]

Hello Loot,
Your superb photo is gift for Christmas ! This species is very nice. I love this natural scene.
In a moment I go to my mountains for 6 days and I hope to meet wild Capra ibex in fresh snow ;-)
In advance, receive my best wishes for the coming year with good health and great photos (as usual) / Meilleurs voeux de bonne annee 2008 mon ami !!!
Friendly,
Christtian

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3082 W: 231 N: 5811] (19540)
  • [2007-12-25 23:34]

What a tender scene, Loot.
Both mama and baby look so vulnerable.
I don't know why, but I find the juxtaposition of their bodies touching,
the way they seem to be covering each other's backs,
and looking out in different directions.
This mountain reedbuck is indeed a very handsome animal.
Congratulations on seeing and capturing such a rare creature.
I am sure Anna was a very apt helper. : )
Thank YOU for sharing your wonderful pictures with us, as well as your thoughtful and constructive critiques.
Hope you are enjoying your houseful of guests.
Wishing you a very happy and healthy 2008!
ManYee

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1266 W: 103 N: 4311] (19463)
  • [2007-12-26 6:38]

Hello Loot, great shot of the young and the adult Reedbucks. Very sharp details, well composed and perfect exposure ! A very good note too ! Thanks for all this,

Mario

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2935 W: 142 N: 4217] (13775)
  • [2007-12-26 11:30]

Hi, dear Loot.
I am impressed with your hearty, stunning and so poetic comments and wishes. Thank you very much and my best wishes in coming New Year and Holiday Time.

Amazing picture of the wonderful animals. Poses of both animals, composition and framing of the picture, crisp sharpness and natural colours are great. Bravo and kind regards.
Alexei.

I love your mother and child photos...there are several in gallery and I'm tempted to create a theme but I'm lazy today. ha ha
A lovely photo!
And thank you for your beautiful Christmas wishes.
I wish you wonderful things for 2008.

  • Great 
  • rcrick Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 557 W: 39 N: 1001] (3266)
  • [2007-12-27 23:44]

Hi Loot,
What a beautiful moment you have captured here, excellent detail well framed, exposure is spot on, all the best Cheers Rick :)

Hello Loot

Ek geniet jou notas net so veel as wat ek jou fotos geniet. Jy het 'n besondere aanslag om 'n storie met jou fotos te vertel en ook om die storielyn met jou notas sodanig in te kleur dat dit heerlike vermaak bied. Hierdie is 'n pragtige uitbeelding met die pappa en kleuter ribbokke. Dit is ietsie wat ek in my klyntyd laas gesien het so dit was 'n aangename verrassing gewees om die foto te vind.

Ek wil ook graag vir jou en jou familie 'n besondere voorspoedige nuwejaar toewens en mag daar nog vele pragtige fotos uit jou lens voortspruit.

Groete
Rehanna

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3339 W: 144 N: 5643] (16725)
  • [2007-12-30 23:33]

I've missed quite a few of your pics Loot - sorry. Hopefully I'll be giving more attention to TN in 2008.
And congrats on the first ever posting of this Mountain reedbuck on TrekNature.
So lovely to see father and babe together - and they are so alert too. They don't trust you at all. And what a great story-teller you are!!! Thank you dear friend.
All the best for 2008
Janice

Bonjour Lott
Bravo pour ce beau cerf et son petit.. Belle couleurs et beaux details très belle scêne de famille.
Je te souhaite beaucoup de bonheur et de joie pour l'année 2008
Merci et a la prochaine.

Dear Loot
This is real eye-catcher. I remember clearly the day we came across this family group of Mountain Reedbuck. It was very exciting to see some other buck than the Impala that we were so used to, and by times it felt like that is all buck we ever saw. Our motions changed like lightning. In a flash we were ready for action. I think both of our eyes nearly popped out of our heads. As you mention in your notes, this is a very scarce buck and here we had the opportunity to come across not only one but a whole family. We had to make the most of the moment before they would disappear.
This is a pretty handsome buck, with its big black eyes and short horns. I appreciate all the lessons you have learned me on how to recognize and to know the different bucks horns from one another. I must admit I tend to make mistakes with this fact every now and again, but luckily you are always there to correct me when I am wrong.
I like the way the little one is blurred out slightly in the background but still give enough detail to see and acknowledge the beauty of this antelope. Every detail in this photo is splendid and correct. Now what else can one expect from a gifted photographer like yourself? Lovely and interesting notes like usual. Thanks for sharing the memory.
Love
Anna

Hello Loot,
This isn't a common species if I'm not mistaken; capturing it with a calf is even more extraordinary. Moreover you achieved an interesting compo.
Well done
TFS
Annick

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