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Ulundi Gate Impala


Ulundi Gate Impala
Photo Information
Copyright: Loot Eksteen (loot) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5747 W: 606 N: 3501] (9397)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-01-14
Categories: Mammals, Savannah
Camera: Cannon EOS 350D, Sigma 170-500mm f/5-6.3 AF APO Ultra DG, Digital ISO 400, UV 86mm Kenko
Exposure: f/8, 1/250 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Mammals of Southern Africa, Animal Portraits II, !Horns; big, long or otherwise, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park animals 1, A study in Mammalogy, Mammals of Africa [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-01-28 16:21
Viewed: 1611
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 40
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Impala – Aepyceros melampus

Taken at the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park this impala seemed to be mesmerised by a strange creature hanging from a vehicle with a funny black piece of equipment going click, click. He completely froze, and then stared at me for about 5 minutes not making a move at all. Sometimes they can stare at you like this for extended periods of time, and then suddenly loose interest and nothing will make them look up again. No matter how hard you try. You can whistle, you can cough, or even call out. Probably the only thing that will draw its attention is the sound of a roaring lion.

It was late afternoon with the sun setting low on the horizon.

Description
Medium sized and lightly built, with the reddish-fawn upperparts becoming paler on the sides; the chest, belly, throat and chin are white. The tail is white with a central black line on the upper surface, and each buttock has a vertical black blaze. A diagnostic characteristic is the tuft of black hair on the lower rear-edge of the hind leg, as this is not shared with any other antelope. Ears are large, black-tipped and lined with white hair. Only the rams carry the long graceful lyrate horns that are deeply ringed for most of their length.

Distribution
Has a wide distribution in the north-east of southern Africa, extending through Central Africa into East Africa, reaching its northern-most limits in central Kenya. An isolated western population, the black-faced, is located in north-western Namibia and marginally into south-western Angola.

Status
Generally abundant, at least 500 000 animals occur in East Africa and probably an equivalent number elsewhere. The black-faced race probably numbers fewer than 3 000, but is secure for the present, being conserved in the Etosha National Park, Namibia.

Habitat
Open or light savanna woodland, avoiding open grassland unless scattered bush cover is available. Access to drinking water is essential.

Behaviour
Rams are very vocal during the rut, and give vent to a repertoire of growls, roars and snorts, and are only territorial at this time. The rest of the year they spent in bachelor herds. The home range of a breeding herd, of ewes, may overlap with the territories of several territorial rams. Rams separate out harem herds of 15-20 ewes for mating. Bachelor herds tend to occupy those areas away from the breeding herds. Although they are mainly active during the cooler daylight hours, there is usually some nocturnal activity.

Food
Mixed feeders, with considerable variation apparent, depending on the area and season.

Reproduction
A single lamb, weighing about 5kg, is born at the beginning of the rainy season after a gestation period of 196 days.

Source: "Field guide to the larger Mammals of Africa", by Chris & Tilde Stuart, Struik Publishers.

Camera settings
ISO setting – 400
Aperture – f/8
Shutter speed – 1/250
Focal length - 500 mm

Post Processing was done with ArcSoft Photo Studio 5.5.
thistle, Janice, ellis49, bartove, gelor, gerhardt, eleana, annagrace, Dyker, saeedabbasi, Miss_Piggy, Rehanna, betsie has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To saeedabbasi: Thanks for the honourloot 2 01-26 05:47
To Shoot_Score: Battlescarloot 1 01-10 15:51
To JaapKruger: Sekelbosloot 1 11-12 05:19
To thistle: Colour saturationloot 1 02-06 02:41
To gerhardt: Pointers on nice venues to visitloot 2 02-01 04:38
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • chiliu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1552 W: 0 N: 1169] (6448)
  • [2006-01-28 16:24]

Excellent shot on this portrait with good lighting and great POV,
the colours and details also are very nice.
Thanks for sharing!

  • Great 
  • mrcrow Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 458 W: 123 N: 197] (2996)
  • [2006-01-28 16:34]

you hit the bullseye there...that is the type of shot i need to get...i always cut the horns off...
by mistake
good gear as well...sharp subject and well blown out bg

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3100 W: 234 N: 5929] (20006)
  • [2006-01-28 16:54]

What a proud impala, Loot. A magnificent specimen. The details and light are spot on. Great job and TFS. : )

Hi Loot
Excellent shot. A magnificent specimen.
Good colors and details, great POV.
Welcome to TN. Here you will meet a great bunch of people
Good note
Thank You
JC

Very nice shot!
I like the POV and the pose of the impala a lot. Picture is nicely framed and has very clear BG that makes the animal stand out nicely. I just think the colours are slightly oversaturated.
Anyway, I like it very much.
VERY WELL DONE!

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3464 W: 145 N: 5942] (17790)
  • [2006-01-28 18:14]

So this is an Impala - you are very lucky to be living so close to the game reserve Loot, and can take so many wonderful natural photos of the animals. We can only go to zoos to see them so it is great to see your photos.
Great catch of this Impala, he is so sharp and clear. TFS,
Janice

Hi Loot,
this is a very good picture wiht great POV.
Well done with the composition. Nice light and colours.
The details are also good. And a great and informative note.
Very well done.

Wonderful photo, composition and technically wise! Thanks for sharing - Xplorator Radu

Wonderful photo, composition and light. Thanks for sharing.
Eyal

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1674 W: 5 N: 2130] (11894)
  • [2006-01-29 22:32]

L'éclairage est parfait et les détails sont excellents.

Félicitations et merci Loot!


joseph

  • Great 
  • gelor Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 128 W: 3 N: 12] (517)
  • [2006-01-30 6:12]

Excellent portrait de cet impala avec des détails superbes ! Beau travail. merci pour le partage. Gérard

A belated welcome to TN, Loot.

I promised myself this year I am going to take my vacation in the area you frequent. I have distant relatives in Kwambonambi. It's been years since I visited that part of the country. Maybe you can give me some pointers on nice venues to visit?

Technically the photo is good. Nice pose and compo. The light a bit harsh but not distracting. Well done.

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2385 W: 50 N: 3186] (10922)
  • [2006-03-06 7:15]

This portrait is realy superb , a great quality shot ! I also appreciate the big instructive complementary note... Congratulations Loot and thanks for sharing.

Hello Loot,
great capture, nice colours and pose, thank you!
Best wishes,
Elena

Fabulous portrait. You were so lucky to be this close for five minutes. I really like the detail on the horns/antlers, the right one is frayed as though he has been rubbing it on something. Well done, Loot!

Alli

Beautifull shot Loot. This is a mature ram in his prime (The tips of their horns point inward when young, and only open up when they are mature), seems like he has been digging roots with the mud on his horns.
Is the tree in the back a "Sekelbos" or a "Soetdoring"?

WOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW! What a proud pose!
What a shot! Even a battlescar on one horn. Outstanding!

I'm going GREEN!!!!!!!!!!! For a mean greenie ;)

Hi my dear friend Loot ,
excellent shot as alwyas.
all of things are great and wonderful: colors , sharpness , light , composition and all ..
i can not write nice about your beutiful images like you , just i can say all of your shots are splendid , superb and perfect.

thanks for sharing
best wishes
Saeed

Hi Loot - It is amazing how you captured the "polished" horns of this Impala. I would have liked to see the full body - they are such beautiful animals - well done Loot

Hello Loot

Hierdie is een van jou vroëre bydraes en ek dink ek kan duidelik sien die vordering wat jy gemaak het vanaf toe tot vandag. Nie net in jou fotografie en waarskynlik jou kenis van jou kamera nie, maar ook (en vermoedelik die meeste hier) die post proseseering. Dit is waar ek nog heeltemal die bus verpas. Alhoewel ek sien jy het op hierdie stadium 'n ander sagteware program gebruik as wat jy deesdae gebruik.

In elk geval, hierdie rooibok is pragtig. Die feit dat hy sywaarts na jou gekyk het vir 'n pragige portret gee addisionele waarde vir my. Hy is duidelik ten volle paraat soos daardie groot oë en wyd gesperde neusgate en ore duidelik wys. Nog 'n puik stukkie werk.

Groete
Rehanna

Hallo Loot
What a marvellous shot. This is really a great portrait of this impala with lots of detail to appreciate. Great detailed composition, with the pose just right to highlight the details. The clarity on the big fluffed ears, the big round eyes with the most beautiful eyelashes and the fine hair under the cheek is just great. This animal surely has a set of lovely and beautifully shaped horns, and I do like the curl in them. The perfect set of horns to use as a shofar, and it looks as if it has been carved. A genuine elegant animal. This buck was posing just for you and looks you straight in the eye. Thanks for sharing.
Love.
Anna

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