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The Last Straw


The Last Straw
Photo Information
Copyright: Loot Eksteen (loot) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5747 W: 606 N: 3503] (9405)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-01-02
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/5.6, 1/160 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Mammals of Southern Africa, Animal Portraits II, A study in Mammalogy, Mammals of Africa [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-02-20 22:10
Viewed: 1711
Favorites: 2 [view]
Points: 22
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Plains Zebra – Equus burchellii

This photo was taken at the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park. Zebras make for good portrait shots and this specimen certainly was no exception. This straw in its mouth reminded me about the habbit some people have of thoughtfully chewing on a tooth pick or a match stick. Since it actually was my last photo of the day I called it the "Last straw".

It was late afternoon on another overcast day.

Description
Males and females are similar in appearance. Burchell's zebras can be distinguished from mountain zebras by the possession of "shadow stripes" on the back and hindquarters, and the absence of a dewlap. No two zebras have identical striping patterns, which makes individual identification convenient for researchers.

Geographic Range
Africa; Ethiopia in the north to South Africa in the south, and extending west as far as Angola.

Status
They are generally found only in protected areas such as preserves and parks.

Habitat
Mainly in open, short-grass savanna, but they can tolerate tall grass and sparsely wooded conditions.

Behaviour
Zebras are social. They live in small family groups made up of a stallion and one to several mares and their foals. There is a dominance hierarchy among the females. Bachelor stallions may live singly or in non-familial groups. Group size varies with the quality of the local habitat. Breeding males do not allow other males to mate with the mares, and they defend their family group from predators by biting and kicking. Zebras have been known to kill hyenas with a single kick.

Food
Zebras are grazers, eating over 50 different species of grasses. They also occasionally browse, taking herbs, leaves, and twigs. The plants are ground between their powerful jaws, which move side to side as well as back to front.

Reproduction
A stallion determines a female's estral status by sniffing her urine. Gestation requires about 370 days. A single foal, weighing about 30 kg, is produced. If the female is in good condition she may become pregnant again almost immediately, during what is called the "foal heat." Otherwise the interbirth interval is two years. Foals can be born at any time throughout the year, but there is definitely a peak in birth rate early in the rainy season, in December and January. Newborns are able to stand on their own within 15 minutes of birth, and they begin suckling within an hour. A mother keeps all group members, including her previous offspring, away from herself and the foal for several days, but after this time social contact between the foal and the other zebras may begin. Predation by lions and spotted hyaenas results in a high juvenile mortality rate despite the fact that a mother will actively defend her young. Source.

Camera settings
ISO setting – 400
Aperture – f/5.6
Shutter speed – 1/160
Focal length = 170mm

Post Processing was done with Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0.
Hoos, hummingbird24, ellis49, SkyF, thistle, Dyker, Miss_Piggy, Aaltjie, Rehanna has marked this note useful
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To hummingbird24: Weary zebraloot 1 02-22 07:55
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3100 W: 234 N: 5929] (20008)
  • [2006-02-20 23:13]

Wow, Loot, A beautiful zebra portrait.
The details are so sharp, and the color contrast is stunning,
Well done and TFS, : )

  • Great 
  • Hoos Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 19 W: 0 N: 20] (111)
  • [2006-02-21 0:27]

Nice portrait, the zebra look great, you still surprising me with that kind of exc photos!! nice work! congratulations

Hello Loot,

An excellent portrait of this fine creature,

Details are sharp, colors, POV and exposure are right on the mark.

Great job, thank you for sharing it with us!

Is it my imagination, or does he seem weary also?

Hi Loot,
This is a very nice portrait!
Very sharp image, and the details are very clear,
excellent colours and good contrasting.
Thanks for sharing!

Hi Loot

Sorry, in a bit of a rush today. No time for a proper critique, but well worth the big green :-) TFS.

HI Loot,
this is a very nice portrait with good sharpness and details.
Maybe a little to tight to left but thats a minor nit. Good POV and DOF. The colours and contrast are also good.
Very well done.

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2390 W: 194 N: 1991] (8113)
  • [2006-02-23 12:38]

Hi Loot,
Nice sharp image, the details are very great.
Excellent colors and gcontrasts. The great crop makes a very nice composition.
Sky

I think this is a very good shot Loot!
POV is quite simple but works really well. I like the framing too, but maybe it would be good to have a little bit more space from the bottom. I think the lighting is great here. The details are well visible on the dark and bright parts of the skin. The B&W main subject looks lovely on vivid green BG.
Overall, it's a really nice picture.
I like it!

My friend Loot
This is such a beautifully created animal, and you have managed to photograph it so well. The details of the stripes are shown so well and with perfection. I personnally think the zebra makes an ideal model, and this one of yours looks as if it had no problem with you and your camera taking pictures of it. This is an amazing portrait, Loot, so perfectly focused that I can almost feel the texture of his skin. It is just a shame that the point rating is so low. I sometimes wonder if some of these members really know how to judge and critique a good photo. I think this one is outstanding, as all your others. Thanks for the usual informative note.
Kind regards
Aaltjie

Hello Loot

Ek het 'n groot voorliefde vir hierdie ou pajamadonkies. Hierdie portret is absoluut wonderlik vanaf die titel en die werklike strooitjie in die bek tot die ultra skerp uitbeelding van die pragtige kwagga. Dit lyk of die ou in 'n diepe bepeinsing staan. Ek wonder waaroor dit nogal kan gaan. Dalk die hoë weteloosheid in die land of iets van diepgaande aard, wie weet (sal ek nou maak soos jy altyd maak en 'n giggel hier in bring?) In elk geval, nogeens 'n puik stukkie kamera werk en dankie vir die interessante notas.

Groete
Rehannna

Hallo Loot
This is an amazing photograph, perfectly focused and I am sure if I use my imagination I am sure I will be able to feel the texture of his skin. This is such a beautifully created animal, and you have managed to photograph it so well. The details of the different layers of stripes are displayed with clarity and preciseness. I personnally think the zebra makes an ideal model, and this one is no exception as it does not seem to be bothered with you or your camera taking pictures of it. It is just a shame that the point rating is so low. I think this one is outstanding, as all your others, and it is a pity that it was passed by and that it deserve more points than was given up to date. Thanks for the usual informative note.
Love
Anna

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