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A youngster feeding...


A youngster feeding...
Photo Information
Copyright: Gerhard Theron (gerhardt) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1976 W: 259 N: 4103] (11585)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-09-22
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6L IS USM, Digital ISO 100, Hoya UV-Guard (77mm)
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/1000 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Baby Animals 3, Family Matters 2 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-01-10 5:17
Viewed: 2621
Favorites: 2 [view]
Points: 84
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Giraffe cow and calve
Giraffa camelopardalus

Giraffe are gregarious (organisms that live in groups), although when together they don't behave like members of the same herd. The only time they are seen in close association is when they are feeding from the same tree. They group loosely and a herd of a dozen feeding giraffe may be spread over an area of a 1 – 2 Km or more. They have large overlapping home ranges, and each collection of individuals has no leader and shows little in the way of co-ordinated movement. This form of sociality is termed a temporary association.

Despite this giraffe females are seldom seen alone, and are usually in sight of other females. Males tend to associate in loose bachelor herds, beginning at puberty at three years. As they mature they become increasingly solitary, dividing their time between feeding and monitoring the reproductive status of the females in their core range. However, male giraffes in herds or alone frequently mingle with females and young. Consequently giraffe herds may contain any combination of sexes, ages and numbers at any time, and the composition will almost certainly change within hours. Variability is basically the only rule. Males establish some form of dominance over each other, and dominance carries with it the right to mate. This is established by a form of fighting. Here the males stand shoulder to shoulder, or head to tail, and aim hefty blows at one another with their heads. This usually results in a series of clashing of their necks. Injuries are few, but a few giraffe necks have been broken. There are several records of giraffe with distinct neck kinks, probably due to a previous broken vertebra.

Once a male finds a female in oestrus (receptive to mating), he follows her around and chases off all other males. After a gestation of 457 days or little over 15 months a single calf is born, which may weigh up to 60 kg [130lbs.]. Giraffes give birth standing up, and the calf falls almost two metres [6 ft], snapping the umbilical cord in the process. They stand nearly two metres [6.6 ft] tall, which is necessary for them to be able to reach their mothers udder. Mother and calf stay together alone for a few days, and then all new calves in the area are brought together. One or two adults supervise this nursery herd while the others go off to feed. They suckle their young twice a day and stay with them at night. They are weaned at 18 months. Males are fully grown at seven and females at five years old.
Active, Janice, red45, thistle, metcher, scottevers7, soccer, TAZ, hummingbird24, rkyobo, Fisher, marhowie, Runnerduck, Nico, Signal-Womb, OdetteVN, Robbrown, Athila, PDP, dew77, rozaanbeukes, Lourens, Robespierre, livios, Toni, Luc, ellis49, valy67, liziafa has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Evelynn: Thanx for the kind words...gerhardt 3 01-24 03:33
To Athila: Very perceptive...gerhardt 1 01-10 17:27
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Critiques [Translate]

She is so tall ... like I am :))) hehehe
ok, no more joke! Fantastic photo! Good light and POV, as usual master shot. This small/ baby giraffe is so cute:)
lovely :)
TFS :-)
Barbara

Beautiful shot. Great colours and lighting. Very good capture of a very cute moment

TFS

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3315 W: 148 N: 6113] (18648)
  • [2006-01-10 5:37]

Mama is soooo big, especially with her little one feeding. Superb photo, it is a scene I've not seen before, so thank you Gerhard. Very well done,
Janice

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2705 W: 74 N: 8864] (30243)
  • [2006-01-10 5:38]

Touching scene Gerhard. I like moment and composition of this picture. Hills on BG looks supebr, main subjects also. Warm, african colours and light complete this great picture. With interesting note this is superb post.

You remember my "image of Africa"? This is it.
The reds, browns and yellows, warm light, special mood, such plants, animals and landscapes. When I think about Africa, there is always a picture of that kind in my mind.
This one is lovely. Perfectly framed with great lighting and details.
I like it a lot!
VERY WELL DONE!

  • Great 
  • Dando Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 637 W: 32 N: 792] (3084)
  • [2006-01-10 6:27]

Great composition, love the colours and lighting and the perspective of the hills in the background really gives the giraffe height. Well done and TFS.
Dean.

This is a real African photo. That's what a lot of people are seeking in Africa. Interesting animal composition on foreground and very well supporting African panorama on background. Very nice light and gentle episode makes it perfect.

Hi Gerhard,
The quality of light here is very beautiful. Very warm colors in this excellent shot. Very high quality detail and clarity in this shot. Great DOF showing vegetation and surrounding landscape. A sight I will witness in person some day!
Scott

Thanks for sharing such a beautiful photo (composition, sharpness, colours and lighting). I will probably never witness in my lifetime such a natural moment of a baby and mom giraffes in their own habitat.

--Anna Liza

You caught a great moment, Gerhard. You must be very proud of this photo not only because of the great techs, but also because of how its conveyed...the essence of African wildlife. The golden lighting is beautiful....this is superb work, Gerhard...

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2006-01-10 7:47]

Wooooow ! What a wonderful and interesting photo that you have very well done ! It is a tender moment in wild life. Good sharpness and warm colors. Congratulations Gerhard and thanks for sharing.

Good use of light, Nice Composition and the BG gives a very vast feeling to the scene. Very Well Done. Sheriff

Great work Gerhard! I love the warm colors, and the lighting is just beautiful! Your notes are superb as well. I love when I can learn from reading what someone writes about a photo...thanks for sharing!

Hello Gerhard!

What a tender and beautiful moment you have captured here.

Everything is perfect to my eye, and I thank you for the incredible vantage point, photo and wonderful note.

Excellent job!

Hi Gerhard,

Beautiful, warm, gentle, peaceful. Excellent capture and well done on the composition.

Mike

Hi Gerhard,
Superb capture!
Excellent lighting and very nice background,
sharp detail and great colour,
Very well done and TFS!

Wonderful capture Gerhard. A fantastic composition..Sharp detail, warm color & great DOF. The view of the distant landscape combines with the action of mother & child to make this really something special in my book.. Very well done my friend!

A beautiful image, and the colours are amazing, incredibly warm.
Excellent pov. A stunning composition.
Thanks for posting.

Beautiful natural shot Gerhard. Excellent details and sharpness. Great colours, POV and composition. Fantastic work! Well done, thanks for posting.

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1575 W: 5 N: 2181] (12252)
  • [2006-01-10 12:42]

Très bonne photo Gerhart!

L'exposition est parfaite et les détails excellents.

Merci.
Joseph.

Hello Gerhard, excellent capture of this touching scene. Great detail, composition and the background is great bonus with depth. Great note as always. Very nice post, well done.

Wow this is so cute. The details, POV, BG and sharpness is excellent. The lighting is also perfect. Well done.

A very good moment to capture Gerhard, the late afternoon light does it loads of favours with the soft light. and superb note as well. deserving of every point it is getting and that seems to be a lot well done and TFS yours Robert

This is absolutely fabulous Gerhard, I like everything about this image, Giraffes,Gerenuks and Okapis are my favorite of the artiodactlys. Awesome shot! :)

Hi Gerhart!

Very nice picture showing what really happens in animal's life. Focus and exposre are excellent, POV is good. Was the light that warm? To me it looks to warm, but light in Africa could be that warm. My first reaction was to cool it down, but dry atmosphere over there could create such color.
Excellent picutre and TFS.

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2006-01-10 16:24]

Hi Gerhard, lovely shot! You done excellently to get this moment. I love it :-) I wish I had seen it earlier...I don't think you showed me this one.

Very well done.

  • Great 
  • klemmg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 302 W: 40 N: 484] (1719)
  • [2006-01-10 18:03]

What a capture, very nice scene. The warm light suits it perfectly. Compo-wise the head on that long neck is nicely balanced by the scene ocurring at the other end. The lonely flowering bit of brush provides some incentive to look down and then toward the little one. I like the lines of the crests of hills in the BG repeating the line of the back, and the line of the little one going diagonal the other way round.
Regards,
Gabi

Hi Gerhard,
Very little time tonight. Well worth a big green smile.
Thanks for posting

Hello Gerhard

What a beautiful moment you have captured. It is clearly seen that while the calf is feeding, Mum is keeping a very tall watchful eye on her surroundings. A magnificent shot with lovely warm colours to set the mood. Oh, how I love these 'tall blondes'! Thanks for this wonderful post.

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2006-01-11 4:25]

Hello Gerhard!
Magnificent scane.POV,colors,lighting,moment you caught and composition are excellent.TFS...:-)

Captivating Shot. The Giraffe is such a gracious animal and the picture brings it to light. Well done on the POV it makes it more adorable.

You deservedly have a lot of fans! What a wonderful capture. Was the light really that yellow or did you adjust it? It looks like it is bathed in a yellow wash. Most seem to really like it ...so just for fun I wanted to see how it would look without so much of a yellow cast. Check workshop. I like it too. Great shot.

Very nice and very rare moment you have captured here, Gerhard. Great interaction.

Hi Gerhard,
A very nice and warm photo from your hand. Nicely cropped, with fresh natural colours.
Very well done!
Thx and regards, Ruud

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3067 W: 231 N: 6165] (21068)
  • [2006-01-11 18:24]

An awesome capture, Gerhard. Good to see you. Happy New Year. This shot is so tender, and the colors are so warm and wonderful. I really like it very much. TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • Nico Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 209 W: 1 N: 332] (1313)
  • [2006-01-12 9:29]

Great shot Gerhardt. Ek sien ma hou jou mooi dop. Het nie meer smileys nie. Hier is nou een.

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2156 W: 322 N: 4258] (16906)
  • [2006-01-12 11:29]

Gerhard, a great moment, a great photo.

The mother is checking us; the youngster seems not to care at all.

Excellent sharpness and composition.

  • Great 
  • Toni Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 403 W: 2 N: 316] (2034)
  • [2006-01-14 14:26]

Hi Gerhard
What a wonderful capture with the baby feeding and the look of the protective mother. The light is stunning and gives warmth to the scene. Well framed.
Regards Toni

  • Great 
  • ridfa Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 89 W: 0 N: 376] (4111)
  • [2006-01-18 6:15]

Magnifique vision Africaine. Photo pour moi très originale.

TFS

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1873 W: 304 N: 4300] (14729)
  • [2006-01-19 20:32]

Excellent.
Thank you, Gerhard.
Sorry, I have no time these days to write complete comments.

Hi Gerhard, I don't now how but I have missed this.
This is Africa for me, a great view with a beautiful animal in the FG. This I could hang on my wall.
The colours are abit warm, maybe another WB settings.
The compostion and POV are great. Very good details and DOF,
Excellent work, my friend.

Hi Gerhard,
Beautiful, charming photo.
Very good framing and colors.
Very well done.
TFS Malgosia

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