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Speedster


Speedster
Photo Information
Copyright: Nico van Gijsen (Nico) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 199 W: 1 N: 335] (1321)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-12-25
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Nikon D70, Nikkor 70-300mm AF-G
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-01-17 8:33
Viewed: 4463
Points: 38
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Reputed to be the fastest antelope in Africa, the Tsessebe (Damaliscus lunatus) is also a rare find in the wild. They occur only in certain regions of Central Africa. This one and his mate I found just outside of the Chobe national park in Botswana on Christmas Day. Either it had a few glasses too many celebrating and was showing off its speed, or it was just a little nervous of predators that I could not see, but it simply would not stand still. It ran up and down the same stretch for about ten minutes and then disappeared into the bush.
Its reputation as a formidable speedster not withstanding they often fall prey to lions who hunt under the cover of darkness.

Tsessebe reach a shoulder height of about 1,3 m and can weigh between 126 Kg (females) and 140 Kg (males. Both sexes carry horns and they usually occur in small herds around areas with water. They are almost exclusively grasers, showing a preference for tall grass.
A single calf is born in early summer and the young animal is almost immediately able to run with the herd. The yearling males are evicted from the female herds when the new young are to be born. (Source: Smithers, R. Land Mammals of Souther Africa).
I believe that the reason for this is because males sometimes kill the young of other males - I have seen this happen amongst their cousins, the Blesbok (Damaliscus dorcas phillipsi).
soccer, petrudamsa, TAZ, wallhalla15, Dave, chiliu, saguzar, hummingbird24, livios, OdetteVN, klemmg, Janice has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Great freezing of the action here. Must have been a fast shutter speed because the light does not look too bright. Excellent capture as it displays good detail. I know how hard it is to freeze action like this! Well Done. Sheriff

  • Great 
  • moemf Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 105 W: 0 N: 160] (703)
  • [2006-01-17 9:23]

Great shot! Baie mooi gevang soos hy wegspring. A real Speedster.

Amazing shot Nico :-)
It must be great to look at anthilopa in her own environment!.

Full action, point sharpness, great colours. I love that green; pitty that, as I found in some previous note of yours, it's only seasonal.

Regards, Petru

Belle prise en mouvement de ce Damalisque
Merci pour le partage

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2006-01-17 11:17]

Wooow ! What a wonderful and interesting action shot that you have well done ! We feel well the speed ! I also appreciate the complementary note... Congratulations Nico and thanks for sharing.

bonjour nico
belles couleurs et belle action.
laurent

  • Great 
  • Dave Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 503 W: 43 N: 657] (2178)
  • [2006-01-17 13:48]

Looks full of energy Nico!
Great shot! And, excellent note!
Thanks,
Dave

  • Great 
  • chiliu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1457 W: 0 N: 1176] (6526)
  • [2006-01-17 15:46]

Hi Nico,
Very nice action shot!
perfect timing capching the perfect running pose,
nice green colour against subject,
good exposure with great detail.
Thanks for sharing!

Hello Nico,
Strong action here. Good details and composition. Good note.
Regards
Hernán

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1538 W: 5 N: 2240] (12636)
  • [2006-01-17 19:42]

Bel prise nature et bonne action du spécimen.

Félicitations et merci Nico!

joseph

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2150 W: 319 N: 4263] (16942)
  • [2006-01-17 20:37]

Nico, excellent contrast, great lighting.

I like "pose" a lot - you captured a great moment.

Great saturation and pov too.

Hi Nico, superb action shot! I like POV/DOF, details and composition very much. Great note too. Thanks for sharing.

Great action shot of this rare tsessebe in take off mode, it is my understanding that this animal is at lower risk but hard to find in the wild. Well done. :)

  • Great 
  • ridfa Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 89 W: 0 N: 376] (4111)
  • [2006-01-18 6:10]

J'aime beaucoup le mouvement de ce Topi et les couleurs de sa robe malgré une lumičre relativement terne.

TFS

Hi Nico,
Excellent photo on this rare find. You have stopped the action very well and frozen him perfectly. Exposure looks great with well saturated olors. Very well done.
Scott

Great action shot. Your timing was great and the details, POV and sharpness are all excellent. Well done.

  • Great 
  • klemmg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 302 W: 40 N: 484] (1719)
  • [2006-01-18 17:13]

Great action shot, good timing and compo!
Gabi

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3277 W: 148 N: 6163] (18832)
  • [2006-01-24 22:41]

Hi Nico, I haven't heard of Tsessebe before, so I find this very interesting.
Great action shot, especially with the dust rising from his back feet. Very well captured, thank you,
Janice

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