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One Big Baby


One Big Baby
Photo Information
Copyright: Alan Turvey (liquidsunshine) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1878 W: 112 N: 1560] (5437)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-06-22
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon EOS 300 D, Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 EX APO RF, Hoya skylight (1B)
Exposure: f/8, 1/200 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Giraffas, Baby Animals 2 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-08-03 3:18
Viewed: 3772
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 51
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I've decided to post some images from earlier in the year.
This baby Giraffe lives at Whipsnade wild animal park.

SOCIAL/MATING SYSTEM
The giraffe is nonterritorial and sociable, living in loose, open herds. At a given moment a giraffe may be in a herd composed of all males, all females, females and young, or of both sexes and all ages or all alone if it is a mature bull or a cow guarding a new calf. There are no leaders and minimum coordination of herd movements. The fluid nature of giraffe society reflects the need to spend most of its time feeding and to move independently between variably spaced trees, and size that makes it unnecessary to bunch together for mutual security. Also height and excellent eyesight enable giraffes to maintain visual contact at long distances a dozen may be dispersed over 1/2 mi (0.8 km) of savanna and still be in a herd. In fact giraffes rarely cluster together unless they happen to be attracted to the same tree, nervous over the presence of lions, or aggregated in the open.

REPRODUCTION
Year round, with rainy season conception peak. First pregnant in fourth year, gestation 14 to 14.5 months; minimum interval hetween calves c. 16 months. Males begin competing for matings at 7 years hut continue growing, giving seniors a decided weight and height advantage. Male's head also gains weight with age, through bone deposition the process that creates the extra knobs on an old bull's head enabling a bull to deliver ever heavier blows during contests. Combat is rare, though, as bulls from the same area all know their place in a rank hierarchy established through daily contests while maturing in bachelor herds. By the time a female in estrus is ready to mate, the local alpha male has usually supplanted all lesser rivals without ever coming to blows.

OFFSPRING AND MATERNAL CARE
If we assume Serengeti giraffes are typical, a cow returns to the same location each time she calves The first week or so a calf lies out half the day and most of the night, carefully guarded by its mother, which usually stays within 11 to 25 yd of her offspring for the first 2 weeks, although mothers may stay over 100 yd from a hidden calf and even leave it alone to go to water. The increased security of a maternity group guarding calves in a creche allows a mother to go further and stay away longer. But calves are rarely left totally unattended; absent mothers usually return before dark to suckle their offspring and stay with them overnight. Although giraffes are weaned as yearlings and nutritionally independent at 16 months, the maternal bond lasts up to 22 months.

Notes from www.nature-wildlife.com

Thanks for looking
red45, TAZ, dew77, halki, coasties, Fisher, marhowie, AndyB, carper, Signal-Womb, hummingbird24, thistle, Luc, Janice, luvsdogs3 has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

He is gorgeous Alan. Love the colours. The frame might be a bit wide for the photo. it kinda takes over. you see the frame first, and the baby. anyway, that is what i think.

Elize

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2636 W: 74 N: 9091] (31094)
  • [2005-08-03 4:11]

Hi Alan!
Looks rather cute ;-) I like its pose and face, BG is also good. Maybe shadow on its eye isn't best but overall it is good picture. You made very suitable frame to it.

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3089 W: 230 N: 6774] (23770)
  • [2005-08-03 4:35]

Hi Alan. What a sweet baby giraffe. He just has the cutest expression. I love the sharp details of the hair on his neck. The colors are beautiful. Well done and TFS. : )
I agree with Elize about the thickness of the frame. Too much for this fragile little creature. : )

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4432 W: 248 N: 4028] (13270)
  • [2005-08-03 4:36]

Hello Alan!
Very nice portrait and informative note.I liked DOF,BG,clear details,POV and composition a lot.I think it would be better if she looked into the camera and didn't like the thick frame;)But it's worth is really 2 points on my opinion.TFS...:-)

Hello Alan!
Wonderful portrait.3D effect,details,sharpness,BG and composition are perfect.Shadow on eye is a little disturbing.Very well done!Thanks for sharing.

  • Great 
  • halki Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 242 W: 9 N: 105] (471)
  • [2005-08-03 5:46]

Hello Alan!
Very nice portrait and I liked it very much.Thanks for posting.

Hello Alan

Did you know the the Giraffe is my favourite wild animal? Thank you for posting this beautiful babe. The POV is fantastic showing excellent close details. The texture of the coat is so clear I could almost run my had down his neck and run the hair through my fingers. Awesome work. Thanks!!

Hey Alan,

Great shot of this baby. I love the detail that can be seen in this shot. Good DOF, and very well framed. Thanks

Hi Alan,
A beautiful portrait. Excellent lighting and details and well composed.
Excellent work.

Mike

This has excellent sharpness, clear details and great DOF. The OOF BG compliments nicely with the green and bit of blue sky above..Well composed, Great work Alan!

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1366 W: 32 N: 1351] (3982)
  • [2005-08-03 9:17]

Hello Alan,
A great capture.
Very colourful and detailed,excellent DOF.
Its just a little dark around the eye,it looks like he just turned away from the light or maybe its a shadow from its ear.
Its only a very minor thing,its a beautiful shot.
Well done.

TFS

  • Great 
  • carper Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1973 W: 119 N: 2582] (8439)
  • [2005-08-03 12:17]

it's a nice one Alan,
I ike the head, the variuos light, the good details the pov and the nice dof, very good job,
gr. Jaap

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2150 W: 319 N: 4263] (16942)
  • [2005-08-03 13:47]

Alan, I've never seen one of them.

I do enjoy this picture.

Great pov, dof, sharpness, colors and blurred bg.

I like the blurred bg showing a piece of the sky.

Congratulations.

A gorgeous image of a sweet baby giraffe Alan! I love your POV and agree with Elize that the frame might be a touch wide for such a fine looking baby. Poor giraffe mothers, being pregnant for 14 months, and I thought 9 was hell!

Take care and thanks so much for the nice birthday card! ;-)

Alli

  • Good 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1455 W: 74 N: 1426] (4750)
  • [2005-08-03 15:44]

Hello Alan,

*POV:5

*DOF:5, subject is very clear and the BG is nicely oof and blurred.

*Composition:4, just enough space on the left.

*Details:4, quite a few details in this picture although I can hardly make out the eyelashes.

*Exposure:5, perfect.

*Colors:5, nice and vivid.

*Note:5, a lot of information and the source is mentioned.

Scale 1-5, 5 is the best.

I like this picture a lot and I gave it a lot of 5's. Still I will give 'only' 1 point. I was in doubt though! My reason for the 1 pointer? I think the eye is too dark and it doesn't seem very alive. As the eye is the very important imo, I decided to award 1 point. I do like the large frame though. I can understand where the others are coming from and somewhat understand what they mean by 'distracting'. I like thick black frames a lot (just look at my last duck post) and I personally think it gives the photo something extra and deth.

Always in a friendly way,
Pieter

For me its a good capture Alan with nice light and detail. Composition is v good and I like the framing for this one. Text is a little big. 6/10 well done.

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2005-08-03 19:29]

Hello Alan, very nice portrait. I must admit I'm not a fan of big frames but it's personal preference I think. There's not much wrong with the portrait - perhaps more of a glint in the eye would be good, it looks like it was covered by the ear. Otherwise a great shot. Well done.

Excellent portrait of this adorable giraffe, Alan!

Your DOF is amazing as are the colors and composition.

I might have gone smaller or not at all on the frame, however, it is a matter of personal taste.

Thank you for sharing him with us.

Hi Alan!
Great portrait with wonderful frame!
Good job!

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2005-08-04 3:26]

What a nice Giraffe that you have well captured ! Composition, colors, details and sharpness are very good ! Thanks for sharing Alan.

Lovely shot Alan!
I love the way you've composed it. POV is perfect, details and exposure excellent.
The photo is very clear and your model really lovely.
I've alwys liked such black frames and I think it's perfect for this shot.
Overall, superb post.
WELL DONE!

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1835 W: 301 N: 4287] (14767)
  • [2005-08-04 9:13]

Hi Alan
Personal assessment of the photo: great. Sorry, I dont like big frames.
Strong visual impact.
An easy shot, IMHO.
Aptness of the photo for the site: excellent.
Personal assessment of the note: complete.
TFS.

Very nice picture! The BG is blurred just sufficiently. Well composed! TFS.

Gorgeous capture, Alan. I have a fondness the gentle appearance of the giraffe and this was well shown. The BG adds to the composition :- )

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3277 W: 148 N: 6163] (18832)
  • [2005-08-05 7:17]

Oh, what a beautiful big baby though Alan. It's a great portrait, the details are excellent, good exposure and composition. Well done.
And very good notes too, thank you.

Hi Alan
I've taken quite a few photos of the giraffe family at whipsnade, but none as good as this. Very nice lighting, with the angle of the shadows adding texture. Shame the eye was in the shade, though. I can't work out, though, how you managed to get such a clear shot without the enclosure in the frame. Especially of the baby.

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