Brown Hyena in Morning Sun (Kgalagadi)

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Gabriela Plesea

Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator
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Brown-Hyena-KTP-2019,-01.2.jpg

One of my favourite characters in the Kgalagadi is the Brown Hyena. This is a very shy animal, primarily nocturnal and therefore not often seen, for this reason very little is known about its behaviour and social structures.

Photograph was taken in March 2019 one early morning at a waterhole. Imagine the sun rising over the dunes.... just before 7 am. It was such a brief sighting...I badly wanted more images of this animal but the respect I have for the species made me decide not to start the vehicle as I feared she would run away.

Even when she finished quenching her thirst I still did not follow, instead sat quietly in the vehicle and watched her walk away, wishing she would turn around and look into my lens...sadly, it did not happen.

Brown Hyena can walk up to thirty km in just one night, looking for food. When meat carcasses are not available this animal will feed on eggs, insects, anything it can find. And almost always drinks water if available on the route home.

So a very special sighting for me and I am sharing this with you tonight, hope you like it.

Nikon D5
Nikon 500mm F4
ISO 2000
F6.3
SS 1/3200s

Thank you kindly for viewing and I hope you have a wonderful rest of the week,

Warmest regards,
 
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It looks pretty fantastic to me! I really like the gentle processing, the colours and details are remakably good. The classic style paw just off the ground is there! I also lke the faint shadow behind the hyaena - wouldn't change a thing.:cheers:
 
It looks pretty fantastic to me! I really like the gentle processing, the colours and details are remakably good. The classic style paw just off the ground is there! I also lke the faint shadow behind the hyaena - wouldn't change a thing.:cheers:

Thank you Jon, such kind words, much appreciated.

Tried my best to replicate the 'moment' ... soft light and with that lovely golden tinge, sun barely showing over the nearby dune.

Those Brown Hyena so skittish... always. Got a few images of her drinking, feet in the water, will process soon.

My Kgalagadi 2019 hard drive was damaged, I just got it back today, all sorted. I am so happy:tinysmile_shy_t:
 
Good morning Gabriela, apologies for the late reply but time ran away when you posted and yesterday was another full on day with Kes, which was fun, albeit a very long day. I also didn't make it with storm Lillian sweeping through and a tree branch bouncing off the windscreen!!!!

Another fine image of an awesome subject, something I would love to photograph, but have never had the opportunity. It appears that with all the new skills and PP you have learn, a lot of the older images are real corkers with one or two gems in the bag as well. The warm/soft light has worked in your favour creating some lovely warm tones and DoF looks good. I like the slight head turn and raised foot, however I feel if you had eye contact for me, the subject had been distracted by the shutter, so here all was good. Love the long hairs running along the back and good Jon on the SS, lover and the long hairs would be blurred, a bit like when shooting Musk Ox.

My only with would have been a bit more content below, its a little tight IMHO.

Overall another lovely image.

TFS
Steve
 
Thank you Michael and Steve, I so appreciate your comments and time to view.

Michael, I do not think I have an image from this sighting with the subject looking towards the lens, but I might post one soon with the Hyena drinking at the waterhole :w3

Steve, my turn to apologise, had guests this week-end and could not get near the computer. You are so right, I am enjoying going back to older folders and applying some of the things I have learnt. Here could easily add some below, but then I feel I would have to add more to the left of the frame as well, do you agree? I am more careful with framing these days so adding canvas isn't necessary. Also trying to give more space, more 'context' to my images :w3
 
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Here could easily add some below, but then I feel I would have to add more to the left of the frame as well, do you agree? I am more careful with framing these days so adding canvas isn't necessary. Also trying to give more space, more 'context' to my images

Hi Gabriela, it's very easy with hindsight sitting in a comfy chair looking at a nice screen, making comments/recommendations and in the heat of the moment we can easily make minor errors when shooting, as I did on Friday LOL, but if we learn from them then it's a positive. When you go back to Kruger in a couple of weeks time you will be far better equipped, camera knowledge and correctly set up with cool customisation, more PP skills under your belt so you know when taking the shot what you can now do in PP.

One more week... :cheers:
 
Ha ha, yes, you are absolutely right. But as you said... we need to learn from our mistakes.

Looking forward to Kruger, happy with all the Z9 settings and everything works well. Few more sleeps and off we go...this is the longest holiday I've ever taken. I'll be in touch of course :bg3:
 
Gabriela ... they are so cool and elusive characters , never managed to get them in close range in such level warm light .
Nicely captured in the walking pose with slight head turn ...
The shadow is a lovely addition and I think it a shame it is not fully in the frame.
Super fine details rendered and the warm colors looking good , glad that the BG is so clean .
I just think the body is missing some form ... as a lot does fall in the " same tonal range " does need more depth and variation to jump into my eye , just my 2 cents .

TZFS Andreas
 

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