Elephants in dust

[Steve Kaluski]

• Steve Kaluski
• www.untamedimages.co.uk
• Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic 13.5.1 (Macintosh)

Sadly this image doesn't portray elephants having fun.... A vehicle was granted access to the concession, but as usual, got too close, and so the elephants were not happy.

Gabriela, I think you sadly have been on the brunt of this too from recent discussions, from very recent times and in the past, where folk pay no attention to others and ultimately spook the subjects and spoilt it for the rest of folk. The vehicle back off and the herd settled down.

Subject: Elephant herd in dust
Camera: Canon EOS R5
Lens: RF 70-200 f/2.8 L IS USM
Exposure: 1/2500 at f/4 ISO250
Original format: Landscape, FF width

All Raw captures perfectly exposed, confirmed by Raw Digger

Thanks to those who viewed or posted a comment on the previous image

 

[Jonathan Ashton]

I like the image - just enough "visible" "elephant hide"as it were, to look at, the light and back lit dust is super.

 

[Gabriela Plesea]

Good evening Steve,

Love the mood here, so much. Beautiful image, you portrayed the atmosphere so well. I can imagine the scene, hear their feet, smell the dust in the air. This is so much like the Kruger.

Framing is great, never easy to isolate just a few when you have a herd of eles rushing to water. They move constantly and there's so much happening.

Perfect colours and great choice of DoF, well processed. Just lovely, thank you so much for sharing this.

Yes, people can spoil a sighting and disturb the animals. I am growing more and more impatient with those ignorant individuals who have no respect for wildlife and barge into sightings, this happens a lot in our National Parks and especially at waterholes. I have seen very bad behaviour last month and in all honesty I do not know where to go to avoid it, we like to camp and self-drive which is not possible in private reserves.

Back to your image, once again, I like it a lot, also means a lot to me because I love the species. Here on the reserve I get to spend time with eles and they come fairly close...sitting quietly in an open vehicle among them always such a wonderful experience

Warmest regards,
Gabriela

 

[Steve Kaluski]

I like the image - just enough "visible" "elephant hide"as it were, to look at, the light and back lit dust is super.

Thanks Jon, just something different and when the opportunity came up, it needed to be taken, even if it was created by stupid folk who should know better.

Thanks.

 

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Gabriela, not getting notifications again!!!

A small herd, but the actions of the other vehicle were enough to unsettle them, but from our vantage point I could get a nice framing POC IMHO and with the backlit/dust I thought it created a nice scene. Certainly got spoilt with Ele's and some awesome close encounters, just starting on the next half of editing.

Yes, people can spoil a sighting and disturb the animals. I am growing more and more impatient with those ignorant individuals who have no respect for wildlife and barge into sightings, this happens a lot in our National Parks and especially at waterholes. I have seen very bad behaviour last month and in all honesty I do not know where to go to avoid it, we like to camp and self-drive which is not possible in private reserves.

It is becoming more of an issue, especially with folk and iPhones. At waterholes folk just keep pushing to get close and then spook the wildlife for everyone sadly.

Here on the reserve I get to spend time with eles and they come fairly close...sitting quietly in an open vehicle among them always such a wonderful experience

You are very fortunate and how wonderful that it's just you and the subject and to be able to take your time, so rewarding. BTW thank Carl for the Lion interaction and Pointy clips.

Looking forward to seeing more from you.

 

[Gabriela Plesea]

Hi Gabriela, not getting notifications again!!!

A small herd, but the actions of the other vehicle were enough to unsettle them, but from our vantage point I could get a nice framing POC IMHO and with the backlit/dust I thought it created a nice scene. Certainly got spoilt with Ele's and some awesome close encounters, just starting on the next half of editing.



It is becoming more of an issue, especially with folk and iPhones. At waterholes folk just keep pushing to get close and then spook the wildlife for everyone sadly.



You are very fortunate and how wonderful that it's just you and the subject and to be able to take your time, so rewarding. BTW thank Carl for the Lion interaction and Pointy clips.

Looking forward to seeing more from you.

Steve, I passed your message on to Carl. Sent you a small video of Grumpy and cubs, she is busy introducing the little ones to the pride.
.

 

[Steve Kaluski]

Apologies Gabriela I meant to say the other day, I got the videos thank you, the cubs are adorable.

 

[Gabriela Plesea]

Apologies Gabriela I meant to say the other day, I got the videos thank you, the cubs are adorable.

No problem at all, glad you saw the little ones!