African Sunset
The rainy season is not the most popular season to visit Africa, but it's great if you want to get spectacular skies.

This was shot just before sunset in South Africa. I was waiting next to a water hole to see what animals would come to visit, when I suddenly saw a small herd of giraffes walking in my direction. They were on a slightly elevated plateau which resulted in nice and clean silhouettes.

The sky was awesome, so I decided to use a wide angle and show as much sky as possible and very little foreground. I made my composition, checked my exposure, and then waited for the first giraffe to enter the frame. When it did, it briefly stopped, and that's when I took this shot. There is a little bit of unintentional motion blur in the moving tail, but I'm happy that happened.

This photograph won First Prize in the Wildlife category of the Nature's Best International Photography Awards.
Related photos
Write
incredible beautiful!!!
alam gir 7 months ago
Rugby World Cup 2011 Semi final : Wales vs France LIVE HERE

http://onlinepctvlink.blogspot.com/2011/10/watch-wales-vs-france-rugby-world-cup.html

http://onlinepctvlink.blogspot.com/2011/10/watch-wales-vs-france-rugby-world-cup.html

http://onlinepctvlink.blogspot.com/2011/10/watch-wales-vs-france-rugby-world-cup.html
alam gir 7 months ago
http://onlinepctvlink.blogspot.com/2011/10/watch-wales-vs-france-rugby-world-cup.html
alam gir  Rugby World Cup 2011 Semi final : Wales vs France LIVE HERE

http://onlinepctvlink.blogspot.com/2011/10/watch-wales-vs-france-rugby-world-cup.html

http://onlinepctvlink.blogspot.com/2011/10/watch-wales-vs-france-rugby-world-cup.html

http://onlinepctvlink.blogspot.com/2011/10/watch-wales-vs-france-rugby-world-cup.html
Hillebrand Breuker 9 months ago
The mood, the light, composition and the beautiful silhouette. Everything seems to be in balance. Excellent!
Ata Bora Basar 10 months ago
Perfect!
alam gir  Rugby World Cup 2011 Semi final : Wales vs France LIVE HERE

http://onlinepctvlink.blogspot.com/2011/10/watch-wales-vs-france-rugby-world-cup.html

http://onlinepctvlink.blogspot.com/2011/10/watch-wales-vs-france-rugby-world-cup.html

http://onlinepctvlink.blogspot.com/2011/10/watch-wales-vs-france-rugby-world-cup.html
Nastaran Sweetbrier 10 months ago
Really amazing !
Björn Billing 10 months ago
It's hard to find anything meaningful to say... this photo is just stunning! Thank you for sharing it with us!
alam gir  Rugby World Cup 2011 Semi final : Wales vs France LIVE HERE

http://onlinepctvlink.blogspot.com/2011/10/watch-wales-vs-france-rugby-world-cup.html

http://onlinepctvlink.blogspot.com/2011/10/watch-wales-vs-france-rugby-world-cup.html

http://onlinepctvlink.blogspot.com/2011/10/watch-wales-vs-france-rugby-world-cup.html
Jonny Bjerkman 11 months ago
Oh, yes! It is abslotely stunning! For a person who nerver travelled much, this is a gift to remember. Thanks!
Vlad Dumitrescu 11 months ago
beautiful...
mohamad abasi 11 months ago
Nice shot
siavash_shojaee 11 months ago
+++
dimas danny satria 11 months ago
wow, this is so great marsel....
Jan Pesek 11 months ago
Amazing! Go on with next images
alam gir  Rugby World Cup 2011 Semi final : Wales vs France LIVE HERE

http://onlinepctvlink.blogspot.com/2011/10/watch-wales-vs-france-rugby-world-cup.html

http://onlinepctvlink.blogspot.com/2011/10/watch-wales-vs-france-rugby-world-cup.html

http://onlinepctvlink.blogspot.com/2011/10/watch-wales-vs-france-rugby-world-cup.html
ishtiaque 11 months ago
I really liked the tone of the sky. Also the giraffe acting as a silhouette here added an extra charm(I guess thats what the main focus of the photo) .
julian sitompul 11 months ago
A W S O M E ....
julian sitompul 11 months ago
A M A Z I N G !
Jenya Saifutdinov 11 months ago
Excellent work!
Jens Kolk 11 months ago
Really stunning shot! Perfect synthesis of landscape and wildlive.
Ian Damerell 11 months ago
Great image. nicely done Marsel.
Tammy Bergström 11 months ago
Simply stunning, Marsel!

/Tammy
Niloufar Hosein zadeh 11 months ago
Glorious indeed . Love it .
ibrahim syria 11 months ago
Nice Nice Nice
Cristian Rusu 11 months ago
excellent
Risquillo 11 months ago
Que escena mas bella Marsel, simplemente GENIAL!
Standa R. 11 months ago
excellent photo
Marina Cano 11 months ago
I love this kind of light with the clear silhouette, and more if the silhouette belongs to a giraffe. Great work as always Marsel
Monica Salsi 11 months ago
wonderful shot Marsel, thanks also for the story that has created it
Dirk Kersten 11 months ago
Well done, beautiful photo.
Lise De Serres 11 months ago
Love it!
Very well seen, excellent job in the field!!!
Saad Salem Al Sheihk. 11 months ago
Wonderful image and scene,great pertaining of natural wild land.
Jacob Tuinenga 11 months ago
Schitterend moment van de dag heb je hier te pakken, Marsel.
Super!!
ali hanaei 11 months ago
very Beautiful!
Geir Jartveit 11 months ago
Great shot.
Mark Leeman 11 months ago
Think I saw this one before but still, it's a very beautiful one! Strong composition and atmosphere!
muhur-samet guler 11 months ago
beautiful
Jeroen Oosterhof 11 months ago
Beautiful image Marsel.
Monki Ho 11 months ago
Beautiful!
Cusnir Dragos 11 months ago
Amazing photo.The sky is superb and the giraffes silhouette is perfect.Really amazing
Good job
Ignacio Jurado 11 months ago
A great shot, always has a good story
Wim Schuurmans 11 months ago
Ongelooflijk mooi Marsel! En plaatje!!
Exelent.....

Gr

Wim
Frank Smedts 11 months ago
Geweldig mooie compositie Marsel, dit is weer een plaatje waar gewoon alles aan klopt !!

gr. Frank
Hedianto 11 months ago
Fantastic
asphoto 11 months ago
nice
Morkel Erasmus 11 months ago
Iconic!!
nini_filippini 11 months ago
excellent composition indeeed !!!
Dorin Bofan 11 months ago
Gorgeous as always, Marsel!
Mats Grimfoot 11 months ago
Beautiful! Hm, maybe next trip to Africa should be in the rainy season...
Nico Surace 11 months ago
Ops excuse for the "?"
Nico Surace 11 months ago
Great shot? Wich lens did you use?
Marsel van Oosten  Nico - I used a 17-35/2.8, a lens I still own but no longer use.
John Parminter 11 months ago
great sky Mark and topped off with the silhouette.
JP
Marsel van Oosten  Mark? Is that the giraffe's name? :-)
John Parminter  Sorry Marsel, too many Marc's, Mark's and Marsel's on this site and I'm getting old ya know......
Marsel van Oosten  No problem Jack.
John Parminter  I nearly called you Marcel until I corrected myself...... :-)
George Doupas 11 months ago
Fantastic
Colmar Wocke 11 months ago
Super image!
Dare Turnsek 11 months ago
Who would say - classical Africa ... but, it is much much more - from wonderful colors to exceptional composition, and the most enchanting - masterful duplication of live and "non-live" visual elements ... My deep compliments Marsel.
Mac Danzig 11 months ago
gorgeous work yet again, Marsel.
Add to favorites
Share this image on StumbleUpon:   
  Click here to share this image on Facebook
 
Equipment
Nikon F100, Fuji Provia 100F
Location
South Africa
Tags
SQUIVER, SOUTH, AFRICA
Unique views
57280
Comments
54
Category
Nature
 
© 1X Innovations AB 2007-2011. All rights reserved.