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Birth of a Giraffe

Photo series by Colmar Wocke

This was a once-in-a-million chance that I stumbled across. I have chosen to present this in a Documentary-style, rather than pristine Nature-style. The individual frames span roughly two hours as we watched this amazing event unfold. The titles are as follows:

(1) After her waters broke.
(2) The face appears.
(3) The calf is visible.
(4) Dropped onto the ground.
(5) Lifting the neck.
(6) Driving out the fluids.
(7) Cleaning the coat.
(8) Mother and calf.
(9) Beginning to suckle.
(10) Standing on two feet.

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Rick Tomalty 2 weeks ago

I just saw this series Colmar and it is beautiful. What an experience to witness. Very well documented. Thanks. Rick

Colmar Wocke Rick, This was an event that I will never erase from my memory. i've spent many hours in the African bush, but this was special! You may want to read some of what has been written lower down on how all of this unfolded. Thanks for the note!

Colmar

Giulio Zanni 3 weeks ago

Great series

Colmar Wocke Gracia mille, Giulio!

Jerry Berry 3 months ago

Great Series Colmar. You might want to change the label of the last image to Standing on 4 feet. Unless I am missing something here. :-)

Colmar Wocke Jerry,

It is not possible to change anything in series once uploaded. I have written to jJacob/Ralf on this, yet to receive even a reply. It is Also not possible to arrange a series in a category. The series is not uploaded into say, street or nature or landscape, but series. However, there is no series category on 1X, so I cannot specifically view only series pictures in a list. May I request you to raise these two issues internally at 1X, please.

No, there's nothing you're missing. I misstyped this originally and of, course want to change it, but cannot as explained above.

Finally. - thanks for your note. This was a "Kodak moment/experience" that I will not easily forget!

Go well,

Colmar

Jerry Berry Ahhh. I see. Sorry for that. As you know, Series is still a work in progress. I thought I might be able to make the changes but No. Unfortunately Jacob is way overwhelmed trying to make all this work and progress and feed himself at the same time. I can't say this will be addressed soon, but if enhancements come along I will try to fix this for you.
cheers

JB

Barbara Read 4 months ago

Amazing series! Each image is excellent on its own, but together, they tell a powerful story! Congratulations!!

Colmar Wocke Thanks very much for your nice words - very much appreciated by me!

morvarid d.i 5 months ago

amazing!

Colmar Wocke Very pleased to read your comment. Go well!

Elahe Zahedi 5 months ago

Oh My god!

Colmar Wocke God is great!

Michal Baer 5 months ago

Absolutely Stunning

Colmar Wocke Very nice of you to leave the note, Michael!

Schnette 5 months ago

Just wonderful!

Colmar Wocke Thank you very much!

Aurora Pintore 5 months ago

SUPER BEAUTIFUL SERIES !!!!!

Colmar Wocke Aurora - thank you very much for viewing the series and leaving the nice note!

Saleh Kazemi 6 months ago

very beautiful series of a life...

Colmar Wocke Thank you, Saleh - go well and enjoy the weekend. Colmar

Johan Lind 6 months ago

This was an amazing series - thanks for sharing!
/Johan

Colmar Wocke Thanks very much for looking and leaving your note!

jaharris1001 7 months ago

outstanding series

Colmar Wocke So nice to still receive comments on the series - thanks a lot!

Henrik Just 7 months ago

Stunning series, Colmar !
It must have been quite an event to witness !

Congrats !

regards

Henrik

Colmar Wocke Henrik,

This is an event that'll remain etched in my memory. Myself, my wife & son and my two parents-in-law were fortunate to witness this.

Thanks so much for the emphatic thumbs up on the series!

Go well,

Colmar

Colmar Wocke 7 months ago

Really lovely comment to make - thanks a lot, Wesley.

Wesley Law 7 months ago

Superb!!

Colmar Wocke Really lovely comment to make - thanks a lot, Wesley.

Matjaz Cater 7 months ago

Excellent story, well done!

Colmar Wocke Matjaz, Thanks so much for dropping the note!
Go well,
Colmar

Hakan kashoor 7 months ago

Nice series,

Colmar Wocke Very glad to read your comments!

mina fallahnia 7 months ago

wow.....
Bravo....
WOW I love it....
thanks .........
WOW.............++++
:)

Colmar Wocke mina - thanks so much!

Scott Smorra 7 months ago

This is outstanding Colmar. Great series of images.

Colmar Wocke Thanks a lot for the clear "thumbs up" - appreciated by me!

sara AL-Subaie 7 months ago

Excellent work

Colmar Wocke sara,

Thanks a lot for the nice words. Go well,

Colmar

agnostic 7 months ago

Excellent. Thanks for your effort!

Colmar Wocke Nature is GREAT! Thanks for the note.

Noorhadi Saleh 7 months ago

fantastic!!!

Colmar Wocke Many thanks!

Tatsuo Suzuki 7 months ago

Amazing

Colmar Wocke Thanks Tatsuo!

Rockas Kane 7 months ago

Amazing! Thank you for sharing!

Colmar Wocke Many thanks Rockas - my pleasure to share!

Phyllis Clarke 7 months ago

Colmar..I am speechless...but I can still type...It is so amazing to see this..and also how you have such perfect pictures ..of this incredible series...I mean is is so heartwarming ....Oh..you must have been so thrilled to see this...a big congratulations to both you and the mother...my best, Phyllis

Colmar Wocke Phyllis,

For us this was a speechless set of moments too. We spent a good 2.5 hours there as this amazing scene unfolded before our eyes. Initially we thought it was going to be a still-birth, but once the calf had fallen to the ground there was some movement after 5 minutes. Then to watch the process of the drying out of the sodden neck and the first few steps until eventually standing independently.

Nature is GREAT!

Go well,

Colmar

Phyllis Clarke Just wanted to add that I just showed the series to my husband and he too was really taken....he noticed what beautiful faces they both had..again..congratulations...this is so well deserved. :)

Colmar Wocke Yes, he's right. Generally of course, giraffe have quite long eyelashes which gives them quite an attractive look!

julio pohl 7 months ago

amazing... great series. congratulations. *****

Colmar Wocke Thank you!

gerard sexton 7 months ago

Colmar this is such a wonderful series in fact so unique it will become a classic. I cannot imagine anyone else has captured this on still camera before! In essence this confirms so much about photography. Firstly you have to have a camera with you if you are to capture these events & then you have to be at an event like this to be able to employ the camera. Yes skill in using your machine plays a key role (difficult light here) but in the end its about making your luck! I am so happy that you had this chance & that you seized it to your advantage & for our pleasure because without seeing this I can say that I am unlikely to witness this for real but thats not to say I won't witness something just as amazing! Great advert for photography! Thanks for being there & taking your camera Colmar!

Colmar Wocke gerard,

You've explained things so well about always being ready. I should take this to heart for future shots - I often find myself "half asleep" with street photography especially, only to miss opportunities.

As you rightly noticed, the light was problematic here. She had chosen a spot under a thorn tree which left her in shadow with the midday sun shining away in the background. Then there was all the "clutter" that one would normally not want. However, the subject matter overrides all these considerations. Maybe I should be grateful - had this taken place in the late afternoon then there would've been very little light to work with!

Thanks a lot for the well thought out commentary here - it has been nice to read it!

Go well,

Colmar

Antonio Grambone 7 months ago

Hi Colmar,
extraordinary series... sincere congratulations.
Greetings, Antonio G.

Colmar Wocke Thank you very much Antonio. I am reliving the birth after 3 years again - pictures taken in July 2008!

Les Forrester 7 months ago

Truely remarkable

Colmar Wocke Thanks for the words Les!

Mirela Momanu 7 months ago

Indeed such a chance to see the miracle of nature:) Lovely captures and moments! Compliments!!

Colmar Wocke Mirela,

Yes indeed - nature is GREAT!

Colmar

mohammad hoosein kazemi 7 months ago

amazing

Colmar Wocke mohammad - many thanks. Colmar

Johan Meintjes 7 months ago

... something extraordinarily special! Well done Colmar. There's a special bond between you and the calf that looked straight at you just after being born. We love it!

Colmar Wocke Johan,

It only needed to be taken. I really was at the right spot at the right time this one round. It was a very moving experience for all of us - Me, Gretha, Philip and Herman and Elize Laubscher (my parents-in-law).

Thanks for the nice note!

Colmar

Charlie Packard 7 months ago

Superb work...thank you !!
I am starting my day with that warm emotional glow that accompanies every successful birth...for males anyway :)

Colmar Wocke Charlie,

Thanks for the comment as well as the good humour.

Colmar

Marcus Björkman 7 months ago

Thanks for sharing this incredible experience in photos. I was moved by this!

Colmar Wocke Marcus,

many thanks for the note and sentiment.

Colmar

Codrin Lupei 7 months ago

A very interesting and well done series Colmar, congrats for the publishing! Excellent!

Colmar Wocke Thanks very much Codrin!

DDiArte 7 months ago

Fáb.!!!!

Colmar Wocke Smiles here - thanks!

John Taylor 7 months ago

wowwwww! indeed lucky you and amazing images thanks for the series

Colmar Wocke Thanks a lot John!

Evan Pratama Ludirdja 7 months ago

Wowww !! These are some precious moments !! Great shots !! :)

Colmar Wocke Evan,

Precious indeed and I am reliving this - taken in July 2008.

Go well,

Colmar

Chris Dixon 7 months ago

Great series......and I thought you were a rocket man not a vet ;-)

Colmar Wocke Chris,

Shows you what Rocketry can bring!

Colmar

Petra Oldeman 7 months ago

It was worth the wait Colmar. what a brilliant series.

Colmar Wocke Petra,

It was a long "labour" this one - 3 years for me but I am enjoying them all a second time with all the nice comments. Thanks so much for leaving your own here!

Go well,

Colmar

Guido Brandt 7 months ago

Wonderfull Colmar - thanks for sharing this amazing event with us!

Colmar Wocke Thank you very much, Guido. My pleasure to do so!

Mal Smart 7 months ago

i can not think of a better way to demonstrate the series function.... fantastic Colmar.

Colmar Wocke Mal,

I cannot think of words bringing a bigger smile to my face. I have "sat" on them for 3 years now and when the Series-feature got launched I was hopeful that they'd make it. However, had to get past the Curators first!

Thanks for the words and go well.

Colmar

Adrian Donoghue 7 months ago

wonderful capture

Colmar Wocke Thanks a lot, Adrian!

Ricky Siegers 7 months ago

Amazing series Colmar, my respect ..!

Colmar Wocke Right spot, right place it was. Many thanks for the nice words and "thumbs up". Go well, Colmar

Jeannette Oerlemans 7 months ago

What a wonderful time and thank you for sharing! Beautiful!

Colmar Wocke Thanks so much, Jeannette!

Jan Gravekamp 7 months ago

Wonderful and touching documentaire series!

Colmar Wocke It was very moving being there - I am glad that you like it. Colmar

Ria de Heij 7 months ago

This is great to see.

Colmar Wocke Ria - just happened to be in the right spot at the right time with a wife that had an extra CF-card in her handbag for me. Thanks!

Papafrezzo (Frédéric) 7 months ago

wonderful, Colmar!

Colmar Wocke Thanks a million!

Rami Al Adwan 7 months ago

Best series ever i have been Watched....!

Colmar Wocke Very kind of you to put it like that!

Anita Meezen 7 months ago

wonderful serie, thanks for sharing

Colmar Wocke Thank you very much, Anita. Go well, Colmar

mosa3ad shetwi 7 months ago

great

Colmar Wocke Many thanks!

Maurizio Vicedomini 7 months ago

I envy this special event that you assisted ... I'm sure that is something that will be in your memory forever.
Thank you for sharing
ciao, Maurizio

Colmar Wocke Maurizio,

It was indeed, so so special. We spent two hours there and I was lucky that my wife brought along another CF-card (read what I have written to Angéla, lower down). Very few people have seen this occur in the wild and luckily I had the camera with me.

Difficult from the lighting point of view - shade amd harsh sunlight.

But all-in-all a wonderful experience that I'll never forget!

Thanks for the comments!

Go well.

Colmar

Peter Svoboda 7 months ago

Great documentary work, congr.

Colmar Wocke Thanks so much for the "thumbs up", Peter.

mohammad ravoshi 7 months ago

very nice, Excellent

Colmar Wocke Thank you very much mohammad - go well. Colmar

Monique 7 months ago

omg....what a series !
Colmar my truly congratulations for having an opportunity to be there and to shot this mirracle
wonderful!
truly wonderful

my fav from the series are number 5 and 8

Bravo!

Colmar Wocke Monique,

It was a unique moment and my family and I (mother and father in law too) where so blessed in being able to experience it.

Thanks for the words!

Colmar

Rui Pires 7 months ago

I love this in screening since first time i see it. congrats, Colmar ! :)

Colmar Wocke Thank you very much, Rui.

stefano genuardi 7 months ago

it's a real miracle!my compliments

Colmar Wocke Thanks so much, Stefano!

Mark Vincent Müller 7 months ago

I am glad you had this moving experience and congrats for this nice series.

Colmar Wocke Mark,

Always a surprise in Africa - I took this in July 2008 and only now that the Series-feature is active have I been able to upload. Many thanks for the nice words.

Go well.

Colmar

Martin Marcisovsky 7 months ago

wau incredible moment that only mother nature can provide.

Colmar Wocke Yes, what a series of moments it was.

barbara 7 months ago

Colmar,
wow, that is amazing, what a lucky guy you are, to be aqble to whitness a birth of a giraffe and you documented it in a most excellent way,
congratulations!

Colmar Wocke barabara,

Witnessing it was wonderful and then to be able to capture it and show it here within the Series-feature. Glad to read your words.

Go well.

Colmar

KPK 7 months ago

Much more than great!

Colmar Wocke Peter,

The particular way that you've phrased this is especially meaningful to me. Thanks a lot!

Go well and shows you what is possible with an Olympus!

Colmar

Farshad Davari 7 months ago

Amazing!
congrats

Colmar Wocke Thanks very much for the note.

hamid shahidi 7 months ago

the power of nature

Colmar Wocke You've said it - Nature's GREAT!

George Doupas 7 months ago

Absolutely wonderful series of fantastic photos. Congrats!!!!

Colmar Wocke Thanks so much George!

Kim Ayres 7 months ago

Astounding! Wonderful consistency in PP throughout too :)

Colmar Wocke Kim,

I especially like your comment about the postprocessing - the light was very difficult, since she stood in the shade with the very bright midday sunlight to the rear. I am very pleased to read that you find the processing "even" since this was a concern of mine with the situation just described. So thanks for that!

Go well.

Colmar

arman behrouzi 7 months ago

great moment and beautiful shot!

Colmar Wocke It was a wonderful moment to behold, especially becuase it came as a complete surprise!

Vlad Dumitrescu 7 months ago

Colmar, congrats! something different, something great! :o)

Colmar Wocke Vlad - thanks a lot for the words!

dorothée rapp 7 months ago

soooooo beautiful and well put together Colmar! congrats to a fantastic series! my instant faves are 5 and 8 :-)

Colmar Wocke doro,

Thanks a lot for the "thumbs up" - I have had them for 3 years and now could show them after the Series-feature came up.

Colmar

dorothée rapp yes, so happy this feature is on now - thanks to Codrin mostly and the founders! :-) - 1x is quite exciting with this!

parisa shademan 7 months ago

WOW !!!

Colmar Wocke Thanks so much for the nice words!

Paula Loonen 7 months ago

Fantastic capture!

Colmar Wocke Thank you very much, Paula

jimmy hoffman 7 months ago

Congrats Colmar!Great serie.Wow!

Colmar Wocke Jimmy - coming from a nature-photographer of your stature this means a lot. Thanks!

Kevin Ng 7 months ago

Simply wonderful Colmar - must have been amazing to watch!

Colmar Wocke Yes, Kevin - a wonderful experience. You know, she never strayed from the area under the tree that she'd chosen. She marked it with the amniotic fluid and the smell kept her at that spot. It was a very special event to witness.

Colmar

Monica Stuurop 7 months ago

i am speechless! lucky you for witness this magnificent moment!

Colmar Wocke Monica,

It was a "speechless" moment to witness. We were extremely lucky to stumble across this wondereful, wonderful spectacle of nature.

Thanks for the comment!

Colmar

Jacob Tuinenga 7 months ago

This is a really great impression of the birth and I think that shown in a serial the best choice.
Excellent captured and in a nice black and white.

Colmar Wocke Thank you so much, Jacob!

Angéla Vicedomini 7 months ago

This is so wonderful that I have no words to express how much it touches me.
Congratulations and Thank you for this unique series !

Colmar Wocke Angela,

This was a case of being in the right place, at the right time! Before we left for South Africa, my wife suggested that I take along another CF-card since I may need it. "No, I said". "We're taking along your laptop and at night I will download the pictures taken during the day and start every new day with a fresh card". Well, while we stumbled across this scene I suddenly only had 5 pictures left on the card and of course had not downloaded them onto the computer. What to do? Delete all the other pictures? No - she reached into her handbag and gave me a new cF-card that she'd brought along.

I've never loved her so much as that moment.

Thanks for the comments!

Colmar

Angéla Vicedomini You have a fantastic wife Colmar !
Big hugs to Greta !

Colmar Wocke She is simply wonderful! I know it and I love her dearly!

Saad Salem Al Sheihk. 7 months ago

It deserve my waiting for the last two days ,since Ursula announced it is in the Queue for publishing .I just log to the recent photos some fifteen time to see it ,this time is a hit ,
again Colmar ,congrats for the 27 year and the birth of the series ,if the Giraffe have an easy labour ,I consider the birth of this series is a hard labour.

Colmar Wocke Saad,

The "labour" has been worth the wait for me too - I have had them for 3 years and only recently, with the arrival of the Series-feature, could I show them. I am pleased!

Go well.

Colmar

Andre du Plessis 7 months ago

The Long Wait finally came to an end! Congratulations of this forceful, yet tender series. I am sure that many a member has never witnessed something like this before. Quite amazing how the whole sequence can be captured in 10 frames. From lungs that never expanded, up to standing, and suckling. Amazing.

Colmar Wocke Andre,

Initially we thought this was going to be a still birth and had started to prepare my young son emotionally for this eventuality. At no stage did we witness any movement from the calf. Once the calf had fallen the 2-metre drop there was no movement for another 5 minutes. Thereafter the faintest of movement until eventually the waterlogged neck was able to be lifted. Two hours later the calf was able to stand on its own two feet.

Nature is GREAT!

Go well and thanks for the comments.

Colmar

Ursula I Abresch 7 months ago

Many congratulations, Colmar, on the piblishing of this fantastic series of photos!

Saad Salem Al Sheihk. The Queue have lasted two days my friend ,Is there is a lot of series to be published ?

Colmar Wocke Thanks so much for the "thumbs up" and nice words, Ursula - Go well. Colmar

Debiprakash Dass 7 months ago

Wonderful series, even I am eager to know how long did the process last? . . thanks for sharing.

Colmar Wocke Roughly two hours and the calf moved after about 5 minutes on the ground. Many thanks for stopping by!

Robert 7 months ago

Its so interesting! Congrats to you!

Colmar Wocke Robert (Mesiter) - for me and my family who witnessed this it really was something very special to behold. Something that I will not forget. We have been to the Kruger Park many times but this was special. Thanks!

Abílio Silveira 7 months ago

Each one of the pictures is very good; the whole series is a terrific sequence of frames of a starting-to-life movie.

Colmar Wocke Abilio - I am very pleased to read this, because the light was very difficult. She stood under a tree in the midday sun, so the backlight so to speak was very strong. Many thanks for the note!

Marei 7 months ago

I have never seen something like that before, Colmar.
Really really great. This series is so lovely and touching.
Congratulation.
Greetings, Marei

Colmar Wocke Many thanks Marei!

willem 7 months ago

This is a serie to be proud of, really fantastic....!!!

Colmar Wocke Thanks so much, Willem.

Nicolas Marino 7 months ago

WOW Colmar! Simply breathtaking! What a unique opportunity you were able to witness. The photographic execution of the whole process is impeccable. Congratulations.
Just one question, how long did all the process last for? from beginning to end
cheers
nic

Colmar Wocke Nicolas - it all lasted about two hours. By then the calf was able to stand quite well and was almost independent. If we had then stumbled across the two, we would've had no idea that the calf had recently been born! Thanks for the comment. Go well. Colmar

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