Yes Dear there is a Bongo

[Dargan]

As I haven't posted for awhile and am thinking about the upcoming international event in August I thought I had better pick up the D70 again and lay myself open to the wolfpack. Are there any redeeming features here fellow critics? I kept them small according to the stubbsy directives, but you can see larger versions on Kristines pixspot.

I like the colours of these animals and waited for awhile to get the right spot to take the picture and expression on this animal. The lens is nothing fancy, it is the 70-300G I got bundled with the camera but I like the 'boquet' or whichever way you smell it effect, and I reason that I am not worthy of a VR yet till I master the less exotic gear.



Here's one


and here's the other

[stubbsy]

Dargan

The first one works for me and I like it. The second one less so. While in the first one the OOF foreground succeeds in immersing the animal into the natural environment, too much is obscured in the second one and I have this desire to move to the left a little so I can see it better.

So far as the 70-300 G, while I have one, but don't use it (I have 70-200 VR) it's a capable lens as is attested by the quality of pics you see here on the forum - it just requires more work from its master

[gstark]

Dargan

The first one works for me and I like it. The second one less so. While in the first one the OOF foreground succeeds in immersing the animal into the natural environment, too much is obscured in the second one and I have this desire to move to the left a little so I can see it better.

I'd be willing to bet that you'd be shocked if you could!

Dargan, What Peter said.

[sirhc55]

Dargen - I like both, but in particular the second shot. This shot adds some mystery to the photographer as well - is he a game hunter, is he a sniper, et al.

[Dargan]

Thanks for the comments guys. I only got back to the forum now after a weeks absence. Its nice to come back to some positive comments. BTW I had no idea there was such a thing as a Bongo and was surprised at how beautiful the animal was. These were taken at Taronga on a quick visit and it has made me think a bit more about zoo shots. I am going to visit my mate Steve Irwin who is only up the road from where I live and make it a photo project. I am sure others must use zoos as photo opportunities as well.

[Kristine]

Hi Dargan

It is great to see you back on the forum again.

At first glance, I preferred image number one. I then looked up the larger images on PixSpot and found number two as being more appealing; like Chris said, it is the mystery that surrounds the image.

I hope you got my email that I sent you last week?

[mudder]

G'day Dargan,

Really like nature shots and enjoyed these. Shows it's the driver not the gear that makes a good shot.

I much prefer the second, knowing you're there, keeping a careful hidden eye on you. The first is a great catch but the stick distracts me, maybe could try cloning it out but it would be a bit of work.

It always makes the difference with zoo shots when they don't look like captive animals and these are great.

Cheers.

[meicw]

Hi Dargan, I agree good shots. (I had never thought there was an animal called a bongo, just a type of drum ).
I also like the second one with the one eye watching.

Regards
Meicw

[Matty B]

Yep, the eye(s) have it on the second image. The first is prob. a better representation to ID the species, but i like the second shot for aesthetics, for the same reasons given above. Ah - the joy of a life of subjectivity!

[joolz]

I like number two as well. Perhaps a slightly tighter crop would emphasise the eye better. If you lose just some of the grass on the bottom and right edges, I think it might make for a better (and slightly less distracting) image.

[Manta]

Hi Dargan. I like both images; each has it's own joys for the viewer.

Being a wildlife nut for as long as I can remember, I had heard of this interesting critter but none of my family had until we stayed at Western Plains Zoo a couple of years ago. The 6 or so individual lodges there are named after animals and we stayed in the Bongo Lodge. First job after we unpacked was take the kids to show them what a bongo looked like. They, like most people, were pretty amazed at its size and colouring.

I thouroughly recommend staying at the Dubbo Zoo. Fantastic behind the scenes tours, excellent food and the weird experience of being woken at night by the roaring of lions or the braying of zebras. It's not cheap, by any stretch of the imagination, but where else can you sleep in a lodge named after a Bongo?