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Watchful Mom


Watchful Mom
Photo Information
Copyright: Nico van Gijsen (Nico) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 199 W: 1 N: 335] (1321)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-12-24
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Nikon D70, Nikkor 70-300mm AF-G
Exposure: f/8, 1/320 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Family Matters 2 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-01-29 1:38
Viewed: 4847
Points: 28
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Youngster is having a rest while mom keeps an eye out for predators. Last night was a busy night. The lions were out hunting.
Life on the open woodlands and grasslands of Africa is uncertain and the prey animals are relentlessly chased and knocked to the ground in the nightly onslaught of predators like lion, hyena and leopard.
During the day things quiet down a little, but one can never be sure, so Mom stands watch while the youngster takes a rest.
Zebras (this is Burchell's Zebra - Equus burchelli - as opposed to the Cape Mountain Zebra - Equus zebra zebra - and Hartmann's Mountain Zebra - Equus zebra hartmannae) live in family or Kinship groups with a dominant stallion protecting the group. When attacked both stallions and mares will protect their young fiercely by kicking and biting.
Burchell's Zebra reach a shoulder height of about 1, 35 m with males weighing at about 315 Kg and females 300 Kg. They are seldom more than about 10 Km from water and are predominantly grazers, but are known to browse occasionally.
Compared to the Mountain Zebra the stripes of Burchell's zebra are broader and most have yellowish or greyish shadow stripes on the rump. (Smithers, H.N., Land Mammals of Southern Africa. A field guide)
It is said that young animals spend the first 20 minutes of their lives looking at no other animal, the mother constantly keeping herself between her newborn and the rest of the herd, allowing youngster to memorise her particular pattern of stripes. There is no adoption system amongst zebras and a youngster that canot find its real mom will surely succumb to the tooth and the claw.
Zebra stripes are unique to each animal, much like human fingerprints.
Janice, klemmg, Luc, metcher, Dave, moemf, marhowie, reina, Athila has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3277 W: 148 N: 6163] (18832)
  • [2006-01-29 5:05]

I smile at Mama's knock-knee pose! Baby looks so cute too Nico. Well composed with good colours and sharp details. Well done, thank you,
Janice

  • Great 
  • radz Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 598 W: 11 N: 72] (436)
  • [2006-01-29 6:13]

Beautiful shot,liked the composition.Nice details.

Hi Nico,
The light here is soft and very beautiful for this shot. Excellent colors, and the detail is very sharp. Great depth and clarity here. A happy scene now, but as you say, come nightfall....things change.
Scott

  • Great 
  • chiliu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1457 W: 0 N: 1176] (6526)
  • [2006-01-29 17:07]

Hi Nico,
Very nice capture!
Wonderful scene and excellent composition.
Thanks for sharing!

  • Great 
  • Dando Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 637 W: 32 N: 792] (3084)
  • [2006-01-30 4:24]

Great composition with good detail and colour. Also good notes. TFS.
Dean.

  • Great 
  • klemmg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 302 W: 40 N: 484] (1719)
  • [2006-01-30 17:45]

Great capture, good compo, colours and detail. Interesting note too, Thanks!
Regards,
Gabi

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1835 W: 301 N: 4287] (14767)
  • [2006-01-30 20:52]

Is this a good shot, IMHO? Yes.
Does the note learn me something new? Yes.
Does this photographer take an active part in the growth of the site? Yes, very active.
What do I really feel by looking at this photograph? What a PoV!
Does this photograph help me to progress? Yes.
Thank you Nico.

Hi, Nico.
Peaceful zebra family photo. Well composed in natural habitat. Good details and colors.

  • Great 
  • moemf Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 105 W: 0 N: 160] (703)
  • [2006-02-07 8:51]

Excellent shot! Very nice composition, details and colours.

An excellent scene and descriptive title Nico.
Everthing looks great, no nits. You bring the "wild" back to TN! Well done.
Thank You.

  • Great 
  • RII Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 481 W: 0 N: 895] (2862)
  • [2006-02-14 16:31]

Hi Nico.
Very nice composition,excellent colors and details, great postal of zebra family.
Saludos...RICARDO.

  • Great 
  • reina Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 257 W: 1 N: 330] (2032)
  • [2006-02-17 9:26]

Hi Nico, I missed this one I guess, I going through lenses again, almost really ready now. I like your composition. Relaxing impression, life just is what it is here.
Good weekend, Reina

This is a great image demonstration moms watchful behavior, the perfect exposure showing great detail & colors. :)

  • Great 
  • Athila Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 335 W: 239 N: 493] (1982)
  • [2006-04-22 20:39]

Hi Nico!

Nice balanced composition. Location of the mother and it's cub seem a good application of the rule of third. Image is sharp and well exposed. Soft light rendered good details in highlight and shadow.

Good shot and TFS.

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