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Spotted Hyaena


Spotted Hyaena
Photo Information
Copyright: Stephane Ra (Watershed) Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 43 W: 2 N: 61] (291)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-10-03
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Nikon D70, Nikon AF VR 80-400 ED, Hoya HMC Super UV (0) 77mm
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/60 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2007-02-16 15:22
Viewed: 4272
Points: 16
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I really like this photograph with the mom and the 2 pups. I take this shot in the Thornybush Game Reserve. It was very nice to see these mom feeding her cubs.

I hope you will like it and thanks for looking :D

The spotted hyaena family is a matriarchal society, in which the heavier female is the undisputed ruler of the clan. There is usually a single dominant male, which defers to the ruling matriarch. The females have external genitalia, remarkably similar to those of the males, giving rise to an ageold myth that the spotted hyaenas are hermaphtodites.
Ungarded young and solitary animals fall prey to lions as well as to leopards and wild dogs. The young are also vulnerable to old hyaena males and to other packs of spotted hyaena. The mutual savage hatred of the lion by the spotted hyaena is evidence of the long and bitter rivalry between the tow species and the unrelenting harassment by each other at the kill. One to four, usually two, altricial pups are born.
vanderschelden, Adanac, Evelynn, garyfudge, aido has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

very very cute pic! I also like that ambient light here. very good exposure. TFS!

Hi Stephane,
You are not the only one who likes it.
Very moody shot.
Nice compo.
Adorable...and yet wildlife.
TFS
Annick

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1273 W: 1 N: 6188] (21378)
  • [2007-02-16 19:32]

Hello Stephane,
The composition of this family with one nursing is adorable,
The soft light just adds to the mood, great work.
Rick

I like this shot too. They all seem so unaware of your presence. The ambient light is nice but the cyan cast seems a little unnatural. I removed it in a workshop just for fun.

TFS
Evelynn

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-02-18 21:26]

Hello Stephane

A very nicely captured ,quiet moment.It is like you are not noticed at all.A nice atmosphere to the shot,with rich earth tones and very fine details.Well composed ,and framed,TFS

Rob

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1369 W: 9 N: 6334] (18906)
  • [2007-02-19 4:22]

Another excellent hyens shot Steph. I think that the muted colours work very well here.
James

A truly beautiful shot. Who would have thought creatures so savage, their hunting is unbelievable, could look so cute and cuddly!

Well composed.

Gary

Hi Steph,
Another great shot of this family, I don't remember ever seeing such clear and close shots of young Hyenas before, amazing that you were able to get so close. It's a great shot with good detail, especially so given the low shutter speed. The VR on that lens really works. It is underexposed though, so I posted a workshop where I used Photoshop's Curves palette to set the black and white points, which corrects the tonal ranges in the image. Hope you don't mind the workshop and find it useful.
Best regards,
Adrian

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