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Play!


Play!
Photo Information
Copyright: Annick Vanderschelden (vanderschelden) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2553 W: 74 N: 7464] (30441)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-10-19
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon EOS 1D Mark III, Canon 400mm 2.8 IS
Exposure: f/4.5, 1/1250 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Travelogue: Kruger National Park
Theme(s): Play!, Vanderschelden's Burchell's zebra [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-07-25 11:31
Viewed: 6796
Points: 38
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Play (animal behaviour)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


In ethology, play is an important part of learning in many animals, though it is generally only seen in those with highly complex nervous systems such as mammals and birds.

Infants experiment with adult behaviors including fighting to learn how to survive. Predators such as lions and bears play by chasing, pouncing, pawing, wrestling, and biting, as they learn to stalk and kill prey. Prey animals such as deer and zebras play by running and leaping as they acquire speed and agility. Hoofed mammals also practice kicking their hind legs to learn warding off attacks. While mimicking adult behavior, attacking actions such as kicking and biting are not completely fulfilled so that they won't injure each other. In social animals, playing might also help to establish dominance rankings among the young to avoid conflicts as adults.

Play however has traditionally been given little attention by behavioral ecologists. Edward O. Wilson wrote in Sociobiology that "No behavior has proved more ill-defined, elusive, controversial and even unfashionable than play". Though it received little attention in the early decades of æthology, there is now a considerable body of scientific literature resulting from research on the subject. Play does not have the central theoretical framework that exists in other areas of biology. Play may be vivisected into three general categories: Social play, locomotor play and object play.

I browsed the web and visited this link:
http://www.nifplay.org/states_play.html in which you see trough images very well the similarities between humans and animals concerning 'play'.
A very interesting article by Alex Hawes: Jungle Gyms: The Evolution of Animal Playhere

To go back to the image again, I think the depicted play behaviour can be categorized as locomotor play.
And it is a social play as well; a young zebra playing with an adult.
I was able to take several pictures here. There were so busy playing and thus learning to get rid of predators, there even could be an opportunity for an
'object' player (lion,...)

Have nice day or play:-)
Silke, nglen, Royaldevon, red45, siggi, uleko, haraprasan, mala-zaba, maurydv, pierrefonds has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Evelynn: Hi Evelynnvanderschelden 3 07-25 15:50
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Critiques [Translate]

This is great. I love a photo with a story. Did you see the shots I posted a while back of a grizzly sow playing with her yearling cub.... I think I called it "Playtime" . They would climb up a snowbank, play a bit and then slide down it on their backs!... over and over. It was pure play.

TFS
Evelynn : )

  • Great 
  • Silke Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 729 W: 98 N: 1707] (5458)
  • [2008-07-25 11:47]

Lovely timing to capture this playful behaviour
Great details and superb composition
TFS
silke

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2883 W: 30 N: 9683] (36145)
  • [2008-07-25 11:51]

Hi Annick. Such a nice picture of the pair of Zebras . You have taken them in a nice playful pose. Which also shows their markings so well. which you have captured with fine detail and natural colours. well done TFS. interesting notes too.
Nick.
Have a nice weekend.

Hello Annick,

As a teacher, I can honestly say that play is underestimated in many walks of life!

This is delightful, to see the animals having such a wonderful 'playful' learning experience! You have captured their mood exactly! Lovely details and sharp exposure.

Kind regards,
Bev :-)

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2636 W: 74 N: 9100] (31094)
  • [2008-07-25 12:23]

Hi Annick!

Cute animals captured in interesting moment. As always very high quality, good composition and interesting note. I bet it is real pleasure to observe such scene live in Africa :-)

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3097 W: 109 N: 12399] (52850)
  • [2008-07-25 12:31]

Hello Annick,
Beautiful capture of these two .Composition, sharpness and exposure are excellent.
Love the details, clarity and patterns.
Very well done.
Best regards
Siggi

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6473 W: 89 N: 15608] (65291)
  • [2008-07-25 15:12]

Hi Annick,very nice moment to take and very perfect capture as your style,your gallery is a safari at home for us..ehehhe...very great work,my best compliment,have a nice weekend,Luciano

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3396 W: 172 N: 3310] (10940)
  • [2008-07-25 23:14]

Hello Annick,
What a lovely view of these two playing Zebras. They seem to be great friends with the one nibbling at the other one. All nicely in focus and sharp details. The colours are beautiful too in this fine composition.
Many thanks, Ulla

  • Great 
  • cako Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 485 W: 0 N: 772] (3395)
  • [2008-07-26 0:53]

Hi Annick
very nice image
grat sharp and detail
very well done.

Hi Annick,
A nice capture of these two zebras. Superb details and a lovely composition. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Great shot again Annick!

Hi Annick,
As always, very beautiful picture. Hard to make critique when everything seems perfect for me. You
should be published a book, it surely good business.
TFS
Eric

  • Great 
  • GLEM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 540 W: 87 N: 750] (10)
  • [2008-07-26 8:44]

salut Annick
joli moment de vie que ces zèbres en train de jouer, un vrai moment de bonheur immortalisé. Bonne composition dynamique, netteté impeccable.

gaetan

Ciao Annick,
bellissimo momento di cattura di queste zebre, eccellenti POV e composizione con un grande impatto visivo, dovuto in parte a questi bellissimi e fotogenici animali, ma soprattutto alla tua abilità nell'esporre perfettamente con una magnifica ed equilibrata resa dei colori.
Grazie e complimenti
Maurizio

Preciosa imagen con buena calidad técnica, digna de publicarse en cualquier revista especializada de natura. Buena combinación con los colores del fondo. Colores en general muy conseguidos.
Saludos Annick: Josep Ignasi Tejedor.

You have taken them in a nice playful sharpness and exposure are excellent.

great intimate family pic, TFS Ori

These zebra's are very playful, it looks like they are really having fun.

It looks like it was a bit overcast.

Love it
TFS
Elize

A wonderful scene, these little players. Their vivid furs are so well contrasted by the dry grass, and details are so vivid.
Wishes, Diana

Hi Annick,

The two zebras playing are impressive. The point of view is showing with precision the details and colors of the animals. The subject is well frame. The colors are enhanced by the good light. Have a nice day.

Pierre

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