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Black Rhino


Black Rhino
Photo Information
Copyright: Geoff Taylor (geoffash26) Silver Note Writer [C: 5 W: 0 N: 45] (283)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-03-04
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon 20D, Canon EF 70-200mm F/2.8 L USM
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/1000 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-03-05 14:20
Viewed: 3415
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 16
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Taken at Howletts Wild animal park in Kent

Diceros Bicornis Michaeli

Rhinos have short, stout limbs to support their massive weight; feet with three toes and, of course, their horns. The horns have no bony central core; rather, they are a hoof-like aggregation of keratin fibers built upon a roughened area of the skull. Horn length varies from species to species, growing to more than 48 inches on the black rhino. Rhinos have very poor eyesight, relying upon an acute sense of smell for information about their surroundings

Reputed to be ill-tempered brutes which charge without provocation, rhinos actually tend to avoid confrontations and sometimes become very friendly towards their keepers in a zoo/ park situation

Adult male rhinos can weigh more than 1 1/2 tons!
aido, loot, brouble, MikeGray, Janice, danbachmann has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3089 W: 230 N: 6774] (23770)
  • [2006-03-05 14:32]

Great profile of this rhino. Geoff.
Details are super sharp. and the exposure is perfect.
Fantastic POV. TFS. : )

Good portrait Geoff,lovely detail and warmth.
Andrew.

  • Great 
  • aido Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 1044 W: 156 N: 1218] (4046)
  • [2006-03-05 14:38]

Hi Geoff,
Nice profile shot, good detail and colour and nice lighting too, strong sunlight that you've managed well.
Cheers,
Adrian

  • Great 
  • loot Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5524 W: 722 N: 4163] (11276)
  • [2006-03-05 14:54]
  • [3]

Hi Geoff
First just some trivial information:
This is a black rhino and it is the one which gives rhinos the reputation for being ill-tempered. You are fortunate to view/photograph this in an environment where it probably got very tame (as they do if kept from young). In nature normally (there are exception though) you can not come closer than several score of metres (I seldom would approach them closer than ±40-50 metres). I've had some bad run-ins with black rhinos. It is the smaller of the two African rhinos and has a typical 'small dog attitude'.
The white rhino (the bigger of the two at ±2 tons) are actually very docile (unless of course you've really upset, surprised or scared it) and normally you can approach very close (couple of metres) without causing any aggressiveness. I've been as close as 4m from them (this is in the wild and not in a zoo) and I've never had any bad experiences with them, 'yet'. Caution though, having said this I do not advice anybody just to try and imitate this. It could be futile.
Your photo is excellent. The composition is great and the colours are very natural. You've managed to get the correct tonal balance as often their skins reflect light that plays havoc with burn-out. DOF & BG is also very good with nice sharp detail.
Very well done and TFS.
Regards
Loot

You've used the light well to pick up the texture and colour. After what you said about Howletts I'm glad I chose to go to BWC today...

Beautiful very well captured
Great color and excelent details

The animal stands out well Geoff against the background, allmost looks 3D effect.
Regards
Mike

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3277 W: 148 N: 6163] (18832)
  • [2006-03-09 23:23]

Geoff, I think you show this Black Rhino off to us so well. It looks like he is in the wild which makes it even better. Composition, colours and sharpness are great. Well done,
Janice

Your notes are very interesting and Loot's comments are always so good to read too. He has a great wealth of knowledge about these African animals.
In our Zoo here in Auckland, NZ, we have white rhinos.

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