NEXT NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELER COVER

Thanks John for your, as usual, very thoughtful view on a very beautiful POW.
I understand the obvious need of the publisher to crop the photo so that it can be used on the cover. I find it however quit clear (I might be wrong of course) how they would crop it and in my eyes the elephant is of no danger of being left out of the frame. A portrait format that starts centered from just above the copyright text, seems to me to be the obvious choice.

Anders, I don't seem to be clear on your crop idea. There would be many crops of this image that could fit on the cover and include the elephant comfortably. But it is when I look at the image in its entirety that there really is not a crop that will accommodate the elephant, without crowding it, and the full length of the slope. Personally, I find that last little bit of slope that meets the left edge of the image gives greater clarity to this area. Of course, with all the type they will put in the upper part of the image, it may matter less. Shooting for magazine covers is always a challenge as often a photograph can get "very loose" in order to accommodate the masthead and the other type. It is often an unpleasant requirement to comply with when one is assigned to create a cover--magazines choose images from a shoot or stock that will give them the room they need. Anyway, I do think it is the slope where we get definition of what the background is. Tighter crops could make what the background is irrelevant but with the image as presented, and the weight of the background to the scene, this contextual definition is important.

The crop ratio is 8:10.7 for those who care. I also think as one crops tighter, that strong horizontal line of the tree top starts to become more problematic, at least IMO. It is a very strong demarcation of space and any sense of unity starts to fade quickly.

Congratulations Marina:
There is little more that can be said after so many excellent photographers have contributed with their ideas and opinions. Just briefly and succinctly, I can see why your image was chosen. Not only is it superb lighting and color, but it portrays not only the grandeur of Africa, but of Earth, from high up in the clouds, descending through a magnificent mountain into the lushness of the earth and its marvelous inhabitants. Thank you for sharing this with this wonderful community of magnificent photographers. Congratulations.
DG

I agree John that there are many alternative crops for the publishers to choose, but even with the crop ratio you mention as far as I can see it even the slope and up to the middle of the dark clouds can be included without excluding the elephant. I fully agree with your way of seeing the wholeness of scene including the slope in its totality. Without it the scene would loose much of its present quality. Whatever the publishers will have to do, I would not like to be in their shoes ! Sacrilege . .

magnifica como todas tus fotos, tiene una luz de primera, con una composicion hermosa y con toques magicos en la foto, abrazos

Elegant.

Exceptional, classic photo even in the very high standard portfolio of Marina. Congratulations!
The lower part of the picture is a traditional scene of Africa, resembles of a picture from our childhood fantasy, what we do not intend to give up, quite similarly we do not want to give up the present existence of these natural wonders, presented perfectly on this picture. The upper part of the picture makes the whole picture extraordinary, providing the magic of the mountain and the transcendent power of the snowy peak covered partly with the clouds.
I like also that there is no visible post process "enhancement", lights and colours are beautiful and natural.
Marina, you are on my favourite photographers' list on PN for years now, so it is not a real surprise for me, that you came out with a fantastic picture, and this picture has been honoured also by NG.
Brilliant choice from Elves for the Photograph of the Week forum, the only remark on that could be, that one cannot expect a real fierce discussion about the weak and the strong parts of this picture, because it is not worthy to search here for the weaknesses...

Top notch professional quality. Beautiful lighting, great sense of depth in a dramatic landscape with balanced composition and strong center of interest. Very inspirational. Bravo, Marina!

Finally, a POW that is as good as it can be in its genre. Nothing is forced. I feel here that the skill of photography is emphasized. There is no argument about it, this is the right place at the right time with the right method. I think when I look at this...this person is a photographer. Wonderful Marina, just wonderful. Best, JJ

One of the most spectacular photo of the week ever selected!

Yeah, finally deserving POW +++++++++++. Thanks for sharihng and choosing to be POW. My fawourite one +.

National Geographic Traveler cover - is an easy genre - the photo has to be good - that simple:)
Good-keeping in mind that in this genre has the tradition and is well-defined - and it is more difficult to say any reason why this should not appear in the cover. br Hannu

After all the comments posted here, my words are worthless...I like nature and animals and this photo seems like paradise!!
Indeed this is a VERY GOOD PHOTO, as a usual reader of National Geographic Magazine, I hope this photo could be also the cover for the portuguese edition...in that case, I will be also very proud to have a "colleague photo" in such an important magazine!
Regards and "obrigado"!

One more excellent image in Marina Cano's amazing portfolio. Composition, exposure,light and the background are strength of this superb image. Befitting image for National Geographic Traveler Cover & POW.

One more excellent image in Marina Cano's amazing portfolio. Composition, exposure,light and the background are strength of this superb image. Befitting image for National Geographic Traveler Cover & POW.

One more excellent image in Marina Cano's amazing portfolio. Composition, exposure,light and the background are strength of this superb image. Befitting image for National Geographic Traveler Cover & POW.

One more excellent image in Marina Cano's amazing portfolio. Composition, exposure,light and the background are strength of this superb  image.  Befitting image for  National Geographic Traveler Cover & POW.

Thank you to you all. As always I have to be grateful with the support I have in Photo.net. I'm here since 2004, and my photography has been changing and improving. I've learnt from many of you, I've got so much inspiration here and I'm happy and proud to be a member here. Even my English has improved, although I have a lot to learn yet, I'm aware of that.
This picture is right now the front cover of the National Geographic Traveler is Spain. I've been dreaming with traveling to Africa for many years, as many of you well know. I usually shoot in Cabarceno, the place where I fall in love with wildlife, but I never had the chance to go to Africa. Now this dream has come true. I went to Kenya and this travel brought me even closer to nature. To publish in such prestigious magazine is a gift. I do not want to speak about technic, cropping or composition but emotions. This is Africa. Kilimanjaro, wildlife, nature and sunrise. What else? For me is enough. I can fly to Africa again just looking at the picture, I can feel the fresh air the light changing and the clouds moving.
I know I'm not a conventional photographer with regards to equipment, technic or way of doing things. I don't mind the way you take pictures, I just want to enjoy the pictures you took. I expect the same from you. One more time: thank you!

I am not going to argue with National Geographic - I've got a subscription also for the photography, and here they prove once again how well they know to find those photos that just put a huge smile on my face when the copy arrives.

The photo. I like what Jeremy Jackson posted:

It's exactly that. This photo just naturally falls in place. It does not need effects or weird tricks to do what it does: it just convinces, period.
I think the layers in the photo just do the work well. At first glance, the trees, golden grass and the cloud formation make for a pleasing landscape. Then you find the mountains on second view, and the elefant as proverbial dot on the i only later. The image rewards looking good at it, making sure it does not rate as a "nice photo - next one" photo, but one that really works.

Beautiful.

Beautiful. I want to see how it is cropped for the cover. Tough to do with so many critical perfect elements.

absolutely fantastic shot and choice of photo of the week. nothing to say, just curious to know something about the camera and lenses

Congratulations for such achievement, Marina! To me this picture is deep and graceful. Your whole portfolio is serene.
Kind regards,
Kristina

The depth and lighting of this photo is what makes it work so well. I am adding a smaller version of Marina photo of the cover so that it will show in the posting. Well done, Marina.

Thanks for the comments, I really like them. Niki, I shoot with the Canon 1D MarkIV and 100-400mm, at 105mm. Sunrise in Amboseli National Park, Kenya.