Desert Choreography

As a wildlife photographer we only have very limited influence on oursubjects and the circumstances, and for me that is what makes it soaddictive - you never know what you're going to get, and you keepwanting to go back for more and better.

For most of the subjects that I shoot, I have the perfect imagealready inside my head, I just have to try to get it on camera.Knowing your subject and being at the right spot at the right time ispart of the work, but unfortunately with wildlife you also have to beincredibly lucky.

And lucky I was when I was flying in a microlight over the giant redsand dunes of Sossusvlei during the Namibia Untamed tour. We wereheading back to the lodge when I suddenly saw this small herd of oryxrunning right in front of us on a giant sand dune. I always have twobodies with a 24-70 and 70-200 when I'm in a microlight, because yousimply cannot change lenses in an open airplane. I quickly grabbed theD3 with the 70-200 and shot a short burst before we had passed them.It was over in seconds. When I looked at the images back in our camp,I couldn't believe my eyes - the perfect choreography. I could havenever previsualized an image like this, simply because it would seemabsurd to think it would be possible.

Nikon D3, AF-S VR 70-200/2.8, 1/3200 @ f/5.6, ISO 800, handheld

[if you would like to join me on our next Namibia Untamed photo tour,please have a look on my website for more information, prices, datesand a spectacular video]]

Thats a beautiful image.  Great work.

Really unique and national geographic.

Compliments for this wonderful capture! I love it a lot!

Bravo!  Good action, good composition, and good title.  I really like this.

F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love it, Great capture!

Wonderful!!!! /7/

Yes, this is unbelievable but true slice of wild life. A spectacular shot and a masterful capture. I’m adding it to ‘My Favorites’. Best rating. Best regards.

Outstanding Marsel!

Incredible image.  Are these colors true?

OMG..!!! Spectacular shot.. Is this ariel view shot flying in Heli or from on top a mountain..? Very unique and outstanding..!!!

PDE

Beautiful and unique.

great shot !!

 

Thanks for your comments - much appreciated!

 

The colors are true. They are probably even more saturated than this, especially around sunrise and sunset.

 

This was shot from a microlight airplane. Every year we have friend who is a professional microlight pilot fly us over the dunes. Microlights are perfect for aerial photography, much better than helicopters (too much noise, no flexibility inside), airplanes (too fast, too much noise, no flexibility inside) and hot air balloons (no control over direction, you go where the wind blows).

Beautiful shot is very good

What a great moment, really great to see them running through the orange desert :)

Marsel, a masterpiece. Very good exposure with amazing colour-contrast. This image will be one of my all-time favorites. 7

amazing...

Very unusual and unique image.

This is so refreshing. Definitely an eye catching photo.

One dream of an image !!

What a gerat moment.Perfect shot.

Very impressive and stunning, pity that the oryx on the bottom left -the most prominent position- is only a calf.

My only comment would be the sand, the colouring seems a bit on the excessive side (I know it's bright orange but on the photo it looks almost neon), yet the photo is fantastic!!