Mudface

This is a portrait of an African elephant (Loxodonta africana) covered

with mud in the late afternoon sunlight in the Lower Zambezi

National Park, Zambia. What makes a close up portrait of an

elephant special, what works and what does not in your opinion ?

Thank you so much for your time !

I think that the close-up by removing my immediate identification of the face as "an elephant" gets me to look more closely at the face as an individual. It then acheives 'personality.' The mud particularly on the tusks helps. What is most striking to me are the eyes, more important in the close-up. They seem to be questioning the photographer/viewer about what we are up to looking at him/her. emb

I love the composition and tight crop.  Emotively my first impression and interpretation of his expression was "Huh?" There seems to be surprised curiosity there.  Great light and excellent shot...  Mike

Wonderful capture! I love the close crop and eye contact. Beautiful light; I love the way it glistens on his wet skin. Remarkable work with strong emotion. Beautiful! Thank you for sharing. :)