Zebra and friend on the Maasai Mara

This is one of my favorite game shots from the safari. These birds would just sit around ON the zebras. :-) It was so much fun to watch. And the zebras, by the way, were as plentiful as ants at a July picnic .... so shots like this were rather easy.

Any comments or ratings are appreciated! :-)

Great capture! I can see why it's one of your favorites.

Love this one. Perfectly composed, great subject, DOF is super. Dash of color on the beak... perfect!

 

Wish I had taken this one!

Great eye Lou Ann! Good job being in the right place at the right time with perfect technique! I think my favorite part is the background--like a painting. You get reality in the foreground, but imagination in the background.

really very original and nice shot..congrats

Thanks, all! I enjoy this one ... and am so glad that you do, too!

I would have cropped the zebra's mane out of the image. But that would not make it any better of a picture. Very nice!

You know, I went back and forth about cropping the mane. I'm still not sure about whether to do it or not....

Here's the original image....

And here's a crop without the mane. Thoughts, anyone?

This second crop is the one I was going to suggest: no mane, and more butt. However then I realized that the bird would be centered in the image and thus breaking the rule of thirds. Having not seen what I was thinking about I'll have to go with the original image. The bird really does need to be off center in this image. Thanks for showing all the rest of the image.

delightful! those zebras look like a graphic designers dream. i am envious!

Outstanding! ~Sky

Lou Ann, great eye!I like the original, as the R side is ballaccing the Bird on the L. Funny and the right moment!

Wonderful shot, Lou Ann. By the way, this little guy is a yellow billed oxpecker. Look forward to more Africa shots. Billy D

Wonderful image. It brings back memories when I was at this location when I spent 4 weeks in Kenya quite a number of years ago. I did not have the skills that I have today and might do a better job if and when I return there. South Africa is a higher priority for me at the moment.

There are a thousand ways you can crop an image. I might venture an make a portrait image of the left side of this image. You could do a digital manipulation and place the bird at the end of the black streak to the immediate right and again make it portrait and it would simulate a child's maze - much to their amazement. Sometimes I wonder about my mind.

Just read your bio and you seem to be 'on the move'. My wish for you is that you follow your dream, focus, act, pay the price and then be fully successful. All in 2008.

Thanks for stopping by my Alaska images.

Everyone else has taken a stab at cropping so why not me. The bird is my attraction and I don't know any other animals with those stripes so I chose to be minimalist.

Oh!! I really like that crop!! I never thought of it as a vertical. You're right! It really does draw the eye in to the bird without losing the interesting patterns in the zebra's hide. Thanks!!

the kenya portfolio is wonderful, but this one might be my favorite. and IMO this is the crop to go with. great shot.