Male Gerenuk


Posted by Matt Cox on Sat Nov 08, 2003 12:47 am

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The main photo goal in Samburu of just about everyone on our tour was a gerenuk feeding on it's hind legs, a unique behavioral trait of this antelope species, which can reach up to ten feet off the ground to feed. There were only two of us in the van that came across this one, and we waited quite awhile to capture the behavior in the open with the animal looking towards us. I don't think I've ever seen another animal that exhibits the muscle tone this specimen does -- he was really in prime condition. Canon 1Ds at ISO100, 500f4 at f5.6, incident reading to get whatever shutter speed I used, full frame.
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by cjw on Sat Nov 08, 2003 7:14 am
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hey Matt - I was reading a book about a photographer in Africa in the early 1900's and there was a photo of gerenuk. I had never heard of it before and thought it was an amazing animal.

Lucky you! You have captured an excellent image! The composition and light are perfect. You can see every ripple of his muscles. Wonderful!
 

by NDCheryl on Sat Nov 08, 2003 9:00 am
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Matt,

Classic gerenuk photo. Well worth waiting for. The muscle tone is incredible. I am glad you get to see and capture this behaviour. My first trip to Samburu during El Nino was so green that we never saw this behaviour.
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by Bill Keown on Sat Nov 08, 2003 9:25 am
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Great capture. I'll bet you were thrilled. Ecposure perfect to capture the detail of the animal and the nuance of the muscle tone.

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by E.J. Peiker on Sat Nov 08, 2003 10:12 am
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Cool animal and photo.
 

by Tim Grams on Sat Nov 08, 2003 12:04 pm
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Cool picture! The muscle tone really makes the shot. Has he been tested for performance enhancing drugs? :roll:

One really minor nit- the branch coming down between his horns might be cropped out to enhance the image.
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by Cindy Marple on Sat Nov 08, 2003 2:33 pm
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Definitely worth the wait! Looks like you had some pretty nice light too. Good capture of this interesting behavior.
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by Karen S on Sat Nov 08, 2003 3:18 pm
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This is really great. I like the environment included here and the animal is awesome. Great exposure and nice composition.
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by Heather Forcier on Sat Nov 08, 2003 5:34 pm
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Great catch of the behavior, nicely composed. It's even looking at the camera for the photo!
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by Alan Melle on Sat Nov 08, 2003 6:22 pm
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Terrific! Great behavior shot and a fine image.
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by Rich S on Sun Nov 09, 2003 12:57 pm
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Classic gerenuk shot, very well done. Love those dainty front legs contrating with the muscular body.

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by Carol Clarke on Sun Nov 09, 2003 5:22 pm
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Good catch Matt, it is amazing how nature enables some of these antelope to rotate their hip joints in this way so they can stretch up to reach the choicer shoots.

8)
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by Harvey Edelman on Mon Nov 10, 2003 11:58 am
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You caught a great moment. Congrats!
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