Pula, a photo from North-West, North

Photographer's Note

I am filling up a few holes in my map here with a posting from Botswana - so the first question is should I have waited for another trip and better photographs, or is this good enough to make it in to my portfolio on merit (I will not be filling in the Mocambique hole - I do have a few photographs, but nothing even close to good enough).

Botswana, as a mainly desert country is obsessed with rain - personal greetings ask about the last rain, the currency is named after rain (Pula is Setswana for rain), the flag has quite a lot of symbolic water on it. Chobe National Park lies on the Chobe river (which meets up with the Zambesi a little bit downstream), and like the Okovango Delta is one of the few genuinely water-filled areas of the country.

I have met a few travellers who found driving (even with a decent four-wheel drive) through Chobe to be a bit of an underwhelming experience - possibly because, with a massive source of water in the river, the game concentrates on the water-side. The river tours, which take in elephant, hippos, crocs, fish-eagles and lots of antelope are highly recommended. There is decent camping and accomodation either in the reserve (at a bit of a premium), or in the nearby towns of Kazane or Kazangula.

Kazangula is a ferry-based border crossing and goes through the point in the Zambesi where four-countries meet at a point (I think the only place in the world where this happens). The Zambian side of the border has a bit of a reputation, but with some patience, asking each official exactly which line to go to next, checking up in advance what the charges should be (especially the compulosory car insurance which is a target for rip-off artists) and keeping a smile on ones face, it can be a nice little adventure in itself: and you are only 40 or 50 kms from Livingstone and Vic Falls in Zambia.

holmertz, jhm, pajaran, ktanska, danos, Cricri, GyurMaster, alvaraalto heeft deze opmerking als nuttig gemarkeerd

Critiques | Translate

lousat (139332) 2016-12-21 3:28

Hi Iain,a new beautiful pic from your last trip in this natural paradise! I like a lot the very original composition,made by green and grey lines and with the rhino as a special big bonus...ehhee..absolutely unique and different,good sharpness too despite the distance and the difficult light. Have a nice day and thanks,Luciano

holmertz (102774) 2016-12-21 3:56

Hello Iain,
This is a fantastic photo, simple and graphically attractive and very interesting. Surely it is good enough!
Regards,
Gert

jhm (211736) 2016-12-21 4:16

Hello Iain,

Your picture is very unique with the water Buffalo on the green part of the picture.
Also a wonderful panorama about the area.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

Sergiom (117241) 2016-12-21 4:58

Bonjour Iain,

Très jolie composition avec l’hippopotame en point d'orgue. Bizarrement par contre, le focus s'est fait sur une bande d'herbe à l'avant plan plutôt que sur le sujet principal.

Amicalement

Serge

No_One (4) 2016-12-21 5:37

Hi Iain,
I like this very much, the three distinct stripes of green look great, and you've used those nicely to make this immense animal look quite small inside the frame. A nice one for me to see this animal in its natural environment too, I did see the hippos in Dublin zoo recently, but even with the large pen, it just doesnt seem right to have them there.
best wishes
Noel

abmdsudi (95869) 2016-12-21 6:25

Hi Iain
Oh,, to be a hippo and laze about in the water!!!

Very interesting scenario suggesting rainy day by putting more emphasis on the abundance of pula- water dominating rather than this easy going heavyweights as your sharp focus is more on the fore and mid grounds. The eye catching green lead lines breaks as an appropriate base to the scene and this gives us a real feel of depth and perspective. Lovely simplicity and gentle shot showing a fine beast in his typical, pristine habitat. Thanks to your detailed informative description accompanying this shot, Congrats
Best wishes

Tue (92470) 2016-12-21 9:57

Hello Iain,
I like the composition here a lot, consisting of those different horizontal lines which alternates between some calm water and fresh green grass. The hippo roaming the shoreline is very well included too. The note is very informative and it is always nice to fill a hole in the map!
Lars

ktanska (44804) 2016-12-21 11:58

Hi Iain,
Only you make that decision. I would never deem a shot not worthy for upload.
I like those green stripes, and a hippo is certainly impressive encounter. Perhaps not a rare sight over there, but impossible in those places where they don't live.
Focus is in foreground, and that has happened all too often to me too. And quite typically on such water features where contrast changes all over the depth of field.
Kari

emka (158204) 2016-12-21 23:34

Hello Iain, I think it is good enough and when you have another one you can always post it too. Excellent composition with this hippo going on a thin stripe of grass. I have seen in Chobe many hippos quite close but they all were in water. Attractive view of this dangerous animal.
Kind regrads Malgo

danos (110407) 2016-12-22 2:43

Hello Iain,
lovely shot with the rhino to be the eye catching of the image.I like the created green layers in the lake with the whole scenery to looks so peaceful as unique too.

Excellent presentation.

Cricri (176) 2016-12-22 10:56

Hi Iain
Une image étonnante , particulière avec les morceaux herbes et la présence de l'animal, une image unique bien présenter
belle soirée
cricri

GyurMaster (24840) 2016-12-23 11:32

Hello Iain,

Sensational photo witht the stripes of land and water. Of course the presence of the Hyppo makes it even more interesting.

Best wishes,
Gy,

PS: Merry Christmas!

fabianoleite (13575) 2016-12-24 5:19

Hello. Very interesting work with the composition, creating layers with the strips of green and the waters, and teh hippo very well located on the top right corner. Very well done, congratulations!

alvaraalto (42804) 2016-12-24 5:27

Hello Iain
Maybe the technical quality could be better, but it isn’t certain that you be in the position to improve the quality of the pixels with the same scene we absolutely won’t miss.
The unique combination of the green tongues in the water and the hippopotamus walking on one. Don’t hesitate to post this kind of attractive compositions.
Excellent work
Have a Good Christmas
Groet Rob

kasianowak (17676) 2016-12-31 10:39

Hi Iain
I really like the minimalism and graphic qualities of this image. Can't help but compare it to Gursky but yours is of course better with the hippo to add interest. :-)
Best wishes
Kasia