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    • Understanding Animal Behavior – Hyaena Hunt

    Spotted hyaena standing in the grass watching a Thompson's gazelle walk across the savanna, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.

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    Previously, we discussed a typical lion hunt and how these large cats use ambush techniques and group hunting tactics to increase their chances of catching their prey.  Of course, lions are not the only large predator found on the savanna, nor are they the only group hunters.  Spotted hyaenas are regularly sighted in grasslands and have proven to be extremely efficient hunters despite the misconception that they are scavengers.  Unlike lions, hyaenas are dogs and have evolved a much different approach to hunting.

    Spotted Hyaenas are pack hunters, but they do not ambush their prey.  Hunting mostly at night, hyaena are outstanding long distance runners.  The quick trot commonly seen in dogs is used to run prey to the point of exhaustion.  As night falls, a pack of hyaenas will spread out and openly approach a herd of antelope.  The antelope respond, moving in the opposite direction.  This process repeats over and over as the hyaenas evaluate their prey.  Over time, individual antelope begin to stand out.  The small, the old, and the injured all have a difficult time keeping up with the herd.  As the night progresses, the hyaenas target these weaker individuals and ignore the rest of the herd.  The hyaenas continue their advance, forcing the antelope to constantly be on the move.  As the hours pass by, the antelope, weak to begin with, can’t maintain the pace and falls to the ground.  It is at this point that the hyaenas move in for the kill.

    Photographic Tips – Unlike the cats, hyaenas and other dogs tend to be involved in prolonged hunts which offer numerous photographic opportunities.  Finding a hyaena pack at sunset can provide the opportunity to watch them begin to work the herd.  Since most of the time is spent in a slow chase, panning and frozen motion shots can be an effective way to document the action.  It can also be effective to record images that include both hyaenas and their prey.  Telephoto lenses help to compress distances and will give the appearance that the predator and prey are closer together then they really are.  Unfortunately, the biggest challenge to photographing these nocturnal hunters is the absence of light.

    The above image shows a spotted hyaena considering its chances of catching an alert Thomson’s gazelle.  The use of a telephoto lens helped to compress the distance, making the antelope appear to be much closer to the hyaena, thereby emphasizing the relationship.  The image was created using a Canon 1D mark 2, 500mm IS lens, at 200 ISO.  The image was shot from a vehicle and the lens was supported using a beanbag.

    Written on February 3rd, 2011 , Africa, Animal Behavior, Photography Information, Tanzania
    Image of the Day – Lion Pride

    Lion yawning in the middle of the pride at sunset, Tarangire National Park, Tanzania.

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    We came across this pride of lions at the end of my daughter’s first day in Africa.  Needless to say, it was a good day.  The image was created using a Canon 1Ds mark 3, 24-70mm lens, at 800 ISO.  The camera was hand held and I was shooting from a vehicle.

    Written on January 17th, 2011 , Africa, Image of the Day, Tanzania
    Understanding Animal Behavior – lion hunt

    Female lion with a wildebeest kill, Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania.

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    All animals need three things to survive: food, water, and shelter.  How they get these things can differ in dramatic ways.  Take lions for instance.  Not only are lions carnivores, but they are the top predators of the savanna.  In a face to face confrontation, few animals can hold their own, much less beat a lion.  Yet finding food is not easy for lions.  Lions have been around for a long time and most of the animals they prey upon have evolved methods of escape that stack the odds against the lion.  A single lion only succeeds in about 15% of its hunts while a pride is successful about 30% of the time.

    So how exactly do lions increase their chances at a successful hunt?  Like most cats, lions are not good distance runners.  They can move quickly, they can not maintain the speed needed to outrace most of their prey.  As a result, lions have had to come up with something else.  Their solution is cooperative hunting, with the members of the pride working together to bring down prey.  In most instances, a hunt begins with 2-3 lions walking in the open towards a herd of zebra (or other prey).  In all likelihood, the zebra see them coming and respond in the obvious way.  They take off in the other direction.  Unfortunately, they are heading into a trap.

    The lions in the open are decoys, moving forward with the sole purpose of generating a response.  The real threat are the lions hiding along the zebras’ escape route.  As zebras pass through this hidden gauntlet they run the risk of becoming dinner.  Once an animal is targeted, the entire pride helps to bring it down.  Cooperative hunting improves their success rate and lets the pride target larger prey then would normally be possible.

    Photographic Tips – How do we use our knowledge of lion hunting to capture better images?  In this case, the lesson to remember is that you probably don’t see all of the lions.  During a hunt it is easy to focus on the decoys (that is their job after all), but that is rarely where the action happens.  Watch for the ambush and be ready to change your focus quickly as the action shifts.  Also, don’t waste too much time focussing on the males.  Females are the real hunters of the pride.

    The lioness pictured above was photographed feeding on a dead wildebeest in Serengeti National Park during one of my African wildlife photo safaris.  Unfortunately, we didn’t see the hunt, only the aftermath.  The image was created using a Canon 1D mark 2, 500mm IS lens, at 200 ISO.  The lens was supported on a beanbag while shooting from a vehicle.

    Written on January 13th, 2011 , Africa, Animal Behavior, Tanzania
    Technique Tuesday: Elements of Composition – Horizontal vs Vertical

    Masai giraffe standing on the African savanna, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.

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    Cameras are designed to shoot in the horizontal format (imagine a rectangle with the longest sides along the top and bottom).  The position of the buttons, the ease of holding the camera, and the very idea that the camera has a right side up encourage us to stay horizontal.  The horizontal format does a great job of encompassing the scene and drawing our eye from one side of the image to the other.  It is ideally suited for wide subjects.

    Unfortunately, not all subjects are suited to the horizontal format.  As photographers, one of our main objectives is to reduce visual clutter.  Incorrect use of the horizontal format forces us to include areas that have nothing to do with the subject, thereby increasing the distractions in the image.

    By turning the camera sideways, we produce a shift in the visual dynamics of the scene.  While the horizontal format emphasizes width, the vertical format emphasizes height.  The physical height of the subject becomes obvious as our eye moves up and down through the frame.

    Each subject is unique and must be evaluated to determine which format will make the most successful image.  As a starting point, ask yourself, “Is taller or wider?”  If the subject is wider then it is tall (a hippo for example), shoot horizontal.  If the subject is taller then it is wide (the giraffe seen above), the image will likely be improved by turning the camera on its side and going vertical.

    This Masai giraffe above was photographed in the northern part of the Serengeti National Park.  Several controlled burns were being conducted in the area, creating a smoky haze that did a great job of diffusing the light.  The image was created using a Canon 1D mark 2, 500mm IS lens, at 200 ISO.  The image was taken from a vehicle and a beanbag was used to provide camera support.

    Written on January 11th, 2011 , Africa, Composition, Photography Information, Tanzania, Technique Tuesday, Understanding Photography Series
    Image of the day – Hyaena with kill

    Spotted hyaena carrying a wildebeest head in its mouth, Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania.

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    The spotted hyaena is one of the most misunderstood animals to be found in Africa.  Long believed to be a scavenger, the hyaena is a perfect example of how partial knowledge can misrepresent reality.  In this case, the image of hyaenas as scavengers came about through direct field observations.  On numerous occasions, scientists would go out into the field to find a pack of hyaenas waiting eagerly on the outskirts as a pride of lions fed at a kill.  As lions ate their fill, hyaenas would sneak in, grabbing small pieces before being chased back.  It wasn’t until the lions finished and abandoned the carcass that the hyaenas would began to feed in ernest.  These observations promoted the hyaena’s image as a lazy scavenger.

    It wasn’t until night vision equipment became readily available to field researchers that the true story was revealed.  It turns out that hyaenas are highly efficient hunters.  In fact, they are far more successful then lions when it comes to hunting.  What scientists discovered is that the majority of lion kills they had been documenting were in fact hyaena kills.  During the night, packs of hyaenas would take down prey, only to have their kill stollen by lions.

    In hindsight, lions seem to be the lazy ones.

    This female spotted hyaena was photographed in Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania during one of my African wildlife photo safaris.  The image was created using a Canon 1D mark 2, 500mm IS lens with a 1.4 teleconverter, at 400 ISO.  The camera and lens were supported on a beanbag while shooting from a vehicle.

    Written on January 10th, 2011 , Africa, Animal Behavior, Image of the Day, Tanzania
    Technique Tuesday: Elements of Composition – Relationships

    Baby olive baboon hugging its mother, Tarangire National Park, Tanzania.

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    How do we move beyond the basic record shot and record something that pulls at our emotions?  One way is to capture interactions.  From lions and cheetah fighting over a kill to a baby baboon turning to its mother for comfort animals are constantly interacting with each other.  The challenge, as a photographer, is to capture those interactions and the relationships they represent when they occur.  Calling relationships an element of composition might be a stretch, but incorporating relationships into your photographs can increase their impact and help them to stand out from the crowd.

    Even when successful, capturing an interaction is often not enough.  The goal is to capture the interaction in such a way as to showcase the relationship in a clear, unambiguous manner.  Good images are simple, without distractions.  The more elements we add, the more potential distractions exist, and the more difficult it is to hold the viewer’s attention.  As a consequence, a good relationship image requires three things:

    • Both animals must be captured in a pleasing manner.  Usually we only have to worry about one animal at a time.  Who cares if the baboon sitting off to the side is drooling while he sleeps.  Unfortunately, we do.  Both subjects must look good or the image will fail.
    • The interaction must be crystal clear.  A lot can be shared in a simple glance, but that doesn’t mean the camera will capture it.  Most interactions do not record well on film and it is only through repeated attempts that we have a chance to capture the few that do.
    • Eliminate all distractions.  This might seem obvious, but it is essential.  If there are any other distractions, the viewer will not focus on the relationship.

    Interactions are a one of the most difficult, yet rewarding aspects of wildlife photography.  While our attempt to photograph them fail more often then not, the successes are often the some of our most compelling images.

    This mother and baby baboon were photographed in Tarangire National Park during a wildlife photo safari.  As often happens when photographing a troop of baboons, photographic opportunities could be found in every direction.  The key is to slow down and look of the little interactions and relationships that result in strong images.  Just such an opportunity presented itself when I spotted this young baboon hugging its mother.  The image was captured using a Canon 1D mark 2, 500mm IS lens, at 800 ISO.  The image was shot from a vehicle using a beanbag to support the lens.

    Written on December 28th, 2010 , Africa, Composition, Photography Information, Tanzania, Technique Tuesday, Understanding Photography Series
    Image of the Day – Predawn Elephant

    A young elephant walking through the grass before dawn, Tarangire National Park, Tanzania.

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    This young elephant was photographed before dawn one morning in Tarangire National Park.  It was really me first opportunity to test out the high ISO settings on the Canon 1D mark 4 and I loved the results.  Remember, this image was taken when it was almost completely dark.  The small amount of noise is great, but what caught my attention the most is the different colors that stand out on the elephant.  The blues of the moist skin and the red dust on body show a subtlety that is often overlooked in the brighter light of day.

    The image was captured using a Canon 1D mark 4, 500mm IS lens, at 1600 ISO.  The elephant was photographed from a vehicle with a beanbag used to support the lens.

    Written on December 20th, 2010 , Africa, Image of the Day, Tanzania
    Busy Week – Back on Monday

    Two lion cubs lying next to water, Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania.

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    Talk about a busy week.  Between final exams at school (the students have to take them, but then I have to grade them) and my daughter’s performance schedule (she is a member of a singers group that is performing this holiday season), there is very little time for anything else.  I will be back on Monday with our regular posting schedule.  In the meantime, have a great week.

    Written on December 16th, 2010 , Africa, Personal, Tanzania
    Image of the Day – Leopard at Rest

    Leopard sleeping in a tree, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.

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    I love capturing closeup images of wildlife that show the little details.  Sometimes, however, it is a good idea to step back and go for the big picture.

    This leopard was photographed in Serengeti National Park during a wildlife photo safari.  The image was made using a Canon 1D mark 4, 500mm IS lens with a 1.4 teleconverter, at 400 ISO.  The image was shot from a vehicle and a beanbag was used to support the lens.

    Written on December 6th, 2010 , Africa, Image of the Day, Tanzania
    First Out – Last Back

    Three elephants at sunset, Tarangire National Park, Tanzania.

    (click on the image to see larger version)

    What is the best way to increase your chances of capturing the perfect wildlife photograph?  Simple, you need to be where the animals are.  This means being in the field when the animals are active, which means getting up early and staying out late.

    I am not a morning person.  Given the choice, my morning wouldn’t start until 9 o’clock.  Unfortunately, wildlife photography does’t give me that option. Animals are active during the early and late hours of the day, so that is when I need to be out there.  If you want to capture good wildlife images, you have to be the first one out there and the last one to go home.

    This image was captured right at sunset in Tarangire National Park, Tanzania.  The image was created using a Canon 1Ds mark 3, 24-70mm lens, at 400 ISO.  The image was shot from a vehicle and the camera was supported with a beanbag.

    Written on December 3rd, 2010 , Africa, Photography Information, Tanzania, Understanding Photography Series
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    Through the lens with Chris Gamel

    Musings of a photographic educator.