This is an epic and rare image of a Rhino pair in Mating. Taken last month at Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, some 30 odd kilometers from the place I stay here in India. While entering the wildlife park early morning, our guard got the message that Rhino mating is in progress. We immediately rushed to the site and able to reach within 50 meters of the pair. Our Guard was cooperative enough to let us get down from the jeep. Though it was highly risky and dangerous, we managed to spend some 45 minutes capturing the pair. We need to rush back as another male Rhino reached the spot and there was a big fight amongst the two males. Now, that was a different story which I will share with you all later.
Taken this using a Nikon D750 with a Tamron SP 150-600mm G2 lens. Settings were, f/6.3, 1/2000sec, ISO:1600, FL:220mm. As it was early foggy morning and inconsistent light, I have kept the ISO a bit high. Processing is done in LR Classic CC. I have cropped the image, converted to Monochrome, Done some texture and exposure corrections and applied a vignette.
This round’s discussion is now closed! 9 comments posted
Stan Bormann
What an incredible opportunity and you captured it well. The rhinos and foreground are sharp and the background is soft which worked very well. It appears you may of put some vignette on it, but subtle enough that it is very pleasant. This might be an issue with some judges in Nature however. Well done. I suspect you had time to take a number of these. Probably several of them are about equally high quality images. Posted: 01/06/2020 14:19:43
Yes. Fortunate enough to snap lot of images from different angles. Good news is, one of them got a FIAP Gold this month. Having some hope from this one also. Currently entered this in a Open Mono section. Posted: 01/19/2020 07:09:32
Jerry Snyder
This is a very nice capture of a scene few of us have witnessed directly. I like the high-key treatment, especially the light reflection of the skin. It underscores the armor-like skin. You must have been quite close to capture this at 220mm. Thank goodness the rhinos were occupied and not paying attention to you photographers. That's the value of a good guide. Nicely done. Posted: 01/08/2020 12:25:47
You were both lucky and very skillful. I think the vignette gives appropriate emphasis to the subjects. I have found that ISO is less problematic with monochrome's. Fantastic! Posted: 01/08/2020 16:25:05
Don York
I would increase the contrast just a bit, but otherwise a great image capture. Posted: 01/09/2020 13:49:52
John Roach
Wonderful image, Ahbijeet. The tone, texture and composition is very good. I see the bird in the grass as an interesting enhancing element. However, the irregular oblong white thing (what is it?) in the bottom right quadrant is distracting. Because my eye gets pulled there, I suggest removing it or toning it down. Posted: 01/10/2020 07:33:49
It is also an Egret. Kept it considering I will enter this in Nature initially. May remove as I have decided to keep this for Mono Open. Posted: 01/19/2020 07:15:38
Stuart Ord
I don't think I can add any useful comment, except to agree with you all. Super shot. Animal shots at the zoo here never look so very convincing! Posted: 01/13/2020 15:44:51
Adrian Binney
(Groups 72 & 91)
Abhijeet - Visiting from your Nature+ Group of 72 (a colour image from the same session) - I love this B&W one! You were amazingly close to achieve this at 220 mm!
Yes, for B&B world, I would agree with your colleagues here that the right egret is distracting. You will end up having 2 versions of this image, Mono and Nature.
Congratulations on the FIAP Gold! Posted: 01/25/2020 10:50:57
