Butch Mazzuca  

Timeless Africa by Butch Mazzuca

July 2025 - Timeless Africa

About the Image(s)

Canon 1DX - Canon 100 -400 @ 100mm - ISO 250 - f6.3 - 1/2000th second

Image shot on the Masai Mara in Kenya. This would fit into a wildlife or scenic category but since “story is King” in wildlife, I consider this a wildlife image. When I shoot mammals I always shoot a 1/1000th second or faster, always afraid of movement. Although I could have traded some Tv for either ISO or a narrower aperture, but I think it worked well as is . Comments appreciated - shade on the Masai Mara or the Serengeti is at a premium, so animals always gather anywhere they can. Once we had four lionesses take up squatters rights under the wing of an airplane we were supposed to take to the next camp - no way were these cats moving so we drove for four hours to the next camp - but to me this image epitomizes the African savannah.

7 comments posted

Gaetan Manuel   Gaetan Manuel
This photo tells a story: under a cloudless sky, some animals looking for some shade under a tree.It also shows the vastness of the land.The trunk of the tree in the foreground lies on the 'line of third'. Nice shot!.   Posted: 07/09/2025 11:03:51
Tom McCreary   Tom McCreary
I agree with the title that this is a classic Africa image with the distinctive tree and many animals in its shade. It is good that there are several other animals in the image, maybe some heading to the tree in the distance. The image is very well done. And thanks for the story about the lionesses.   Posted: 07/10/2025 20:58:01
Barbara Mallon   Barbara Mallon
It looks like you tried hard to get rid of the spotty light and in so doing made an unrealistic image. Maybe if you added a bit more contrast back it would work. I don't remember sky that color when I was there. I would crop about half the sky above the tree. Maybe it was smoky from fires.   Posted: 07/14/2025 04:51:14
Tom McCreary   Tom McCreary
Barbara, I don't know that you are talking about. There is a bit of haze in the image that looks natural, but not smoke. And on my monitor I don't see any spotty light or any over editing.   Posted: 07/14/2025 13:55:32
Tomi Kelley   Tomi Kelley
Having just been to South Africa last year, I enjoyed opening up this image. Great number of animals collected under an iconic tree. I agree with Barbara that there is a visible bubble around the tree of lighter sky, at least on my screen it is visible. Though I appreciate the detail in the wildebeests, bringing out the shadow may have sacrificed the feeling of shade that your are trying to emphasize. Maybe dial up the blacks just a bit. But overall, the image calls my heart back to Africa...   Posted: 07/20/2025 16:55:12
Butch Mazzuca   Butch Mazzuca
Thanks for the comments Tomi, much appreciated   Posted: 07/20/2025 17:16:29
Larry Treadwell   Larry Treadwell
(Groups 36 & 67)
When I first looked at this image all I could think of this IS Africa. I loved it so much I opened it to full screen and just fell into the depths of iconic Africa.

Then I saw the tree. Go to the right side of the tree. Count upward two branches. Just above the second branch in the large open area there is a white-ish spot. You can see the same white spots in other areas of the tree branches. To me it looks like processing errors. I'm also going to agree with Tomi about the blacks


I still like the photo.   Posted: 07/27/2025 20:43:48

 

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