Bruce Benson
February 2025 - Murchinson Falls Elephants
About the Image(s)
I was happy to get all of the elephants in this group facing the camera. There are many poachers in Murchison Falls National Wildlife Refuge, Uganda. I even have some images of young elephants missing part of their trunks after getting them caught in wire snares. This area of Uganda was plagued by Joseph Coney who had an army that would kidnap your children and force them to fight in his army. Many of the children would walk to the small city of Gulu every night stay safe. Coney has left Uganda and is now in Congo. Elephants are midtone so little adjustment was made other than cropping.
Canon 1DX/ Canon 400 2.8 MK II
6 comments posted
Bruce - This is a gorgeous photo. While everything about it seems more or less perfect, I particularly like the framing of the elephants. I'm curious about how things looked in the scene at the time. Were there lots of other elephants around and did you consciously decide to focus on this group? Did you crop others out in the post processing? Seeing this group clustered together with so many of them seemingly looking right into the camera is such a treat. Posted: 02/05/2025 02:21:26
Bruce, thank you for the added information. Africa is so vast, that even in the national Parks there are poachers, and elephants are # 1 in their list for the ivory. Lovely group of elephants. Image is sharp. Interesting add on the little bird in front of the elephant on the left. Posted: 02/08/2025 20:14:22
Bruce, the information you shared on the plight of these beautiful creatures and Isaac's additional comments on the dangers that they deal with in their daily lives are heartbreaking. Getting all of them to face the camera must have been a special moment. Very impressive image. Posted: 02/16/2025 19:05:42
Thanks Maria, I have also seen elephants missing their tail after an attack from lions, they are amazing animals and feel fortunate to have had the chance to see them in the wild. Bruce Posted: 02/17/2025 18:05:36
Hi Bruce, I really like the group of elephants facing you, isolated from the background and showing plenty of detail in their bodies.
It's a well-composed image, telling a nice story. My only suggestion would be to crop a little from the top to create an even more powerful image. Posted: 02/20/2025 00:10:47
It's a well-composed image, telling a nice story. My only suggestion would be to crop a little from the top to create an even more powerful image. Posted: 02/20/2025 00:10:47
Bruce - very nice image of a group of elephants - your info I suppose is not surprising, but troubling never the less. Let's hope their life improves over time as more and more people understand what is happening and care. Posted: 02/21/2025 15:32:03