Bullish Morning

This bull elephant (Loxodonta africana; Shona: nzou; Indebele: ndlovu) was simply a little curios, testing our reaction to its presence. The moodiness of bull elephants vary depending upon factors, such as age, season, social status and environment. They are solitary and not considered as aggressive as female elephants, with their young. Bulls are moody with greater aggression during the musth period; when their testosterone levels rise dramatically. Those in musth, are usually observed by the weeping of oily substances from the temporal gland, and may charge at anything that provokes them. When not in musth, these beasts can demonstrate calmness, curiosity or playfulness when encountering new situations or objects, such as photographers.

“Nzou hairemerwi nenyanga dzayo.” ^*

(Canon EOS 5D Mark III / EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM; 1/60 sec; f/8; ISO 320; 100mm)

Picture ©2023 Andrew Field – Simply Wild Photography

Digital Wildlife Photographic Tips
Always be sure to adjust your camera settings to suit the lighting and movement conditions, before you set out. Photo opportunities are lost if you do not. Many wildlife photographers prefer to work in aperture priority (set at f/5.6 or lower for shallow depth of field), and then adjust ISO (compensation for low light situations – especially during the golden hour) thus achieving desired shutter speeds (working at 1/500s or higher) to freeze the action and prevent motion blur. Work with ISO set at 320-640 when lighting permits.

^* Literally, an elephant is not burdened by its own tusk, inferring one should be equal to one’s resposibilities.

Stretching in the Larder

A bull elephant honing its food collection skills, which is a common sight in Mana Pools. That tree, Acacia Galpinii (also known as Monkey Thorn), which grows in riverine woodlands, is a favourite for pachyderms in the park. Those apparently sweet leaves will be bursting out in abundance during the spring, the tree will flower and six months later the pods will fall, another favourite delicacy of the elephant. This particular elephant actually lifts itself onto its hind legs and stretches higher into the tree for food. His skills are renowned, not only to photographers, but to the many other elephants which follow him on his feeding route.
(Canon EOS 5D MarkIII / EF 100-400mm f/4.5 L IS II USM; 1/2000 sec; f/5.6; ISO 1250; 170mm)

Picture ©2018 Andrew Field – Simply Wild Photography

 

This image, and others of your selection, can be acquired from the author printed on fine art canvas of photographic paper for wall mounting.

Face to Face

Bull elephants (Loxodonta africana) can be quite curious creatures. This face to face was typical of an encounter between man and beast where the latter has established some trust in humanity. These clever animals actually like to test one’s mettle in a seeming game of dare. You would not survive this encounter with a female elephant. The photographer was seated quietly in bramble with his back to a termite mound, hoping the bull would simply walk on by. It did eventually, but not before a thorough face to face inspection, with its trunk, of the wide eyed intruders.
Population Trend : Increasing; Threat: Vulnerable – Source IUCN
(Canon EOS 5D Mk III/ EF100-400mm IS II USM; 1/160 sec; f/6.3; ISO 640; 100mm)

Picture ©2015 Andrew Field – Simply Wild Photography

A-Z of Photography
Polarising filters only allow light vibrating in a single plane to pass through the filter and are used to eliminate reflections (which emit multi-directional light vibrations) and to deepen blue skies. The filter absorbs light vibrations outside the single plane. Most polarising filters allow a circular movement of the filter piece to enable maximum effect on cameras. Linear polarising filters tend to confuse most digital cameras with autofocus and metering systems.

“I am always surprised when I see several cameras, a gaggle on lenses, filters, meters, et cetera, rattling around in a soft bag with a complement of refuse and dust. Sometimes the professional is the worst offender! ”

– Ansel Adams

Bull Elephant Charge

What would Mana Pools be without the occasional ‘stroppy’ bull elephant (Loxodonta africana)? This young bull decided to exert his ‘territorial’ dominance with a mock charge, starting with the typical head down, trunk extended, much trumpeting and the sudden rush forward stopping short several meters, deliberately kicking up dust and flapping its ears as wide as it can. Just another day in the office! Mana Pools is at the peak of its African bush beauty following goods rains. Everything is green and the Indigofera (tinctoria) are in lush green abundance.
(Canon EOS 5D Mark III/EF70-200mm IS USM + 1.4x; 1/4000 sec; f/4; ISO 1000; 98mm)

Picture ©2015 Andrew Field – Simply Wild Photography

Photography Quotes
David Bailey is a British fashion and portrait photographer who was at one time contracted to Vogue magazine. In 2001 he was awarded the OBE for his services to art and became an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society in 2005 in recognition of his contribution to the art of photography. Bailey is attributed with the quote:

“It takes a lot of imagination to be a good photographer. You need less imagination to be a painter, because you can invent things. But in photography everything is so ordinary; it takes a lot of looking before you learn to see the ordinary.”

This image, and others of your selection, can be acquired from the author printed on fine art canvas of photographic paper for wall mounting.
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Stuck in darkest Africa, lost in the wild and loving it! Don’t let me out of here…

Penis Swinging

Most bull elephants (Loxodonta africana) in the Mana Pools National Park are gentlemen, with a few notable exceptions, but not this one! This beast evidently got out of bed the wrong side and came at the photographer like a steam train with its penis swinging in the wind. Fortunately a mock charge, but one can never be sure, if you do not know the elephant concerned. We did not know this one. These bull elephants seem have great ego and want to show who is boss on their turf. We got the message.
(Canon EOS 5D Mk III/EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM ; 1/400 sec; f/4; ISO 400; 150mm)

Picture ©2014 Andrew Field – Simply Wild Photography