Rangers grip, by Nature Photographer:
How DPNow Pictures of the Day are selected
See the previous POTD from yesterday, Friday, 24rd Nov.
Vote for November's Picture of the Month
The new DPNow forum and gallery has attracted several outstanding wildlife photographers, including
Andy Bright,
Wild Images (Callie) and
Nature Photographer (Gerhard Theron). The first two are previous DPNow Picture of the Day contributors but I'm sure both will be impressed by today's picture, contributed by Gerhard.
Called Ranger's Grip, it pictures a Lilac Breasted Roller (the second to be featured in POTD) in the middle of a snack. The pose, the snapshot in time, the sharpness - they are all superb.
Gerhard explains: "I used a Canon 20D and a Canon EF 100-400mm IS L USM lens for the photo." It was take in Pilanesberg Nature Reserve in Gerhard's native South Africa. "This reserve, much like the Ngorogoro, is also situated in a crater. The roller sat on a branch on the left side of the road and I got some pictures of it. It swooped down and grabbed the koringkriek (translated=wheatcricket) right in front of the vehicle. It flew up and sat in the tree on the right where I got this photo." Simple as that.
If you might be wondering if Gerhard is a pro wildlife photographer, think again: "I am a group finance manager and spend all of my free time to take wildlife and nature photos. Nothing compares to being out there in nature."
Rangers grip, by Nature Photographer:
Click on the picture to see a larger view of this picture in Gerhard's gallery>
(Free forum/gallery registration required)
On the technical side, the picture was shot at 1/200th, which is on the slow side for a long telephoto shot and at f/8, though this relatively small aperture did not cost the picture its undistracting background blur.
There are plenty more great shots in
Gerhard's gallery, some of which will undoubtedly feature as future DPNow POTDs.
Are you up to the task of being selected for the DPNow POTD? All you need to do is exhibit your pictures on the free
DPNow photo gallery and maybe we'll be in touch!
