Northern Elephant Seals, by Charles Annen:
How DPNow Pictures of the Day are selected
Charles is a relative newcomer to the DPNow discussion forum and photo gallery and posts under the name 'Changeling'. Charles' engaging shot of a pair of Elephant Seals, apparently cuddling up to one another, caught the DPNow Picture of the Day eye.
"They are part of a yearly migration to central California from the Arctic that nearly ended years ago when they were hunted to near extinction," Explains Charles, who adds: "At one time they numbered in the tens and now through a serious protection and management plan they number in the tens of thousands. The males are huge, like up to 3000 lbs."
The Seals' expressions are the winner, backed up by that friendly flipper gesture. Technically, there is an imperfection in the form of some motion blur caused by the top Seal moving his nose during the exposure, but that doesn't spoil the overall effect of a wildlife shot with charm and hunmour.
"This capture was taken on 27th February 2007 just after sunrise near San Simeon, California and depicts an amorous interloper trespassing on the beachmasters harem," Charles says, adding that: "You can almost see the look of terror in the left eye and passion in the other."
Northern Elephant Seals,
by Charles Annen:
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Click on the picture to see a larger view in Charles' gallery.
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And what about Charles? "I am an amateur photographer using Olympus four thirds, my first digital, whose main interest is wildlife. My equipment consists of an E500 dual lens kit , a Zuiko ED 300mm f2.8 combined with an EC14 converter." With the 2x Four Thirds equivalence factor, that's like an 840mm f/4 telephoto! Charles continues: "I attach it all to a Wimberley II gimble style head on a Gitzo 1348 tripod. I am anxiously awaiting the soon to be next generation E3 due in September."
Charles is quite frank about his commitment to wildlife: "Quite honestly I am incurably curious about evolution and all that has come of it and will dress as a bush waiting undetected for a capture all the while in a complete bliss."
Do you have an interesting story to tell about a special photo of yours? DPNow POTDs are selected exclusively from photos uploaded to the DPNow photo gallery. If you haven't already done so, why not register for free access to both the DPNow discussion forum and photo gallery and show some of your own photos? A POTD could be yours one day!
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