Adrian Binney, EPSA, LRPS
October 2025 - Hippo disturbing the Migration
Original
About the Image(s)
Migration period at the Masai Mara is spectacular wildlife spectacle. I was lucky enough to be there in August 2015 which was just after I had moved from Canon to Olympus (because of the huge weight difference, particularly in wildlife lenses).
I think it is quite unusual for hippos to venture near where thousands of wildebeest and zebras are crossing, but this chap decided he would and he certainly spooked the animals. They came thundering round the corner, down the hill - then got spooked!
Settings - 1/800 f 5.6 ISO200 at 136mm (FF 272).
PP all in Lightroom, I thought this would look OK as a mono. The 2nd version is the unprocessed Raw file.
14 comments posted
That is a very unusual wildlife image. Congratulations on being nimble enough to capture it! You really got great depth of field with a f 5.6 setting. Two suggestions for something to try -- increase the contrast to get some deeper blacks and also try putting a vignette around the edges to focus the viewer on the action in the middle. This is really an excellent shot! Have you made a print? Posted: 10/07/2025 15:51:23
Bob - Huge thanks for your comments here. As a wildlife photographer, I try to get the animals detail to show through and by so doing, I lighten their shadows. By making them too black I fear their detail will be lost.
Having said that, I fully take on board your point re blacks and I will look at the landscape and its contrast, which could do with changing. Vignettes are not allowed in Nature images (that look unnatural anyway) - but I agree that selective shading would help at bottom right and to the right of the zebra.
Thank you for your comments - helpful. Posted: 10/20/2025 05:38:14
Having said that, I fully take on board your point re blacks and I will look at the landscape and its contrast, which could do with changing. Vignettes are not allowed in Nature images (that look unnatural anyway) - but I agree that selective shading would help at bottom right and to the right of the zebra.
Thank you for your comments - helpful. Posted: 10/20/2025 05:38:14
Congratulation for being in the right place at the right time. The Hippo is on crossing duty, I did not know that the Zebra's would run with them, so that is a surprise. Does not look like any crocs waiting for them. Great wildlife image and must have been a sight to see. Posted: 10/13/2025 10:59:02
Apparently some 400,000 zebra migrate across the Mara River, with about 3 times that of wildebeest. They are all v nervous of the crocodiles - which we saw many times over the few days there (with horrible consequences). Many thanks for your comments. Posted: 10/20/2025 06:14:27
Adrian, what a sight you have captured here. It must have been something to see with the hippo on guard and spooking the wildebeest and zebras as they made their way into the water crossing. We were there in 2020 and learned that hippos are extremely territorial and aggressive. I appreciate how all the action is sharp. I agree with Bob regarding contrast and to maybe adjust the highlights from the dust on the down slope. Great capture and image. Posted: 10/19/2025 21:29:36
Thank you Mary and I am learning about mono techniques from comments/views I get from here. Posted: 10/25/2025 19:09:59
This picture, the dream for a photographer ...
Just great.
I like the picture so, with the highlight, it's livelier, but less dramatic (if it is has more contrast). Your choice.
Well done to crop on the left.
Such picture "has to be printed" in large dimensions if you have place... Posted: 10/21/2025 09:06:38
Just great.
I like the picture so, with the highlight, it's livelier, but less dramatic (if it is has more contrast). Your choice.
Well done to crop on the left.
Such picture "has to be printed" in large dimensions if you have place... Posted: 10/21/2025 09:06:38
Thank you Vincent Posted: 10/25/2025 19:08:08
Great catch of some dramatic action. At first I did not see the hippos swimming in the background as the wildebeest, zebras and hippo in the foreground pull the attention and keep you there. The composition with the river and dry ground coming in from bottom right and leading in then back out top right brings the viewer through the image in a great flow.
It appears to be a little bright and I wonder if some selective adjustments might give it more depth. I made adjsutments to the water, the animals, the foregound hippo, the background hippos and the land where the others are coming through. Let me know hat you think. Posted: 10/21/2025 21:48:32
It appears to be a little bright and I wonder if some selective adjustments might give it more depth. I made adjsutments to the water, the animals, the foregound hippo, the background hippos and the land where the others are coming through. Let me know hat you think. Posted: 10/21/2025 21:48:32
David - thank you for your time here. I v much like what you have done particularly with the water plus the animals pop more. I will study yours more when I return home. This is why I was keen to join this group and learn! Posted: 10/25/2025 19:06:59
Your choice of SS is ideal for this image. The way you have "stopped" the wildebeest, in flight, makes for very interesting viewing. Additionally, the collection of Zebra, about to enter the river, great focus. This is a wonderful image! Posted: 10/22/2025 17:18:59
SS? Posted: 10/23/2025 17:59:30
shutter speed Posted: 10/23/2025 20:04:27
Thanks Paul Posted: 10/25/2025 19:04:14