About one hour before dusk, the vast territories of the savanna in the Masaai Mara National Park apparently remained in calm. Thick clouds covered the sky but the land didn't get any rain at all, already for a long time. The dwellers of the Kenyan plateau looked forward even a single drop to be poured.
In drought season, animals are anxious waiting for the rain. Grass gets dry and while herbivores must find a better place to graze, carnivores see how the amount of possible targets to hunt decreases enormously as they see their bodies loss mass quickly
I was quite excited at that moment, fulfilling an old dream I had for years. Definitely I realized I was there, in one of the most amazing places in earth, where the thin line between being dead or alive is just too easy to cross. In spite of my fulfilled dream, I wasn’t as happy as I should have been. The reason was unbeatable: I was already in Kenya for a week and so far I didn’t take a decent picture. The animals were too far to get them close enough with my telephoto and if I had any opportunity, somebody moved my camera while capturing. This kind of things happens when you can’t afford a private guide…
The thing is that I was as anxious as any other animal over there. I was totally hungry…hungry for taking good pictures.
Suddenly, the moment I was waiting for finally came. One of the nicest visions I am lucky to have seen appeared in my eyes. A ray of light could finally trespass the last cloud layers so it painted the whole landscape of the nicest warm colours. Meanwhile in the horizon, a group of Massai Giraffes made its way towards the Serengeti in Tanzania. They walked as elegant as an animal can do, with an amazing both style and serenity, realizing no one can harm them as they remain the tallest animal over the land. No predator dares to get kicked by such a powerful leg. Luckily for them, giraffes are not afraid of humans either, because as far as Kenyan law is concerned, hunting is strictly forbidden. Kenyan Rangers would shoot to death the trespassers, if any dared to...
With no time to lose, I asked the guide to get closer, and as he always did he accepted to do so. In a quick response, he set the giraffes between both sun and us. I can hardly describe how awesome the view was. I may say I will never forget the way I fell that day...
Sometimes magic happens. It certainly does
60 responses
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Michael Portugal said (15 Apr 2008):
this is really great! awsome shilouette
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Amber Fette gave props (15 Apr 2008):
Beautiful
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Chris Whitney said (15 Apr 2008):
The animal forms and lone tree with dramatic,beautiful light-you can't ask for a better combination.
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Mario Scattoloni gave props (15 Apr 2008):
Excellent. In all respects. Great foto...
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lowison gave props (15 Apr 2008):
Really great!!
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April Gorzalski gave props (15 Apr 2008):
that is absolutely amazing and I love it
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Carmen H. said (16 Apr 2008):
Beautiful photo, beautiful light, great composition
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Portia Söderberg gave props (16 Apr 2008):
Wow David this is really really good! You got my vote! Love the narrative that came with the image too!
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Jeff Smith said (16 Apr 2008):
Nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Here is my vote!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Iso gave props (17 Apr 2008):
Superb picture! Bravo...
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Delores Knowles said (17 Apr 2008):
Wonderful composition. Excellent work all around.
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David Rocaberti said (17 Apr 2008):
I really appreciate your support. Thank you all!
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Roland Hasseleid gave props (18 Apr 2008):
Great shot, you got my vote.
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Nichole Ritchey gave props (18 Apr 2008):
Beautiful picture!
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Mojca Savicki gave props (19 Apr 2008):
I absolutely love everything about this photo!
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chris wigmore gave props (19 Apr 2008):
i imagine that the satisfaction of capturing this shot far outweighs any praises of it, but it still needs to be said - beautiful photo
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Gail Fleming said (19 Apr 2008):
I wish I could have been there this is beautiful, you get my vote!! If I could I would vote twice.
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Andrew Lorimer gave props (20 Apr 2008):
Absolutely Beautiful Capture !!!
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jessica wright gave props (21 Apr 2008):
really gorgeous. thanks for sharing the story too. indeed a magical moment.
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David deGruchy-Jones gave props (21 Apr 2008):
Stunning - An inspirational shot
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Stuart Lloyd said (22 Apr 2008):
In.Cred.I.Ble.
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Martin Sarrabayrouse said (23 Apr 2008):
Hell yeah! got my vote for criatures. Lovely pictures dude!
Thank´s for your support on my "street fashion" picture. -
Tiberiu Sahlean gave props (23 Apr 2008):
Superb shot! TFS!
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Roberts Birze gave props (24 Apr 2008):
Yep! Brilliant.
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Michael Fuchs gave props (27 Apr 2008):
Really nice composition. The colors and sharp outlines are great
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Tricia Bergland said (27 Apr 2008):
Phenomenal shot. I guess it was worth the wait of a week to get this prize. Thanks for sharing the photo and the great story.
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Anthony Neste gave props (28 Apr 2008):
great pic...like the crop also,would look good on the wall !
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Nick Edens gave props (30 Apr 2008):
Levely shot. Love the choice to go panoramic on it.
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Ken McElroy gave props (30 Apr 2008):
mmmm - it all came together for this shot...and you saw it - wow.
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Joseph Radhik gave props (1 May 2008):
Wow, and super wow. Reminds me of the line: "Photography is 5% skill, 5% technique/tool and 90% being there." Again, WOW!
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Rogério Freitas said (4 May 2008):
Great capture.
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Ibon Gamecho said (6 May 2008):
You have my vote!!!!!!!!! very nice..
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Matthew Myers gave props (7 May 2008):
Awsommmmmmmmme!!!!!!!!
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Melissa Cell said (8 May 2008):
amazing.
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Belinda Berglof said (9 May 2008):
wow, wow, wow, wow, wow. I'm speechless
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Anna Batts gave props (9 May 2008):
yayyyy. i love love love giraffes. i want to go to africa some day and take their pictures. i love this picture
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Loree McComb said (14 May 2008):
Well worth the wait - Fabulous capture
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Ray Chiarello gave props (20 May 2008):
A magical image, indeed.
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John Linton gave props (21 May 2008):
Hell yeah! It rocks!
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T. Graham gave props (22 May 2008):
very pretty shot!
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Jesse Farrar said (24 May 2008):
Beautiful!
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Sugata Banerji gave props (26 May 2008):
Just too good for words!
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Laurie Search gave props (26 May 2008):
Absolutely brilliant and beautiful!
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Matthew Cadiz gave props (28 May 2008):
This is beautiful.
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Jennifer Whalen gave props (29 May 2008):
wow. wow.
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yano escueta said (30 May 2008):
amazing shot!
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Jeff Clark gave props (2 Jun 2008):
This is fantastic! Love the crop.
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Jennifer Healy gave props (2 Jun 2008):
Freaking amazing
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Jo Anne Rodrick gave props (3 Jun 2008):
Absolutely amazing... Got my vote!
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Brian Daigle said (5 Jun 2008):
wow! Even if this was the only shot you got from the trip, it would still be worth it.
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Oregon Curly gave props (8 Jun 2008):
What a marvelous scene/photo. The sight of a lifetime, for sure. Thanks for sharing it.
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Jon Farmer gave props (23 Jun 2008):
This is as good as it gets!
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Lk Murphy said (14 Jul 2008):
lol - I'm really not a stalker, but OMG - your photos are amazing. I could cry because you capture all the places I want to go - so I'm actually going to BECOME a stalker for that reason. (jk) wow. I'm totally impressed.
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Ikhlef A. said (7 Sep 2008):
Stunning. Terrific image.
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Bonnie Blanton gave props (20 Sep 2008):
Truly one of your best!
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Joerg Fritz gave props (13 Nov 2008):
Great panorama, very beautiful light!
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Gloria Childers gave props (10 Jan 2009):
A picture worth saving as it wont be long this site will be gone forever.How sad will that be. :-( A++++++
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Alexandra Zimmer gave props (8 Feb 2009):
stunning. makes me wish i could take such great pictues as this.
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Kendra Kiršonis said (26 May 2009):
Stunning!
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Natalia Presztolanszky gave props (25 Oct 2009):
Just simple: OMG!!!
