Zebras, Giraffes and Rhinos, Oh My

We’ve now reached the last post from my photographers’ trip to Woburn Safari Park back in late 2012, and as you might have guessed from the title, this post is going to be a bit of a menagerie. On top of the aforementioned giraffes, zebras and rhinos, which I should note are amongst the easiest of animals to recognise, there’s also a bear, and an assortment of antelopey type things that I’m less certain of. Animals still aren’t really my strongpoint. I did A-level biology, but it turns out there isn’t as much wholesale memorisation of entire species catalogues as you’d expect a biologist to have (also it turned out I was much better at physics. And then went to university to study media anyway).

Unlike my last post from Woburn, in which we ended the day on foot covered in lemurs, these shots were taken earlier in the day when we were still being driven around in a Land Rover, getting up close to the sorts of creatures that want to eat you. Fortunately, most of those were the lions and tigers we’ve already seen; the worse these animals are likely to do to you is inflict a horrific, likely fatal puncture would with their horns, antlers or other spiky bits. But at least they won’t eat you.

That guy’s horns are a bit curved. Not so good for straight-through impalings, although I guess the roundness could cause a nasty wound. This next guy would do much better at a through-and-through.

Even so, his horns are pointing backwards which is a bit of a disadvantage. If you’re looking for a classic injury you need something with a front-facing horn and a penchant for running at you.

The rhinos were great. Like the lions and tigers, they are the sorts of creatures it’s just amazing to see in person, especially as we could get so close in the 4×4 we were in.

As I often do, I figured the textures of the rhinos (for there were two) would work really well in monochrome.

Fortunately at times the rhinos were prepared to pose together for me.

Although eventually they wandered off.

The next thing we saw was this thing, which is an animal of some sort, I think.

Probably.

Moooooo.

Speaking of moo, I can’t look at this next image without hearing “Don’t kid yourself, Jimmy. If a cow ever got the chance, he’d eat you and everyone you care about.”

As we continued to drive about, we caught sight of something asleep on a tree.

This is one occasion where if somebody had a sat-nav on them, it would have been perfect if it had randomly said, “bear right”.

And then, we got to the giraffes.

Fortunately the giraffes seemed to be quite keen to look directly at me.

Although, as is often the case, they also looked at some of the other photographers.

As part of the day, the tour guide had brought with him some food to tempt the animals. Because that sort of thing worked out really well in Jurassic Park.

At least it got their attention.

However it quickly started resembling something out of Giraffic Park again.

And with all the attention, even the resident shy giraffe decided to chance a glance at what was going on.

They soon took the bait.

I switched to my wider angle for a better view of the giraffe. They’re quite tall.

The wider angle lens (which was my 18-135mm back then) also allowed for a contextual shot including part of the jeep we were in. It undermines the ‘out in the wilderness’ feel but is an interesting shot nonetheless.

With the giraffes fed, we continued on our safari, and soon came across a zebra. As you’d expect, I felt it would be a good idea to make the image black and white.

I like the monochrome look, but if anything I perhaps should have upped the contrast a bunch more.

Looking at this guy from the front, it occurs to me that I’d never realised how truly peculiar zebras look. They’re black and white striped, with weird Mickey Mouse ears and Goofy noses. And yet, they’re beautiful.