JPG Magazine: Photos: "Massai Giraffes" by David Rocaberti

Massai Giraffes

By David Rocaberti

On 15 April 2008

Favorited 157 Times

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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

63 Responses

On 15 April 2008 Michael Portugal said:
this is really great! awsome shilouette
On 15 April 2008 Amber Fette gave props:
Beautiful
On 15 April 2008 David Piszczek gave props:
Fantastic image and welcome. Thanks for sharing.
On 15 April 2008 Chris Whitney said:
The animal forms and lone tree with dramatic,beautiful light-you can't ask for a better combination.
On 15 April 2008 Mario Scattoloni gave props:
Excellent. In all respects. Great foto...
On 15 April 2008 lowison gave props:
Really great!!
On 15 April 2008 April Gonzaga gave props:
that is absolutely amazing and I love it
On 16 April 2008 Carmen H. said:
Beautiful photo, beautiful light, great composition
On 16 April 2008 Portia Söderberg gave props:
Wow David this is really really good! You got my vote! Love the narrative that came with the image too!
On 16 April 2008 Jeff Smith said:
Nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Here is my vote!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On 17 April 2008 Iso gave props:
Superb picture! Bravo...
On 17 April 2008 Delores Knowles said:
Wonderful composition. Excellent work all around.
On 17 April 2008 David Rocaberti said:
I really appreciate your support. Thank you all!
On 18 April 2008 Roland Hasseleid gave props:
Great shot, you got my vote.
On 18 April 2008 Nichole Ritchey gave props:
Beautiful picture!
On 19 April 2008 Mojca S. gave props:
I absolutely love everything about this photo!
On 19 April 2008 chris wigmore gave props:
i imagine that the satisfaction of capturing this shot far outweighs any praises of it, but it still needs to be said - beautiful photo
On 19 April 2008 Gail Fleming said:
I wish I could have been there this is beautiful, you get my vote!! If I could I would vote twice.
On 20 April 2008 Andrew Lorimer gave props:
Absolutely Beautiful Capture !!!
On 21 April 2008 jessica wright gave props:
really gorgeous. thanks for sharing the story too. indeed a magical moment.
On 21 April 2008 David deGruchy-Jones gave props:
Stunning - An inspirational shot
On 22 April 2008 Stuart Lloyd said:
In.Cred.I.Ble.
On 23 April 2008 Martin Sarrabayrouse said:
Hell yeah! got my vote for criatures. Lovely pictures dude!
Thank´s for your support on my "street fashion" picture.
On 23 April 2008 Tiberiu Sahlean gave props:
Superb shot! TFS!
On 24 April 2008 Roberts Birze gave props:
Yep! Brilliant.
On 26 April 2008 T.G. Gauthier gave props:
This is absolutely breathtaking.I love animals and Africa.Very beautifully done.
On 27 April 2008 Michael Fuchs gave props:
Really nice composition. The colors and sharp outlines are great
On 27 April 2008 Tricia Bergland said:
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.
On 28 April 2008 Anthony Neste gave props:
great pic...like the crop also,would look good on the wall !
On 28 April 2008 Michelle Lane gave props:
Wow...I'm speechless. Love this!
On 30 April 2008 Nick Edens gave props:
Levely shot. Love the choice to go panoramic on it.
On 30 April 2008 Ken McElroy gave props:
mmmm - it all came together for this shot...and you saw it - wow.
On 1 May 2008 Joseph Radhik gave props:
Wow, and super wow. Reminds me of the line: "Photography is 5% skill, 5% technique/tool and 90% being there." Again, WOW!
On 4 May 2008 Rogério Freitas said:
Great capture.
On 6 May 2008 Ibon Gamecho said:
You have my vote!!!!!!!!! very nice..
On 7 May 2008 Matthew Myers gave props:
Awsommmmmmmmme!!!!!!!!
On 8 May 2008 Melissa Cell said:
amazing.
On 9 May 2008 Belinda Berglof said:
wow, wow, wow, wow, wow. I'm speechless
On 9 May 2008 Anna Batts gave props:
yayyyy. i love love love giraffes. i want to go to africa some day and take their pictures. i love this picture
On 11 May 2008 Foxfire - Charmen Jasmine Hummel gave props:
Wow this picture is Hot - it brings back fond memories of Afrika
On 14 May 2008 Loree McComb said:
Well worth the wait - Fabulous capture
On 15 May 2008 *Peggy.Sue* Harrington gave props:
This is so beautifully done. I love the panorama and the crop is brilliant. Great lighting and silhouettes. Wonderful.
On 17 May 2008 Mr. T gave props:
Wonderful silhouettes!!!
On 18 May 2008 Alvarez Sal gave props:
Absolutelly beautiful!!
On 20 May 2008 Linda Merz gave props:
Nice!
On 20 May 2008 Ray Chiarello gave props:
A magical image, indeed.
On 21 May 2008 John Linton gave props:
Hell yeah! It rocks!
On 22 May 2008 T. Graham gave props:
very pretty shot!
On 24 May 2008 Jesse Farrar said:
Beautiful!
On 26 May 2008 Sugata Banerji gave props:
Just too good for words!
On 26 May 2008 Laurie Search gave props:
Absolutely brilliant and beautiful!
On 28 May 2008 Matthew Cadiz gave props:
This is beautiful.
On 29 May 2008 Jennifer Whalen gave props:
wow. wow.
On 30 May 2008 yano escueta said:
amazing shot!
On 2 June 2008 Jeff Clark gave props:
This is fantastic! Love the crop.
On 2 June 2008 Jennifer Healy gave props:
Freaking amazing
On 3 June 2008 Jo Anne Shinn gave props:
Absolutely amazing... Got my vote!
On 5 June 2008 Brian Daigle said:
wow! Even if this was the only shot you got from the trip, it would still be worth it.
On 8 June 2008 Oregon Curly gave props:
What a marvelous scene/photo. The sight of a lifetime, for sure. Thanks for sharing it.
On 23 June 2008 Jon Farmer gave props:
This is as good as it gets!
On 14 July 2008 Lk Murphy said:
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.
On 7 September 2008 Ikhlef Abdecelem said:
Stunning. Terrific image.
On 20 September 2008 Bonnie Blanton gave props:
Truly one of your best!