Ditto what herderdog said...these are awesome. Lucky you to get to go on these wonderful trips! I'll bet you have tons of stories as well as photos.

Stunning shots, Susan. Great to see these animals so close up that you can see their muscle structure and just how tough a trip it is for them. I am so glad you had your 500 available to really capitalize on this scene. The last shot is a real stunner. Can't wait for the next series.

Awesome... #4 is my favorite. I love the composition and the clamoring drama of the exit from the crossing. Very nice.

Wow, these are fantastic takes, and thanks for sharing
Bruce

Wow Sue, I'm moved by your incredible images and narrative, life is so precarious and the plight of these animals tugs my heartstrings.

Beautiful shots, Susan. You've really captured the all the drama involved in the crossing. The first and last are my favorites. Thanks for sharing,
Socrate

Great shots Sue. I like them all but the B&W with dust takes it for me.

Brian

A rear posting in the forum. Needless to say the capturing is excellent. Thanks for sharing your experience and excitement.

Jude

Claude wrote:
Wow, what a great experience you had! Very impressive captures, especially the 500L closeups. The b/w is a wall hanger
Claude

Many thanks Claude!! Gero is taking full credit for that one.
Susan

RT v Genugten wrote:
Beautiful scenery with a stunning B&W conversion!
Just the regular things of the wildebeasts on a regular day.... Amazing!

Thanks so very much - and you're right - every day is like this for the beests...
Susan

Doug Bentlage wrote:
Another amazing and powerful series Susan! Favorites are 1, 6 and 7, thank you for sharing this experience.
Doug

Thanks, Doug, especially for your picks - be well!
Susan

camerapapi wrote:
Absolutely beautiful shots and very well done. I like the b&w conversion.
I find them all spectacular.
William Rodriguez
Miami, Florida.

Thank you William!!!! (As does Gero, I'm sure!!! And let me clarify - he was crucial - but I *did* add some of my own changes -- but.... Gero was key!)
Susan

seann robinson wrote:
i wanna go to africa!!!! thanks for the inspiration.

Go go go go go. Nothing more to say!
Susan

David Pennell wrote:
What was your lens choice for #1 ? I like them all but the B+W conversion is my favorite. Thanks for sharing.

All but #2 were with a 500mm lens that was handheld but braced against my knees (sitting on the bank). Thanks!
Susan

Chris Willis wrote:
Susan, those are great. I am really hoping that we will catch a crossing, either at the Grumeti River or the Mara River, when we go to Tanzania in July '09. I hope we get as lucky as you did, and these pictures are splendid illustrations of the brutal obstacles the wildebeests and zebra face multiple times per year as they cycle between the Mara and the Serengeti.
Chris
www.pbase.com/cwillis


Thanks Chris - sorry out paths won't cross this coming June, that would have been fun!
Susan

floris wrote:
That last one is really lovely, fantastic emotion and dynamic feel in this one.

Many thanks, Floris - that one stood out for me too!
Susan

Wow! I'm really in awe. #1 just captures it for me. The tones and the reflections with the intense struggle of the beest is such a strong image. It is truly biblical...
Your images always impress, but this one really shines in my opinion. I would love to see this in a BIG print. (I'd be happy to try to make a worthy print, if you don't make your own. ) Of course , I like #4 and the b&w is beautiful, too. But #1 captures the intensity of the crossing in a very powerful way.
stuart

Great work Susan. I hope to be as fortunate when I'm there in February. However, I'm with gerov - I think a croc or two might up the drama a few notches (as long as it's not me crossing the river)!!!!!!

Jay

WOW, awesome images, wish I could go there
Dave

What a treat, Susan! I can hear the Paul Simon song in the background...the 1st and
last are my favorites, thanks for sharing these.

alameda wrote:
Wow and another Wow! Such wonderful shots. My heart rate increased by the excitement your shots carried. Steve W

Multo thanks, Steve and sorry for the delayed response to your kind post!
Susan

cbright wrote:
Oh, Susan! Fine images. Must have been remarkable to witness.

Thanks Chris! It was fun. Hope to shoot with you down in Bosque next year!
Susan

Normcar21 wrote:
My congratulations to Gero for helping you draw out that monochrome shot of the wildebeest, it's a precious photo with a ton of character.

As for the Mara River crossing, I recently watched a video of that crossing that intrigued me immensely because it demonstrated how the "herd" force becomes a protection for the animals who cross, simply because the crocks cannot process the craziness of the herd crossing, whereas with the single animals that rush ahead usually end up being the next crock meal because the "herd" dynamic is non-existent.

Must have been a real pleasure watching the actual event in real time. Great stuff, as usual, Sue.

Thanks Norm! And -- Yeah, yeah, Gero's getting all the credit for the last one.... Just kidding, he is a genius with B&W conversions (and other stuff too, but don't tell him), and I am VERY grateful!!
The crossings are soooooo interesting.... We missed the "decision" - which means I just need to go back!!
Susan

Herderdog wrote:
My oh my. Wow! You know we see this on TV, Susan---but I would imagine to see it in person would be a memory of a lifetime.
Your images are super--I think #3 is simply amazing--should be an award winner somewhere!

Hey Bonnie, I never seriously thought we'd see a crossing - and yes, it was amazing - better than TV!! And thanks for the VERY kind words...
Susan

Dee Dee wrote:
Ditto what herderdog said...these are awesome. Lucky you to get to go on these wonderful trips! I'll bet you have tons of stories as well as photos.

Thanks DeeDee! Yep, many many stories as well....
Susan