Last Frame: Giraffe-itude

“The cold morning air in Bojanala can make you hunt those warm rays of South African sunshine just to break the chill,” explains Dutch Dyer. “Several hours into a guided photo safari in the Pilanesberg Game Reserve, we had been on the hunt for some of that sunshine along with what locals call the ‘Big 5’—buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion and rhino. My ear-to-ear smile was some indication of how the day was going. I had also captured shots of hyenas, wild dogs and hippos, but I had yet to add a giraffe to that list.

“We stopped for lunch close to a water source. In the arid African grassland, water is the universal lure, and I didn’t have to wait long. I could see two giraffes approaching in the distance, and I moved into position. The young giraffe in this shot drank its fill while the other one kept watch for predators. Raising its head, the giraffe looked my way and used its long tongue to catch the last drops of water. I laughed out loud.”

See more of Dutch Dyer’s work at facebook.com/DutchDyerPhotography. 

Canon EOS 7D Mark II, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM at 400mm. Exposure: 1/125 sec., ƒ/5.6, ISO 100.