DALEEN VAN AS

Nikon D3100

Nikon 55 – 200 mm lens

DALEEN WRITES: We were in the Cape Vidal section of iSimangaliso Wetland Park – it was our first visit in 30 years.

This buffalo was very grumpy! He appeared out of nowhere and stomped and snorted in our direction. I took the photo as he turned around and lifted his head. The park is a fantastic place to take photos because there’s something new around every corner. The roads and camps are also in a good condition.

TOAST SAYS: You can beg and plead all you want, but a buffalo won’t give you a smile just because you ask nicely. It’s in their nature to be ill-tempered, and Daleen’s photo captures this grumpiness well. A buffalo can be difficult to expose correctly, especially in bright sunlight where there’s a stark contrast between its dark skin and the background. An overcast sky diffuses the light and makes life a little easier. You can’t see the sky in this pic, but it was almost certainly steely grey.

I like the green background: dense, subtropical vegetation characteristic of iSimangaliso. You can tell with one glance that this photo wasn’t taken in the Kruger. The eye contact with the buffalo contributes to the success of the photo, and those imposing horns will make many a buffalo breeder in the Bushveld green with envy.