Tag: gemsbok

The gemsbok – Oryx gazella – is the largest of four oryx species.

This superbly-adapted desert specialist is Namibia’s suitably majestic, emblematic mammal.

Gemsbok are also found in neighbouring southern African nations, and are sometimes known as “South African oryx” or “African oryx”.

They have striking, long, spear-like horns.

Atop the head of each adult male and female, the pair of horns is usually an example of nigh-perfect symmetry.

Not so, here!

Q: could this deformity cause any serious problem for the pictured individual?

Generally, when it comes to encountering wild animals, humans think, “the closer, the better”

Many wildlife photographers think similarly; they spend large sums of money on huge lenses that prove equally damaging to owners’ bank balances and backs.

Photographers usually try to ensure that the splendid beast/s “fill the frame”.

A shallow depth of field is favoured, thus emphasising the beast’s splendour, and minimising any “distracting” background detail…although “attractive” bokeh is more-than-acceptable.

(if “bokeh” is new to you, click here)

But, but…

This post’s featured image comes from circa one minute after the final image in #2 of this series, but it looks in the opposite direction, toward the Namib’s temporarily-invisible sand sea.

On a normal day, the horizon in a photo taken from this vantage point would have been defined by the crests of some of the world’s most spectacular dunes.

Namibia’s emblematic mammal – the gemsbok (aka “oryx”) – is superbly adapted to its very demanding environment.(as will be detailed in at least one future post, devoted entirely to Oryx gazella)

As you can see, stoic gemsbok just “get on with it”, sandstorm notwithstanding.