Patterns in the Grass.. a famous video.. my perspective..

I have often referred to the Zebra as a pattern in the grass and the books talk of the confusion their stripes can have on a predator… these few photos certainly confuse the eye as to the zebra stripes, where do they start and end ??…

Can one do with Zebras, what Zannyro does with horse photographs?

I have always been amazed at Zannyro’s ability to capture horses in the most unbelievable way. I add a link to her section on “Bob” her famous horse that she has taken so many photos of. CLICK HERE TO GO TO SECTION.

If you scroll down to her post (2nd one) of “Ninja Bob” she has a photo that I managed to capture something similar to with the Zebra… and here is the photo…

I loved that I managed to capture this as a comparison to her fantastic eye for horse photography… but when I compare the two photos, mine is not as dramatic as hers… I’ve tried capturing horses like she does and they do not cooperate in the same manner, so I thought I’d try with Zebra…………….. It didn’t work….. So Zannyro, I need a few tips… come on you’ve sold a book or two, help me with the Zebra…. here are a few other photos I captured, hoping for the dramatic look she manages to capture with horses….…

It was not easy getting these wild animals to cooperate…. backwards and forwards with the car trying to herd them into some form of order…. Damn things think they crossings and that is all…..

Facts about Zebra you might not know.

• Like our finger prints, the zebra pattern is unique to the individual.

• They are highly sociable, will not sleep unless closely grouped for safety, they don’t quite cuddle, but graze together in family groups.
• They are brave and will attempt to rescue downed family members from predators, circling, biting and kicking at the predators.
• The maternal instinct of the Zebra Moms is unsurpassed, she will protect them to the extreme, she keeps her newly born away from other members of the family till her bar code is imprinted on their minds, as well as her call and smell.

• Baby Zebras drink from Mom for the first year, but they can stand walk and suckle quickly after birth and within an hour or so can run along side her if necessary…
• Young Zebra are always close to their mothers but form bonds with their fathers as well. For a young stallion to win the hoof of a mare, he has to mock fight her Dad for his approval… I wonder if that is where our asking for the hand of a bride comes from??

• The Zebra family are very close, they will walk at the pace of the slowest, oldest or weakest, they will seek those that become separated, they tend to groom each other which probably strengthens their bond.

• They communicate by sniffing and balking, odd barks and by the looks and positions of their tails, e.g. ears back when angry or cross, ears forward when friendly or calm…

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• They can run fast, 65 km/hr.. 40 m/hr., they use this with their stamina and excellent side stepping abilities to avoid capture by predators.
• Although they seem badly camouflaged, the stripes when in a herd, confuse the living daylights out of their natural enemies who have trouble singling out an individual.

• Lion have been heard to say..”which way is that darn animal facing??”
• These animals are known to move in their millions (slight exaggeration) ok, tens of thousands when migrating on  the plains of the Serengeti, yet unlike the wildebeest that accompany them that loose their young, very few to no young Zebra get separated from their Moms… Good kids they are, not like a few human kids I know….

Zebra… all wanting to lick the lick..

A few photos I got to day of the Zebra all wanting to get their share of the winter lick put out for them…

And one in Black and White..

Zebra… a Black and White portrayal…

I quite like the black and white effect of the Zebra when depicted in a B & W photo… I saw a photo taken so many years ago by my Mother in Rhodesia and this gave me the encouragement to play a bit.  Some of the photos I also enhanced a tad using Photscape a free photoshop type program..