How many times have I told you to slow down when you see a zebra crossing?

[sharsidd]

I took this picture while on Safari on the Serengeti. I was falling off my perch at the back our safari jeep as it bumped along on the dirt road but somehow managed to grab this shot! Thank God for a VR lens eh?

From Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater

What could I have done better if I actually had the time to compose the shot and / or change the settings? What do you think of the sharpness (of the subject) and depth of field? Does the jeep at the back add to the image or distract from it? Should the jeep (and the billowing dust behind it) been in sharper focus or does it work like this?

Overall I was pretty pleased with the result, but I feel if I can learn how to improve further on this one from all of you that would make my day!

By the way, this trip to Tanzania (Dec 09) was the first time that I shot in RAW and I haven't looked back since.

Please feel free to browse the rest of my safari album at Picasa Web Albums - Shariq - Serengeti and... and any other albums of mine on my Picasaweb page.

I'd love it if you left comments on the other pics as well. Just let me know that you came by via DPS.

Thanks!

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Camera: Nikon D40x
Lens: Nikkor 18-200mm VR lens
Focal length: 200mm (no cropping or straightening)
Shutter speed: 1/1000
Focal length: f/5.6
ISO: 200
No flash
Some processing in Lightroom

[sharsidd]

Minor correction to the poll - the third option should read:

"I might have used different settings or composed things differently."

[lil red bird]

Try holding up a piece of paper 8 x11 about 1/2 below the zebras feet and see how it looks.

[Sachis2112]

LOVE this!! But also, that little paper suggestion Red Bird made is a good idea....

[sharsidd]

Thanks guys! Did you just mean I should crop it a little at the bottom?

[Sachis2112]

I say see how it looks with just a smidge cropped off the bottom.

[cwi27121]

Next time, try shooting with the camera little more closer to the ground.
I believe you would be lot more happier with that perspective.

Sudhi.

[Melissa6381]

the cropping suggestion aside it needs to be said that this picture is AWESOME!!! love the jeep creeping up and the greens and the cute little zebra. =)