Photolady2014 Loc: Southwest Colorado

So this is one of those moments in life that you will alwlays remember. We had positioned our vehicle to catch a group of elephants walking towards us. In the conservancy of Amboseli you are allowed to get out of the vehicle and get low for better photos. The main group of elephants as they approached veered off to the side. Here is what was in my head next. Hey one with a baby is still coming straight to me! Wish I had better light, snap snap of the shutter. Wow, she is still coming cool! Zoom out she is getting really close! Hummmm, she is still coming with baby. Wow, she is really looking hard at me! Still coming, maybe she wants my purple hat for her baby.... a couple more slow steps forward. I just keep looking at her, dang wish I had better light, I'll take what I can get! Then she finally stops for what seems like 2 minutes, but it was probably 30 seconds. We are really making eye contact. If she comes closer I'm wiggling my butt under the vehicle as I was down on the ground in front of it. I hear Bryan our very wise, at 25 years old, Maasai guide say, it is ok just don't move. There went the wiggle under the vehicle thought. Then after what seemed like a long staring contest she and baby turned and caught up with the rest of the family.
It was so awesome to have such a close encounter with a huge elephant and her baby. Maybe she was actually showing her little one what people look like outside the vehicles. Bryan said she was just curious about me and came to have a look! It was an adrenaline rush. Probably the best since my first base jump back in the mid 80'S! Now if I had only had better light....

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JeffDavidson Loc: Originally Detroit Now Los Angeles

Very nice!

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

Awesome shot - that is a great capture

Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona

Wow, and Wow again. What a great photo of a wonderful experience.

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

So cool! I'd definitely enter it in a photo contest (or at least have it blown up and framed!) A safari is on my bucket list. Some tours don't seem to go in June (birthday month). The ones that do are uber-expensive. I'm thinking I want to go there or on a Nile cruise next year for my 60th birthday.

BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

Awesome shot, awesom encounter!
Base jumping?!?!
Well, it cannot be said you have a boring life!!

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Photolady2014 Loc: Southwest Colorado

I was a bit younger....

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BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

Wow, awesome pics.
I have sky dived, but it’s not quite the same thing.

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

OMG!! What a totally awesome and cool experience!! Where you were going to wiggle under the vehicle, I would have been trying to figure out if she would let me pet her. Yes, I do know that they are very powerful and can be extremely dangerous but how cool would it have been to touch her!

Another photo to put on the wall!! Love the composition and nice balance. Lovely pose with her foot forward and her trunk in line with the foot. Those ears; those beautiful, beautiful (yes, I see the tear) ears!!!

Thanks for sharing that great story and wonderful photo!!

Dodie

NMGal Loc: NE NM

A once in a lifetime capture. Magnificent.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Excellent work, Beth!

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

What a great experience.

angler Loc: StHelens England

Superb.

Photolady2014 Loc: Southwest Colorado

If it was safe to touch her I would have! It would not be good for hem to get used to the human touch as much as we would like it! I will not forget this moment, I felt like we were communicating in a way.