Hippos are hard to shoot because usually you just see the tops of their heads and their bulging eyes. Most of the time that doesn't make a compelling picture. When they are in an aggressive or combative mood, then it can get pretty exciting. My settings for this shot were 1/500, f/5.6, and 5000 ISO. I would have preferred a faster shutter, but the ISO was already so high because of the low light. I captured this image after sunset with a 400mm focal length. My frame rate was 14 frames per second, and that enabled me to record all the dramatic nuances in this confrontation. Even with large animals not known for their speed, fights like are over very quickly and lot happens in those few seconds. That's why a fast frame rate is essential for wildlife photography.
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