GIRAFFES - Artistic presentations of amazing creatures: Chuck Nelson Photography

#21 DRINKING THE MOON (on black 1:1.25)

chuck@chucknelsonphotography.com (Chuck Nelson Photography) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Somehow when a giraffe stoops to take a drink, it combines the improbable attributes of gracefulness and awkwardness. The drinking giraffe was photographed at the zoo in Oakland, CA while the moon was photographed from my patio in Castro Valley, CA. By stretching the moon into an ellipse and tinting it blue it makes a perfect pool to refresh the giraffe.

A gallery wrap version of this image is available in the GALLERY WRAP gallery.

#10 - GOLDEN ARCH (reflected on black 1:1.3)

chuck@chucknelsonphotography.com (Chuck Nelson Photography) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Giraffes are eloquent creatures if sometimes humorous to watch. Their ability to survive and function is credited to an awesome Creator and a number of ingenious design attributes. This giraffe was photographed at the zoo in Oakland, CA.

#10A - GOLDEN ARCH (reflected on black 1:1.25)

chuck@chucknelsonphotography.com (Chuck Nelson Photography) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

#11 - GOLDEN ARCH (reflected on white 1:1.3)

chuck@chucknelsonphotography.com (Chuck Nelson Photography) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

#11A GOLDEN ARCH (reflected on white 1:1.25)

chuck@chucknelsonphotography.com (Chuck Nelson Photography) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

#12 - CONTEMPLATION (reflected in black 1:1)

chuck@chucknelsonphotography.com (Chuck Nelson Photography) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The giraffe’s neck is much longer than ours but it only has seven vertebrae like we do. An adult giraffe’s neck is supported by around 500 pounds of muscle. The amount of muscle is related to the number of joints that must be supported. If the giraffe had more neck vertebrae it would require more muscle and add more weight. If it had fewer vertebrae it would require less muscle but it would lose flexibility. The giraffe is designed just right. This giraffe was photographed at the zoo in Oakland, CA.

#13 - CONTEMPLATION (reflected in white 1:1)

chuck@chucknelsonphotography.com (Chuck Nelson Photography) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

#14 - THE KISS (reflected on black 1:1.3)

chuck@chucknelsonphotography.com (Chuck Nelson Photography) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The giraffe’s heart is extremely powerful because it must pump blood all the way up the neck to the brain perched some ten feet above. With this necessary high blood pressure, one would think the giraffe would blow its brains out when it lowers its head to drink. This doesn’t happen because of a number of extraordinary design features such as, reinforced artery walls, pressure sensing signals, one-way check valves and an amazing spongy tissue filled with small blood vessels located at the base of the brain. This “wonder net” regulates blood flow into the brain. All these systems, and others, work together to maintain a steady flow of blood to the brain at just the right pressure when the giraffe lowers or raises his head. This giraffe was photographed at the zoo in Oakland, CA.

#14A -THE KISS (reflected on black 1:1.25)

chuck@chucknelsonphotography.com (Chuck Nelson Photography) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

#15 - THE KISS (reflected on white 1:1.3)

chuck@chucknelsonphotography.com (Chuck Nelson Photography) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

#15A - THE KISS (reflected on white 1:1.25)

chuck@chucknelsonphotography.com (Chuck Nelson Photography) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

#16A - BABY GIRAFFE (reflected on gray 1:1.25)

chuck@chucknelsonphotography.com (Chuck Nelson Photography) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The mother giraffe stands when a baby is born. If the baby were born head first, it would likely break its neck when it hit the ground. It the head came out last the weight of the body could break the neck. The birth dilemma is solved by having the baby come out hind feet first. The giraffe’s rear hips are much smaller than the front shoulders so the baby is born with its head resting on the rear hips. The hind legs hit the ground first and cushion the fall and the hips cushion the head during the landing. This baby giraffe was photographed at the zoo in Oakland, CA.

#17A - BABY GIRAFFE (reflected on white 1:1.25)

chuck@chucknelsonphotography.com (Chuck Nelson Photography) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

#18 - QUADGIRAFFEL (on black 1:1.25)

chuck@chucknelsonphotography.com (Chuck Nelson Photography) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

When I saw these two giraffes with their necks crossed at the zoo in Oakland I quickly positioned myself for a photograph. It was a great scene and I knew I could do something special with the photo but the “QUADGIRAFFEL” idea didn’t fully come to mind until I took the image into my digital darkroom. The symmetry and quiet eloquence of the giraffes makes this one of my favorites.

A gallery wrap version of this image is available in the GALLERY WRAP gallery.

#19 - QUADGIRAFFEL (on gray 1:1.25)

chuck@chucknelsonphotography.com (Chuck Nelson Photography) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

#20 - QUADGIRAFFEL (on white 1:1.25)

chuck@chucknelsonphotography.com (Chuck Nelson Photography) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

#22 - THE SIXTH DAY (reflected on black 1:1.5)

chuck@chucknelsonphotography.com (Chuck Nelson Photography) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

This image represents the sixth day of creation (Genesis 1:24-31) when the land animals and man were created. A number of other elements of the Genesis account of creation are represented symbolically. The dark background and reflections represent the darkness on the face of the deep mentioned in Genesis 1:2. The sunburst above represents Genesis 1:3 where God said “let there be light.” The sunburst and moon also represent day four of creation when…“God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night…(Genesis 1:16)” God created all creatures as “kinds” and in this image the giraffe contemplates his kind in his reflection. The giraffe was photographed at the zoo in Oakland, CA.

#61 - GIRAFFES IN PASSING (on black 1:1.25)

chuck@chucknelsonphotography.com (Chuck Nelson Photography) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

This image emphasizes the stately elegance of the giraffe but the interplay and repetition of geometric and biomorphic shapes captures and teases the eye. Giraffe photographed at the zoo in Oakland, CA.

A gallery wrap version of this image is available in the GALLERY WRAP gallery.

#62 - EQUATION (on black 1:1.25)

chuck@chucknelsonphotography.com (Chuck Nelson Photography) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

This is another of my favorites. I wish I could say I created it with some sort of deep cosmic statement in mind but I created it to celebrate the giraffe and to take advantage of shapes and colors in order to produce something aesthetic and thought provoking. Even if one doesn’t appreciate the aesthetic qualities, they are likely to pause to try to figure it out. The title “EQUATION” came immediately to mind as I see a number of mathematical symbols in the image and one half of it equals the other half. Giraffe photographed at the zoo in Oakland, CA.

#122 - CONVERGENCE (1:1.5)

chuck@chucknelsonphotography.com (Chuck Nelson Photography) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Giraffes are ever intriguing and I find it difficult to resist playing with the unique shapes and angles they have to offer. Giraffes photographed at the zoo in Oakland, CA.

#123A - TREES (1:1.25)

chuck@chucknelsonphotography.com (Chuck Nelson Photography) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

As if on a trek in a mystical place, these giraffes stride together beneath the sun. Giraffes photographed at the zoo in Oakland, CA.

#123B - TREES B&W (1:1.25)

chuck@chucknelsonphotography.com (Chuck Nelson Photography) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

As if on a trek in a mystical place, these giraffes stride together beneath the sun. Giraffes photographed at the zoo in Oakland, CA.

#301A - GIRAFFIC FANTASY (1:1.25).jpg

chuck@chucknelsonphotography.com (Chuck Nelson Photography) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

When three giraffes clustered together it was an amazing mix of legs and necks. I captured the scene with the idea that I might be able to create something interesting with it. This resulting fantasy image shows off the giraffes while giving the imagination room to play. Giraffes photographed at Oakland, CA Zoo.

#301B - GIRAFFIC FANTASY TC1 (1:1.25).jpg

chuck@chucknelsonphotography.com (Chuck Nelson Photography) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

#411 - COSMIC GIRAFFES (1:1.25)

chuck@chucknelsonphotography.com (Chuck Nelson Photography) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

I would love to explain the hidden meanings and cosmic significance of this image but the truth is, I was experimenting and playing and ended up with something I liked. Giraffes photographed at the zoo in Oakland, CA.