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14th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
The Zebra And The Oxpecker

Driving by herds of zebras, I noticed the oxpeckers would settle on their backs, but would fly away when they heard my car. I asked my driver to turn off the engine, and we waited. Within a few minutes, the oxpeckers returned and landed on the zebras' backs. I looked for a nice way to "frame" the bird, and found this: between two zebras. I love how the beak pops between the lines. I like to photograph common things like this oxpecker or a zebra and make them stand out in an unusual way.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 08.2015
Date Uploaded: 08.2016
Photo Location: Maasai Mara, Kenya
Camera: NIKON D810
Copyright: © YARON SCHMID
Awards
Photo of the Day: 02.20.17
Editor's Pick