It's Not Black and White by myautofocuslife

It's Not Black and White

The major difference between a black rhino and a white rhino is not the color. They're all sort of grey. The major difference is in the shape of the mouth. The black rhino has a beak-like, pointed lip. It eats fruits and leaves from tree branches and shrubs. The white rhino has a flatter, wide mouth with which to graze on grass.

The rhino in my shot, taken at the zoo, is a white rhino. 8)

I actually learned this fact many years ago, when I read up on wildlife before going to South Africa. We spent a few days at the Khoka Moya camp in the Manyeleti Game Reserve. I remember how, on an evening drive, our (armed) ranger and tracker decided to stop the open-top Landrover and guide us on foot, in order to get nearer to a group of 3 white rhinos in the bush. We proceeded in a single file, taking care to be very quiet, keeping an eye out for the ranger's signals. It was such an exhilarating experience to be there, to see the wild rhinos at a distance while on foot, without any barrier between us and the animals.

There were other memorable events but I'll save them for another day. Given the opportunity and time, I would love to visit Africa again for another safari trip!
I love the textures of its skin! This looks awesome in B&W! Great capture, Livia!
April 3rd, 2012  
Another great capture Livia. Beautiful shadows.
April 3rd, 2012  
interesting facts and very fun portrait. I love how prehistoric they look to me
April 3rd, 2012  
Gorgeous photo of this magnificent guy! Love the lighting and shadows and the b&w. I didn't know that about rhinos .. I too thought that it was just 'color!' Thank you for sharing the info. And I want to personaly thank you for the beautifully supportive comment that you gave to me, Livia. I had come to a breaking point on "time." And i don't want to leave the site .. but just need to put more time in my own work. Well .. you already know how that goes. Many thanks .. I'd love to go on a safari too!!
April 3rd, 2012  
living and learning... I am always curious about this type of info regarding animals, especially wild animals.

very nice picture of the rhino ;)
April 3rd, 2012  
Such a beautiful B&W!
April 3rd, 2012  
wow, interesting! such amazing animals! i always loved their tiny lil eyes, lol.
April 3rd, 2012  
Well done Livia - nice angle on his horn.
April 3rd, 2012  
Thank you for the rhino lesson. Beautiful shot...amazed it wasn't B&W!
April 3rd, 2012  
Fantastic b&w shot! Love all the textures/wrinkles :-)
April 3rd, 2012  
you learn so much on 365! nice placement of the rhino
April 3rd, 2012  
That's interesting and good to know.
April 3rd, 2012  
Beautiful! Love the wrinkles in his skin. Very nice Livia!
April 3rd, 2012  
Black or white - it's a stunning creature & this is a lovely portrait. Nice work.
April 3rd, 2012  
Great capture Livia! One of the worlds most special creatures! It's just such a pity that the Rhino is currently being poached almost to extinction. Not even those in private game parks and reserves are safe!
April 3rd, 2012  
Beautiful rhino shot!
April 3rd, 2012  
Cool! Love the b&w..
April 3rd, 2012  
Wonderful shot - for such a powerful animal it seems to have a very gentle expression. Love the caption - you write very well and I can imagine how amazing it must have been to get so close to the animals.
April 3rd, 2012  
Great b/w shot. :)
April 3rd, 2012  
Very cool b&w!
April 3rd, 2012  
Thanks for the explanation, I didn`t know it and for the close up . A beautiful pic
April 3rd, 2012  
Gorgeous lighting! Love the textures and black and white :)
April 3rd, 2012  
cool title and great capture
April 3rd, 2012  
Absolutely great capture!!
April 3rd, 2012  
Beautiful rhino picture
April 3rd, 2012  
Gorgeous pict. Great story too
April 3rd, 2012  
Great shot and story. I love the detail of his eye there. Safari sounds great experience.
April 3rd, 2012  
Great textures in that skin! Love the eye! What a wonderful shot of this creature. Thanks for the info about it, too, Livia!
April 3rd, 2012  
great angle!
April 3rd, 2012  
I'd never know the difference between the black and the white rhino, so I'm grateful for your explanation. But I still don't understand why they are so called!
April 3rd, 2012  
love this rhino in b/w i think it shows the lines in his face more clearly. i think i need to go to our zoo again soon.
April 3rd, 2012  
save the Serengeti ... beautiful rhino
April 3rd, 2012  
Just read your words. the trip to Africa sounds fantastic. a little scary though to be in the wild and so close to these magnificent animals.
not so bad to see them in a zoo..great pciture of the white rhino.
April 3rd, 2012  
Lovely. Nice light.
April 3rd, 2012  
beautiful shot, very strong
April 3rd, 2012  
Beautiful B&W!
April 4th, 2012  
Amazing capture. Love th detail and composition. Such a magnificent creature. There are so many places I've wanted to visit, but never had an opportunity to. And Africa is definitely one of them. Must be a great moment to cherish.
April 4th, 2012  
This looks awesome in black and white.
April 4th, 2012  
Awesome capture of this white rhino!
April 4th, 2012  
you are so lucky.....to see one of these in real life......i'm so jealous!:) i bet it was quite a sight. Thanks for the lesson that accompanies this shot.......i had no clue what the difference between the two was.
April 4th, 2012  
Wow! Very beautiful close-up shot of a rhino! Lucky you~ ;) I've fed one of the Sumatran Rhino back in my hometown in Sabah (Borneo) during my practicals few years back. That was a great experience for me!
April 4th, 2012  
Amazing shot...Thanks for the info on the rhinos...your Zoo is wonderful!!
April 4th, 2012  
I like the variations in the dark and light tones. Very nice picture.
April 4th, 2012  
Great black and white
April 4th, 2012  
What a great capture, Livia.
April 4th, 2012  
Very interesting and love this pov!
April 4th, 2012  
Terrific shot Livia
April 4th, 2012  
I fell in love with an orpaned infant whit rhio in Afriac once. Like the light & textures.
April 4th, 2012  
Wow, awesome shot!!!
April 4th, 2012  
Great shot and thanks for the little lesson!
April 4th, 2012  
He is sure a massive animal. Love the lighting in this.
April 4th, 2012  
beautiful shot - great composition! Im so glad i don't have a pointed horn in the middle of my face!
April 4th, 2012  
Terrific lighting!
April 4th, 2012  
I never thought I will ever say this. Beautiful Rhino :) Great Shot and colour. :)
April 4th, 2012  
Wow how cool to visit Africa, if you do go again I'm sure you would get some incredible pic's.
This is so well done thank you for the black & white rhino lesson too
April 4th, 2012  
Love the b&w...works very well for this shot.
April 4th, 2012  
Lovely shot. Great to see a rhino who still has a horn on and has not been butchered for his horn.
April 4th, 2012  
Awesome B&W Livia! What a beautiful capture :D
April 4th, 2012  
love the textures! looks great in b&w!
April 4th, 2012  
Great capture, I love the conversion.
April 4th, 2012  
Oh Livia if you ever go back Take Me!! I would love that so much just to hear you express your excitement of the trip makes me smile! Great Shot and Really Great Info on the differences in the Rhino's...I bet that was an awesome experience to be out there amongst them!FAVE!
April 4th, 2012  
@janturnbull Hope this helps explain the name: "The Dutch people named the white rhino the "Weid mond rhino", meaning “Wide-mouth rhino”. The English thought they were saying "white", so it was all just a misinterpretation of the name." Quoted from this webpage: http://southafrican-wildlife.blogspot.com/2008/10/difference-between-black-and-white.html
April 4th, 2012  
Excellent B&W Capture, Thanks for the education too :) I love strange facts like that, they always seem to stick in my head!
April 4th, 2012  
Ian
Great b&w shot!
April 4th, 2012  
@myautofocuslife Thanks Livia - learned a lot!
April 4th, 2012  
Stunning shot
April 4th, 2012  
Great info, Livia. Beautifully captured.
April 4th, 2012  
Lovely capture. The black and white really brings out the details in the wrinkles around his mouth. I have also done an African safari, and loved it. Would love to do another as well
April 4th, 2012  
Wonderful b&w pic! Great clear details, I love all his wrinkles :)
April 4th, 2012  
Gorgeous animal portrait, there's something very calm and gentle about this photo, though I'm sure they're not always so placid.
April 4th, 2012  
He looks sad to me. Great shit though, love the tones and textures.
April 4th, 2012  
great photo. Love the contrast between light and shadows.
April 4th, 2012  
I think rinnos look great in b&w, and elephants do too. Great photo
April 4th, 2012  
Beautiful, love the light and dark shades.
April 4th, 2012  
Fabulous facts - and glad it was you so close to this huge animal.
April 4th, 2012  
Am jealous you have been to Africa. Cool shot
April 4th, 2012  
I never knew that...thanks for sharing the info. I am a couch potato and armchair traveller, will have to drag me by the hair and over my dead body to get near to wild animals! You are very adventurous, real gear girl, haha!
April 4th, 2012  
Great shot Livia, i would love to do these shots in Africa
April 4th, 2012  
Awww...loved that horny one!! Supercool!
April 4th, 2012  
Lovely shot xx
April 4th, 2012  
Great shot and thanks for the info! Safari to Africa is definitely on my bucket list!!
April 4th, 2012  
Nice shot and education provided on black/white rhinos. Perfect title too :)
April 5th, 2012  
A great, big, black-and-white, cool and collected, gentle and grateful "THANK YOU!" to all! Thank you for visiting my album, taking a look and writing a comment. I appreciate your support very much. Thank you!
April 5th, 2012  
Love it!!!
April 5th, 2012  
Beautiful in b&w, the light and shadows are working perfectly in this shot!
April 5th, 2012  
Mel
Yes, i read at the zoo the other day that the name white rhino came about due to an incorrect translation but i see you have mentioned that a few comments up :) lovely picture! and great info on the mouth differences
April 5th, 2012  
didn't know this difference.. but this is a handsome animal for sure. =)
April 6th, 2012  
One of the worlds most majestic animals, yet it has been hunted close to extinction by one of the dumbest species on the planet.
April 6th, 2012  
Lovely shot of an amazing animal ...great tones and texture!!
April 7th, 2012  
Terrific shot! Thanks for the information, too.
April 9th, 2012  
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