A huge herd of buffalo was coming to the water to drink. Photographing big herds can be challenging. If the big herd itself is your subject then perhaps show its numbers. But if you are not focusing on the herd as a subject, isolating individual members can be difficult. There never seems to be a clean shot as the background is cluttered with fellow members of the herd. Choosing to aim the camera at the edges of the herd may prove more promising as it is easier to isolate individuals there.

          These two Buffalos were the first to reach the water. They walked right in. One has to shoot quickly as the rest of the herd crowds out the space fast, making it difficult to get a shot of just one or two specimen. As I was photographing them I decided to watch the Oxpeckers. There were more than just Buffalo actors present.

Including other actors enhanced the image significantly. Would this have been an interesting image had it only included the Buffalo? The Buffalo is pretty static. It is the other actors performing the action. These birds make this image. One of them is busy at the Buffalo's eye. Another is coming in for a landing, and yet another is taking a drink perched on the Buffalo. The Buffalo tolerate the Oxpeckers because they cleanse them from ticks. The Oxpeckers want to be there to harvest the ticks, yummy! This is a classical symbiotic relationship.

          This image reminds me that we need to include all the actors but know what to exclude. This image would not have been impactful had there been a number of Buffalos included. Sometimes we can be so focused on getting the image of the main subject that we forget the other actors. At other time, the other actors can become the main subject with rich reward.