Galloping Herd - Giraffes

An improbable animal standing 18 feet tall and weighing over a ton, the giraffe has the appearance of lightness and grace. The brain is so far above the heart that when the giraffe is drinking, the neck arteries need special valves to help pump the blood up and to slow the flow down. This is his most vulnerable time, for occasionally a lion, concealed near a water hole will attempt to pounce on the lowered head. Normally, however, a giraffe is more than a match for a lion who would be crushed by a blow from the "pile driver" front legs backed by the weight of the shoulders and neck.

Giraffes often move in large herds, and when running make elegant rocking strides which almost appear to be in slow motion.
In this picture, I wanted a tapestry or mural look, flattened by a veil of dust. I was partly inspired by the lyrical rock wall paintings of the African bushmen.