A 'LIONSCAPE'-Serengeti

[Sanjeev Aurangabadkar]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8293/7696360992_1d3a8f51b3_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/40906945@N08/7696360992/)
EastAfrica0414 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/40906945@N08/7696360992/) by docsanjeev (http://www.flickr.com/people/40906945@N08/), on Flickr
7D and 15-85 IS USM Lens
Handheld from safari vehicle
The Pride was resting peacefully, most probably after a nice meal by this lake! Ours was the only vehicle around, it was amazing to witness this scene. I witched lenses to shoot this landscape with the 15-85 mm lens.
Sanjeev

[Robert Amoruso]

Sanjeev,

An interesting image and not one we see here in the landscape forum often.

You did not give the exposure information which of a landscape image is helpful for our critique.

I reposted with the following suggestions.

The following can be found in one of my two processing lessons here: http://www.birdphotographers.net/forums/showthread.php/24075-Image-Contrast-and-Tonal-Range-Tweaks-by-Robert-Amoruso


1) Lower highlights and increase color clarity with a luminosity mask but making a selection for the highlights. From the two links you will find from the above lessons, look at blending modes in the link 1 and highlight selection in link 2 using method 2 (CTRL Key and double click on the RGB channles pallet will make same selection in current versions of PS).

I made a selection using the channels palette, on the layers palette created a BG copy, hit the create mask button and then change the blending mode to MULTIPLY. Adjust opacity to suit tastes.

2) Reverse S curve using a Curves Adjustment to lower overall contrast (first link in the above).

3) Added black to black and neutral using Selective Color (first link in the above).

4) Sharpened image.


I cropped this image for two reasons. The cloud has blown-out areas and the crop is for a Rule-of-thirds with the sky and BG the upper third, the water the middle third and the lions the lower third.

[Sanjeev Aurangabadkar]

Thanks Robert, I like the RP very much, thanks for the good tips. I often use your sharpening actions and they work really well. I will look at the workflow again.

[Morkel Erasmus]

I love seeing animalscapes like this Sanjeev!
I like Robert's tweaks, but I love the cumulonimbus clouds on top so I wouldn't crop if they weren't blown. :bg3: