Gemsbok Tussle

[Morkel Erasmus]

Straying a bit from the lions, but staying in the Kgalagadi.
These Gemsbok (Oryx) were tussling it out in a green Kalahari early last year.

Techs:
Nikon D7000 with Nikkor 70-200mm f4 VR-II @ 200mm
f8.0 @ 1/1250 SS @ ISO-560

[Rachel Hollander]

Morkel - nice action and good that we can see the eye but I do find myself wishing that you could have moved right slightly or that the heads were a little higher. Also I'm finding that the very pale brown area of the bg (is it dust?) looks slightly unnatural in the way that it abruptly ends above the gemsbok. Not sure if it's due to NR or if it was that way but it just looks a little strange.

TFS,
Rachel

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Morkel, I like the sparring Gemsbok and the clashing heads. The plumes and trailing dust adds to the scene nicely.

I agree with Rachel, overall the image lacks a little depth and colour. Although the light looks bright, I think you can squeeze some more from the image. A little curves adjustment and a little tweak in Selective colour gives the subject a tad more richness, but then I could be way off too, just my take.

TFS
Steve

[Morkel Erasmus]

Thanks Steve and Rachel. Yes the pale brown is a cloud of dust...
Nice suggestions Steve. How's this? :bg3:

[Morkel Erasmus]

Looking now I could crop some more from the bottom too (to lose the bush sticking up there bottom RHC). But won't make another RP just for that :w3

[Rachel Hollander]

Morkel - I think the rp is an improvement and takes care of my issues.

:cheers:

[Steve Kaluski]

Yep, matches to my comments and is almost spot on to my version, however I just cloned out the bushes :bg3:

[Shreyas Mantri]

Nice action and I like the way the dust is engulfing it. Your repost adds a nice punch-up to the Oryxs.
TFS