Pondering Critical Endangerment (C)

[Rachel Hollander]

I went to the Bronx Zoo yesterday and experimented a bit. I find the gorillas to be good subjects for experimenting. The biggest problem though is shooting through mostly dirty and scratched glass often with people's reflections showing. I tried to use the dappled light to isolate the eye and darkened the bg to eliminate some reflective colors from people's clothing. I was near the minimum focusing distance of the lens. The Western Gorilla is critically endangered. Let's hope future generations will continue to be able to see them in the wild.

Canon 5D3
100-400 II @ 312 mm
1/750
f8
ISO 3200
HH through glass, ff, selectively darkened bg, curves, sharpened in PSCC.

C&C welcome and appreciated. Thanks,

Rachel

[John Mack]

Very nice the sharp focus on the eye is great. This has a fine art feel to it.

[Glenn Pure]

Nice to see a different interpretation here, Rachel. I like the tones and colours in this and the moodiness of the shot. The pose symbolises vulnerability too and fitting. You've achieved a good result through glass which can really mess with IQ, especially dirty glass. Thanks for sharing this.

PS, not sure about your comment on 'minimum focus distance' for the lens. Minimum is approx 1 metre for that lens - but you have to set the upper-most switch on the lens to 'FULL' to extend the range that close. Normally most people would have it set to 3m to infiinity, as mine is most of the time. The 'FULL' setting can do some interesting macro work.

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks John and Glenn. Yes, Glenn, as I said I was near the minimum focusing distance. I had the Focus Limiting Switch set to Full. I vary it depending on the circumstances but tend to have version II with the closer minimum focusing distance on Full more often than I did with version I of the lens. At the zoo the if I stood 3 meters back a ton of people would be between me and the gorilla causing more reflection problems. On safari in the private reserves we are often closer than 3 meters especially if a cat walks by the vehicle. I find that with version II there is not as much hunting for focus or effect on sharpness with using the lens in Full.

Thanks again,
Rachel

[Jonathan Ashton]

Very evocative Rachel, I think this is a very strong image, lovely details despite the obstacles.

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Rachel, a very different approach and i like the idea of the Gorilla looking into 'space' 'contemplating. The rich colours set against the stark, dominating black focuses attention. Shooting through glass is never easy and i think you did well to avoid the scratches and any reflections.

Taking the image I would have liked more DoF so the nose was sharp and the very sharp hair didn't have the rather abrupt stop, so areas of the face don't go from very sharp/OOF, personally I just find the transition to harsh. I can live with the left part of the face as presented to being more 'in shadow' but to the right around the eye socket it's too much in shade for me as there is some detail there which would help. I would think about adding some very light Blur to the that LHS where it's not sharp, or soft just blend it, it helps IMHO. Pushing the ISO like Haseeb or Sanjeev to 6400 would have also helped I feel, as the image has that 'gritty/reportage' feel to me.


Now as an alternative going b/W and then creating a simple Tritone where you have the richness yet a hint of colour can also be very arresting and powerful, it also helps with those OOF areas as it's all in the same 'colour tone values'.

Just myself take, but an interesting concept.

TFS
Steve

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Rachel, when I saw the thumbnail of the Gorilla, I thought - hey, you didnt tell me you secretly came back to Africa to find Gorilla's. :w3 Love the thoughtful pose here, and you have focused on his left eye nicely, and it also pops against the darker tones and BG. Well done shooting through glass. I think the Gorilla's at the Pretoria zoo are in the open, but in a deep well walled enclosure.

I had a good morning in Pilanesburg yesterday. :w3

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks Steve and Stu. Steve - I actually shot some on Auto ISO earlier which were at 12800 but didn't like them(way too much noise and not enough detail). I just checked a quick DOF calculator but to get an appreciable difference I likely would have had to be at f18 or f20. I have shot at 6400 but rarely like the results enough to print or post. Just different styles of shooting and priorities for different people.

Thanks again,
Rachel

[Steve Kaluski]

I actually shot some on Auto ISO earlier which were at 12800 but didn't like them(way too much noise and not enough detail).

Well, if the file is good then to a degree it's in the PP and perhaps the 5D at that ISO can't cope, however I think you would be surprised if you took the 5D4 out. At 6400 I think you should keep trying as you never know...

[Steve Kaluski]

Just to throw things into the mix.

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks Steve, I like the toned image.

[Stuart Philpott]

Hi Rachel,the gaze you have caught is so thought provoking ,one just can't help but wonder just what he is musing. I like your framing and deeply admire the details you have found through glass and in adverse conditions. I love the way it's processed the darkened bkg really enhances him. But the shallow dof is a struggle for me. It's as you mentioned to me so recently Rachel close and dof one might aspire to spirals upwards,then one doesn't have enough light and compromises ( of sorts) are forced on one.
Rachel it's all about those eyes for me,I l want that near eye sharper,it isn't helped by your ability as the far eye is so beguiling and deep in expression..... and so sharp and detailed ,I find the difference between the two a struggle.

That you saw this image the concept ,and took it at a zoo is fabulous mate ,I take my hat off to you (does that mean anything Rachel ...I applaud is lesser but similar) But the near eye bothers me. I wouldn't have felt this way a year or so back Rachel ,I wouldn't have seen this ,just the concept the thought the emotion.

take care

stu

[Gabriela Plesea]

Dearest Rachel,


There's a certain mystery about those striking eyes and a special kind of beauty conveyed by the facial expression of the subject. Which - by the way - my mind reads as "despair".


As far as colour is concerned the dark background adds a sombre effect that is so fitting with the representation of suffering - or rather fragility - of the species.


I like both versions, yours and Steve's. In fact I was going to suggest the other night that you try a B/W, or toned version.


So good of you to experiment, Rachel. Every time you try something different you end up with a thought provoking and very interesting frame. I find this so inspiring, thank you so much for sharing my friend:cheers:


Warmest regards,

[haseeb badar]

Hi Rachel -- I liked this one , so thought provoking one . Great to see you experimenting and this one works for me , though i would agree with some of Steve's suggestions like the DOF for the nose to be sharp but as presented it highlights that eye nicely which IMO is certainly the main element in the frame . Alternatively Steve's Rp is also looking very nice, I guess it is all too very subjective but your OP and Steve's conversion both are at Par for me . Enjoyed viewing this one and reading the thoughts of others as well .

TFS !

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks Stu, Gabriela and Haseeb :wave: