Dagga Bull Portrait

[Rachel Hollander]

I posted an image from this sequence a while back and had promised to post a converted image. This is a different image and one that I chose to convert because I thought it accentuated the weathered face of the bull and I liked the contrast of the grasses against the dark bull. As with the color portrait some will want more of the boss but for me it was the weathered eye area that was the focus of the image. Taken in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, South Africa.

Canon 5D3
100-400 II @ 400mm
1/1000
f5.6
ISO 800
HH from safari vehicle, converted in ACR, slight crop for comp, curves adjustments, sharpened in PSCC.

C&C welcome and appreciated. Thanks,

Rachel

[Jonathan Ashton]

It's an interesting shot and I like it. I hear what you say regarding the eye - for you it is your main interest, but I think from my point of view it is not such a dominant feature to make it the centre of interest. Personally I would include more of the boss and secondly I would be inclined to lower the luminosity of the grasses, I think this helps appreciation of the detail in the head.

[Jay Shah]

Hi Rachel, I like the contemplative expression, details on the face. I also like the fact that you saw this image while shooting, and not just the entire body. Also there is nice gradation of greys. As the eye is the focus, I would try to use Nik Color Efex for vignette increasing birghtness around eye and reduce the same all around so that the eye stands out.

[Jonathan Ashton]

I think Jay has a point there, it would concentrate attention more to the eye. (The vignette can also be done in ACR/Lightroom).

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks Jon and Jay. I generally am not a fan of vignettes but will take a look. Btw I don't mean the eye itself but the area around the eye.

Thanks again,
Rachel

[Marc Mol]

An interesting pose here Rachel but unfortunately not working for me here, as with your similar Daga boy submission I'd like to see that complete boss.

TFS

[Basil Dardagan]

It is lovely Rachel - everything works however imho including the boss would improve the image

[Jonathan Ashton]

Thanks Jon and Jay. I generally am not a fan of vignettes but will take a look. Btw I don't mean the eye itself but the area around the eye.

Thanks again,
Rachel

Rachel I suspect you are not fond of vignettes for good reason, i.e. they are often overdone. I think in general they should barely be perceptive, i.e. you have to squint your eyes for you to to appreciate there is on there.

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Rachel .... i like this one .
From the graphic POV it works well with the bull popping from the BG ,
Conversion does look good to me , with the right amount of tonal separation and contrast . No need for a vignette ....what for in this case ?
I just think the eye is tad too pale IMHO !!!!
Needs to go darker ...i think.
TFS Andreas

[Steve Kaluski]

I think I prefer the frame you posted a while back Rachel in colour, albeit not this one. The face is clear of grass and so you have more of the subject, but the framing is almost the same and to that point, like Marc, it's not working for me. As for the conversion, I feel it's better than previous because you have more tonal range, but I think a toned version like a Quad or Duo would work better IMHO and a nice change :S3:.

TFS
Steve

[John Mack]

Very tight and graphic frame you have here. The black and white treatment works quite well.

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks everyone. I knew this would bring varied comments. I don't have any more of the boss as I designed the image to concentrate on the eye not the boss.

Thanks again,
Rachel