Another elephant!

[Hilary Hann]

I'm actually quite pleased with how this one turned out. For once I haven't blasted the tusks out. Photographed in the Mara North Conservancy, just after the sun had set.
7D; EF300 IS; ISO800; 1/250mm; f6.7

Applied Noise Ninja to the background only. Any comments gratefully received, especially if they help me to better assess the situation next time! (I'm in training!!) :cool:

[DanWalters]

Nice soft light and I like the slight head turn. Also like how you can see some of the vegetation in the trunk.

[Harshad Barve]

Lovely head pose and light here Hilary , love the green surroundings
TFS

[Ken Watkins]

Hilary,

Nothing wrong with this as far as I can see, I like to slight look way it makes a change from the full head-on pose.

[Michael Hogan]

Hilary, really like this. The thumb nail does not do it justice but the full image is wonderfull. The gazelle (springbok or Thomson's I presume) in the BG adds to the image. I was in Botswana and SA last year and you get plenty of chances to shot elephant but few that give this type of result. Get it printed on a big canvas and hang it somewhere for all to see

Congratulations and TFS

Michael

[Hilary Hann]

Thank you for the comments, much appreciated. I've looked at this many times over the past few months but haven't felt up to processing it until now. Glad I left it as I'm pleased with the final outcome.

[Grant Atkinson]

Hi Hilary, what a nice elephant shot. Ears are partially flared, lots of detail in the eles skin, and you got a nice low perspective to the shot, perhaps from using the longish lens from far-off as opposed to your giraffe shot:) Also no grass in the way of anything, and nice BG. This has Big Print written all over it.
TFS
Grant

[Hilary Hann]

Thanks Grant.

[Marc Mol]

It's the unusual, almost coy and sheepish look you've captured very well with this Ele that makes this image Hilary. Nice subdued lighting also.
TFS

[peter delaney]

sorry Hilary , could not resisit , just love the image,

[David Thomasson]

Love that soft light, Hillary. This should make a beautiful print. I would print two versions: one just as you've
posted, and one with the elephant slightly brightened with a curves adj. layer (just the elephant, nothing
else) -- to bring out the details a bit more while preserving the natural, soft light.

Something like this (I'm not suggesting this crop!):

http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/645/elephant.jpg

[Hilary Hann]

Peter, I really like your repost thanks.

David, I had tried a curves adjustment on the image before posting but not on just the elephant. It had improved the animal (but not the whole image) but I didn't try isolating just the elephant and I don't know why. So thank you for showing me that it would be worth doing. I don't think I was being lazy, just got so far with the curves and didn't pursue it. Definite next step, I agree. Thanks for making the effort with my image.

[Steve Berkowitz]

Love it - the low angle is super. Steve

[Morkel Erasmus]

wonderful shot Hilary - great pose and depth and love the head-turn. ellies work well in B&W in general, so I like Peter's repost but I do love the soft colours in this and I think David's repost has nailed it nicely. print and hang! I'll delete my elephant shot now ;)

[Hilary Hann]

Thanks Steve and Morkel. :)

[Hendri Venter]

Wonderful image Hilary. I like the comp on the OP.

[Andy Biggs]

Hilary, I really like the quietness of the image. I specifically like the gesture of the elephant, as well as the placement in the frame. I love the soft light, as well. Thank you for sharing it with us.

[Hilary Hann]

Thanks Hendri and Andy, appreciate everyone's feedback.

[Steve Canuel]

Really like this one Hilary. Great pose by the elle and the BG gives a nice sense of habitat.

[Hilary Hann]

Thanks Steve.