Impala stare

[Stu Bowie]

I really enjoy my Impala portraits, ( only because I cant get lions and leopards :( ) This was taken in the Kruger National Park over a year ago. The BG colours are natural, and is OOF grasses.

Canon 50D
100-400 @ 390mm
1/1000
F/7.1
ISO 500

Exp Comp 0
Hand held from the car.

[Steve Kaluski]

Think you have these down to a fine art now Stuart, all has been said before.:) Good to know the BG has not been blurred, a bad habitat in my book :D Might just trim a fraction off the rhs to make it more symmetrical perhaps?

TFS
Steve :cheers:

[Harshad Barve]

This is just too good :cheers::cheers::cheers:
TFS

[Gen Benjamin]

I love this image. the impala almost seems to be saying "We don't need no stinkin' lions!"
Gen

[Steve Kaluski]

Stu, meant to say, perhaps think portrait next time, showing more of the neck & chest. Think it would create a better image overall.

[Stu Bowie]

Thanks a stack guys.

Steve, as always, you bring out so many options. Im only off to Kruger in late Oct, but will even try to capture in vertical too. Cheers.

[Steve Kaluski]

Stuart, you have cracked the hard part now, both in pre & post photography, just take your time where you can, shoot loads if you want, but just try to think what you want to get or achieve. Think before you go what your goals are, but DO NOT get hung up about achieving all of them otherwise you will miss a lot, if that makes sense. My only advice would be get the shot you want first of all, then shoot differently, whether it's wide, close-up, portrait, landscape.

You will be surprised what you come back with and I bet there will be some images you will be shocked with and may overshadow the ones you think are stunners. :cheers::cheers:

Steve
PS If you can, take two bodies, one can have the 100-400 the other a wide angle?

[stuart wanuck]

lovely image not too much more to say

[David Thomasson]

Beautiful capture of a beautiful animal! Love those guys.

I would mask off the Impala and selectively darken the background (selective color: in the yellows, increase black levels) and brighten the subject (curves, S/H).

http://a.imageshack.us/img833/536/impala.gif

http://a.imageshack.us/img12/8750/impalam.jpg

[Stu Bowie]

David, thanks so much for your feedback, and your time on showing me what can be done. Your work is simply amazing. Thanks.

Stuart, thanks for your kind words too.

[Steve Canuel]

Hey Stuart,
Very nice simple portrait here. Detail looks excellent. Prefer the OP but David's repost is excellent as well. Would really depend on what kind of mood I was in at the time.

[Ken Watkins]

Stuart,

I missed this yesterday.

Always nice to see a great image of plains game there is just to much emphasis placed on predators, that is not to say that a good Cheetah or Wild Dog sighting does not get the juices going.

I think the repost appears a little too light for my tastes somwhere around half way?

[Stu Bowie]

Steve, Ken, thanks a stack guys.

[Marc Mol]

Lovely portrait Stuart, that magic BG really sets it off. Very nice detail.
TFSW

[Stu Bowie]

Thanks for the kind words Marc.

[Hendri Venter]

Cracking image Stu. Great OOF BG and excellent IQ.