zebra

[Giovanni Frescura]

1/400
isi 500
70/200 f.4 Canon (97mm)
f.8
Canon 7d

Could better vertical ?

[Ken Watkins]

Hi Giova,

I think the main problem here is a lack of shutter speed, opening up the lens would give you a greater speed the lens you have is usually quite sharp (unfortunately I sold mine).

I think a vertical would be better (although you will lose some dust) and try a little more sharpening. I am puzzled by the dark patch on the upper leg of the RHS Zebra.

Other than the above this is the type of Zebra image I have never been able to capture sucessfully.

[Giovanni Frescura]

now is better ?

[Grant Atkinson]

Hi Giova, I think this is a strong shot well captured. You did well to capture the zebra furthest away with eyes open, and teeth showing. DOF is good, which allowed you to get them both in focus. I agree that a vertical crop would be good as it would fit the zebra standing up, but you would lose some of the dust which adds to the drama of the fight. Ken, I think the dark patch is just pigment, and if these are Burchells zebras then they have shadow stripes on the rump, and some are more brownish than others.
TFS[Grant

[Ken Watkins]

Giova,

The repost is better, have you tried a vertical?

Grant,

The dark patch I referred to was to the right of the leg on the BG. I really did not explain myself very well.

[Rachel Hollander]

Giova - love the action and the repost is definitely stronger. I see the patch that Ken is talking about and it doesn't look natural (too rounded). I like all the dust flying and would, as the others said, be concerned at losing too much on a vertical crop.

TFS,
Rachel

[Giovanni Frescura]

Thanks
the patch is natural ...sometimes the zebra have it under their legs..
I tried in vertical but...I like the dramatic dust...more

[Robert Amoruso]

I feel you nailed it with the repost.

[Grant Atkinson]

Hi Ken, I see what you are referring to, I think it is the rump or side of another animal. There is another one on the far right of the image, half hidden by dust.
cheers
Grant

[Giovanni Frescura]

Right...it is a buffalo...but I think it not make bad the situation

[Rachel Hollander]

The buffalo wasn't what I was referring to but I can't speak for Ken. The "spot" I am referring to is off the right rear leg of the zebra and looks like a darker, oblong semi-circle. It's between the hip and the knee but in the grass.

Rachel

[Ken Watkins]

The buffalo wasn't what I was referring to but I can't speak for Ken. The "spot" I am referring to is off the right rear leg of the zebra and looks like a darker, oblong semi-circle. It's between the hip and the knee but in the grass.

Rachel


Rachel,

Thanks for that, this is what I meant, It certainly does not look like a Buffalo to me.

[Grant Atkinson]

Hi Ken and Rachel,
about the oblong shape, I may be wrong but it looks to me like the side of a buffalo that is either facing or looking away. We are seeing just the side of the buffalos belly, which is the rounded shadow on the rhs of the zebra, between its rump and foot. The rest of that animal is hidden almost completely by the two zebra. There is another half-hidden buffalo in the dust on the right of the image
cheers
Grant

[Ken Watkins]

Whatever the shape is I would certainly consider removing it by cloning or patch.

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks Grant. I saw the buff to the right but didn't realize the patch we referred to was another buff. If Giova's ethics allow, I too would clone it out.

Rachel