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Thread: Stag full of hormones!

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    Default Stag full of hormones!

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    It's that time of the year again in the Northern Hemisphere and the Red Stags are getting well into the rut. This one seems to be particularly wound up about it all - looking for a fight after wallowing in some mud. Image was made in a large national park in the Netherlands with a managed wild herd.

    I don't think the IQ is really top notch - I was stretching things with the 500 and 2x and needed a high ISO for a reasonable shutter speed. Still some noise in the background trees after three passes. But, I think the energy of the moment makes the image worthwhile.

    1d Mk IV, 500 EF f/4L and EF2x III
    1/640 sec at f/8, ISO 1600
    DPP, Neat Image, PS 5.1, Smart sharpen

    Comments and suggestions very welcome.

    Gerald

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    BPN Member dankearl's Avatar
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    Crazy pose and I sort of like the IQ and processing.
    It looks like an old postcard!
    Dan Kearl

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Gerald, I really like this, the image conveys exactly how these guys are reacting, the bellow is not quite the same depth, but similar to a lion as the bellow works it's way up through the chest & out. Love the caked on mud on the coat carrying his own 'unique' scent too.

    The crop & postion I think is spot on, however I do feel there is a certain amount of yellow within that can be reduced, although on reflection with mine more red is coming through so it might be a balance between the two, look at the heather in the FG between the two. If you reduce the yellow/red in selective colour, just drop the exposure a fraction, then apply some neutral/black increases in Selective colour too, as I think it just brings back some more detail & depth to the image, no USM has been applied, but you might add a selected fraction more, (personal choice) just to crispen things up. Finally I would look at running a small amount of NR to the top half of the BKG to ease the noise. Hope this helps in direction.

    Look forward to more Gerald as ours have as yet to start, much later.

    TFS
    Steve
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Hi Gerald,
    after a longer time you post something different here, good to see.

    Like the IQ , specially with that lens combo ,and processing, composition is ok, besides the virtually cut off hooves. Would have been great to have more room on the bottom.

    Like Steve`s RP contrast and colorwise , but too heavy NR for my taste.

    TFS Andreas

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    Pose is awesome Garald and I think Steve's repost takes it up a notch although colour balance wise I would be swayed to try something a little warmer than the repost.

    Jamie

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Great pose and the grass stuck to the antlers really adds to the wild feel. I do think the bg is problematic, it almost looks smudgy in places but I'm not sure if it is the NR or the PP. Also wish for more room below so that the feet weren't cut off.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    BPN Member Steve Uffman's Avatar
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    funny first thing I noticed was the wild eye! I agree the pose is awesome.. I lean a bit more towards Steve's coloring as I think it separates the Stag more from the background (i.e. top of rump)..great capture....

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Lovely pose and great IQ IMHO for that combo!
    Steve's repost has more "oomph" for me, but I too rue the lack of more space at the bottom...
    Looking forward to more, Gerald!
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Many thanks for the kind words and comments - much appreciated.

    Steve, especially appreciative of the work you have done on the repost - has given me some direction - reducing the yellows and a touch of red. I went back to the original levels adjustment and moved the left slider further in to darken the image. Spent some more time playing with the NR and Sharpening.

    I feel the image is more gritty and assertive now - which seems to fit the subject. Hope you like it!

    Gerald

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    Quote Originally Posted by Rachel Hollander View Post
    Great pose and the grass stuck to the antlers really adds to the wild feel. I do think the bg is problematic, it almost looks smudgy in places but I'm not sure if it is the NR or the PP. Also wish for more room below so that the feet weren't cut off.

    TFS,
    Rachel
    Hi Rachel, thanks for your comments. Not sure I see the smudginess - there is hardly any work done on the background - but I have been fairly aggressive with the NR - maybe that is it. Yes, I would have preferred also to be able to see the feet - maybe next time!

    Gerald

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    BPN Viewer Steve Canuel's Avatar
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    Nice shot Gerald, lots of attitude in this stag and I really like the dark, foreboding look to the forest in the background.

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    I really like this one. Great pose, and nice incl of environment.

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