Results 1 to 11 of 11

Thread: Sundowners on the Zambezi

  1. #1
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    14,858
    Threads
    1,235
    Thank You Posts

    Default Sundowners on the Zambezi

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    On our first afternoon in Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe, we found some elephant bulls in the pearly-sand riverbed of the Zambezi. I was able to crouch down opposite this big boy (on the other side of the small stream he is drinking from) to get this low perspective. The late afternoon light through the haze of fires on the Zambian side did the rest.

    A magical start to a magical trip.
    I am in the process of putting together an itinerary for a photographic safari that I will lead to Mana Pools next year...can't wait to be back!

    Techs:
    Nikon D7000 with Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 VR-II @ 135mm
    f5.6 @ 1/500 SS @ ISO-560
    pretty much all of full frame as shot
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


  2. #2
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    NYC
    Posts
    14,320
    Threads
    929
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Morkel - nice golden light and I like the low perspective. I also like the view of the hills in the distance. Would prefer if the fallen tree wasn't intersecting the leg but I know how you feel about cloning. I think I would have liked a little more space below and maybe an all water bottom edge if possible. I hope you enjoyed an amarula after taking this one. Looking forward to seeing many more of your shots from Mana Pools.

    TFS,
    Rachel

  3. Thanks Morkel Erasmus thanked for this post
  4. #3
    BPN Member dankearl's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Portland, Oregon
    Posts
    8,825
    Threads
    1,355
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    It doesn't get much sharper and the light and water splash add interest.
    I also would like a bit more water, but the overall image is very nice.
    Dan Kearl

  5. #4
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Port Coquitlam, BC, Canada
    Posts
    1,058
    Threads
    101
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Good choice with the low angle as it helps give a sense of size Morkel. Spot on processing and not nits there.

    Good luck with putting together your safari plans and I am sure your images and skill will certainly lure the punters.

    Jamie

  6. Thanks Morkel Erasmus thanked for this post
  7. #5
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Posts
    3,596
    Threads
    260
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I love the quality of this image, including the light and detail. Very nice being able to see the water droplets and the background hills add to the depth.

  8. Thanks Morkel Erasmus thanked for this post
  9. #6
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Somewhere in the world
    Posts
    20,551
    Threads
    1,285
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Morkel, I'm in agreement with Rachel on the space & the tree, plus with Hilary on the droplets & BKG.

    I'm not reposting, but just apply 'Fix warm whites' to the image. Personally I think it gives a cleaner/fresher 'look & feel' to the image, try it and let me know.

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

  10. Thanks Morkel Erasmus thanked for this post
  11. #7
    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Dortmund / Germany
    Posts
    10,906
    Threads
    1,196
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Morkel,
    like the soft colors and the composition, so do not mind about the FG.Maybe if the waterline would start in the LLC would be a bit better, but no deal breaker.It would have been great to get all the water droplets more visible, but not really possible, i think.
    The layered FG to BG looks nice too, with different colors and tones giving a good depth to the image.
    Would be interesting to see the magic `fix warm whites`effect that Steve was referring to,if you have the time please RP with these moves.

    TFS Andreas

  12. Thanks Morkel Erasmus thanked for this post
  13. #8
    BPN Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Brussels, Belgium
    Posts
    1,106
    Threads
    116
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Morkel,

    The low point of view really makes this for me. The light and the background also help. And I don't really expect pristine backgrounds, so the branches behind the legs don't bother me at all.

    Thanks for sharing,

    Gerald

  14. Thanks Morkel Erasmus thanked for this post
  15. #9
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    14,858
    Threads
    1,235
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Thanks so much for the kind feedback folks.

    Over the weekend I will do 2 things:
    1. see if there's more space at the bottom
    2. rework with "fix warm whites" (which I presume is a reference to Robert's luminosity action, Steve )

    I'll do a repost if there's an improvement.
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


  16. #10
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    14,858
    Threads
    1,235
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Sorry guys. No more room at the bottom - well, there's a little but the image was a tad skew so in rotating I had to sacrifice some "river".

    Here's a repost with the Nik Whites Neutralisation action applied (thanks Steve).
    Tried to minimise its effect on the droplets.
    Last edited by Morkel Erasmus; 10-07-2012 at 04:35 PM.
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


  17. #11
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Merseyside, UK
    Posts
    857
    Threads
    132
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Great detail in the subject Morkel and the angle of view is perfect to keep my interest. I like the water droplets falling from the mouth very much. The hills in the BKGR are also good. If anything could have improved this picture it would have been a more dramatic sky, in my humble opinion. The sky as seen is fairly bland.

    Cheers

    Austin

  18. Thanks Morkel Erasmus thanked for this post

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Web Analytics