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Thread: Gemsbok Dawn Dash

  1. #1
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Default Gemsbok Dawn Dash

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    Delving into last year's Kalahari files I came across this...

    I love it - would love your thoughts.
    Taken at dawn on the plains close to Samevloeiing waterhole in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa. The Nossob riverbed seen here is actually an open border between SA and Botswana in this "Peace Park".

    And yes...all 4 his hooves are in the air in this frame .
    This is a double-RAW process to blend back a better sky.

    Techs:
    Nikon D7000 with Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 VR-II @ 175mm
    f5.6 @ 1/320 SS @ ISO-1600
    shot panning along to the antelope's movement
    about 70-80% of original image, cropped for Gemsbok position
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Morkel - nice job on the panning to achieve sharpness despite the movement. Love that all 4 hooves are in the air. Dramatic sunrise colors too. Seems like the blues and magentas on the gemsbok are a bit stong but let's see what others think.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Thanks Rachel. Didn't pick up on that. I really shouldn't process late at night, but with 2 small kids what other time is there?
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    Perfect balance in between beautiful sky and interesting subject Morkel. Especially like the running pose.

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    Great pose from the Gemsbok, just wish maybe his tail was a bit more out' :). Did you process the same raw file twice and blend, or is it two different files? Just curious! Great stuff Morkel!

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Morkel, I really like the environment and time of day on this one. The blur of the legs & hooves, plus the swish of the tail adds a nice interest to the overall image. Rachel certain picked up on the slight cast, but just getting the whites right I think also lifts the whole Gemsbok and more detail seems to come through, even the small catchlight pings. I left the BKG & sky as per the OP, WDYT?

    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 Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Thanks guys. Steve - nice repost! Did you simply adjust the white point or pull the levels slider back from the edge?

    Quote Originally Posted by LauraDyer View Post
    Did you process the same raw file twice and blend, or is it two different files? Just curious! Great stuff Morkel!
    Thanks Laura - same RAW file twice...pulled back exposure by 2 stops for the sky and blended that back into the original exposure.
    Morkel Erasmus

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    What a great capture of a cantering oryx, really like the pose and composition and the reposts (both of them) give the image a lift.

    One thing which bothers me, but obviously not others, is the warm haloing along the horizon. Perhaps it is emphasised due to the work done on the sky but I'd tone it down (my landscape hat talking here).

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    Lifetime Member Marina Scarr's Avatar
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    Well done, Morkel, on what looks to be not an easy capture. RP by Steve looks best.
    Marina Scarr
    Florida Master Naturalist
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    Steve has a way of pulling out the best of color tones. Given that this is one of my favorite animals in the world I love it as well but admit I'm biased. Just wondering why did you do a 2nd exposure with the same file and blend. Why not use one of the many ND filters post processing like in lightroom. Do you feel it's that much better?

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    I hear you on the late night editing . Cool action image Morkel and nice processing work. Colour cast issue has been taken care of I see in the repost suggestions.

    Jamie

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Morkel, just adjusting the whites nothing more, it just lifted things I felt, although rather hesitant, as I'm away and really don't like working or commenting too much on colour unless it is evident or feel it is a definite move in the right direction.

    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 Morkel,
    nice powerful looking motion in this one.
    Love the light situation with the beautiful sky and the composition works nicely with room to run into.
    Steve`s repost takes it up a notch but think you can go a bit further ,tried it myself.
    The only thing that is peeking my eye is the halo along the edge sky/dunes, think this comes from blending the two exposures together. (blurring)

    Nice one Morkel

    Cheers Andreas

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    BPN Viewer Tom Graham's Avatar
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    Above, re-post/work may be realistic, but, looks some flat to me. Plus the sky is too bright compared to subject, so maybe darken it some??
    This my rework, based on Steve's repost, added contrast in PS levels, tried to keep original sky by masking, warmed it overall.
    Probably would try burning-in, darken, sky even more.
    (Yeah baby, now we're talking some pop!!!)
    Tom

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  26. #15
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Thanks for the feedback, folks.

    Hilary/Andreas - that 'halo' is something I've seen in other similar images as well where the sun was behind the ridge and shooting into the light with a telephoto which renders that area OOF...don't think it has to do with blending. The effect of blending might be the darker edge to the dune though.

    Tom - I actually like how your repost pops, nice job! I just don't feel it reflects the ambient light conditions accurately, though I will probably be willing to push it to about halfway between Steve's RP and your RP
    Morkel Erasmus

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Morkel was talking about the "halo" more on the LHS , not that much about the sun halo.As you can see the tree on the LHS darker dune parts is surrounded by that, and not defined.To me it still looks like a blurring side effect on contrast edges.I would try to use a bigger blur, if you have blurred the blending.

    Cheers Andreas

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