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Thread: In need of a pedicure?

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Default In need of a pedicure?

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    Carrying on Hilary's theme of 'close-ups', here is one from one of the three Cheetah brothers was quite obliging, not only taking a kill down, but posing very close too. Not really much more you can say. Yes the black 'blob' at the top could go, and yes, the image would perhaps look cleaner, however working diagonally down to the left it's all part of the body in the BKG, so I will leave it in.

    Steve
    Subject: Cheetahs front paws, close-up (Acinonyx jubatus)
    Location: Botswana
    Camera: Canon MKIV
    Lens: 500f/4 plus 1.4x HH
    Exposure: 1/400s at f/9 ISO400 +0.33 stop compensation
    Crop: Cropped to pano (original capture horizontal)
    Subject distance: 8m
    Time of day: 8.34 am

    One small piece of grass removed that was embedded in the termite mound


    Last edited by Peter Kes; 10-22-2012 at 10:00 AM.
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

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    Hi Steve, a nice image with high impact. I find the relatively haphazard angle of the claws, relative to each other, to be very interesting. I would have expected them to line up in more orderly rows! I like the definition provided by the side-lighting, and the OOF background. The dark "blob" doesn't bother me. Even at f/9, the left leg (to us) appears to be sharper than the right.

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Even at f/9, the left leg (to us) appears to be sharper than the right.
    Hi Mike, both 'paws' have equal sharpening applied, however here is a screen grab to sow the position of the Focus points if that helps?

    Cheers
    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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    I think it is very interesting being able to see such good detail with feet normally hidden by grass so good capture Steve. Whilst some might wonder at the possible uses of these close ups, I have in the past used several closeups of a species together to make quite effective art pieces and of course, if books and advertisers have a specific point to illustrate they have quite a good market.

    Even if they don't, I like to see variety so thanks for posting this Steve.

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Hilary, you are right.

    Close-ups, detail, markings etc, all can have a place in the fascinating world we work in and is very often overlooked for the more 'conventional' POV. If you get the opportunity whilst photographing an animal then look at these options too, yes it may take some extra space on a card, but it could also be a winner and have more impact/drama than the more obvious, and also offer the viewer another insight they may not have seen before.
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Steve - I think these kind of shots are fun and will sometimes play with them, particularly at a longer sighting or where I've had multiple sightings of the same animals and know I've captured the more conventional shots that I want. On this one I like seeing the nails/claws but would crop more from the top to get rid of the "black blob." It's already a pano crop and I think it becomes a stronger image.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    Love the detail of this different perspecitive.

    Would be interesting to see this as a b&W conversion?

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Indeed a very interesting perspective, Steve. I like it as posted. How much did you crop? From a full portrait?

    Quote Originally Posted by Russell Johnson View Post
    Would be interesting to see this as a b&W conversion?
    Might as well ask him to post a picture of himself, Russel
    Perhaps he'll surprise us...
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


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    Lifetime Member Marina Scarr's Avatar
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    Love this out of the box image. I was just writing above on how I have to think "wide" more often, and now I need to add that I need to think of "out-of-the-box" more often too.
    Marina Scarr
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    It is just a shame you clipped the body on this one Steve !!! Otherwise perfect.... ( I have clearly been away from this forum for too long.)

    It is a very different view and shows great detail as we would expect from your images. I could see it as part of set of images to document the species.

    tfs

    Austin

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