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Thread: Sunset hippo

  1. #1
    Lifetime Member gail bisson's Avatar
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    Default Sunset hippo

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    I thought I would post something that is way out of my comfort zone and will appreciate your thoughts on this one.
    Canon 1D MKIV
    100-400mm at 400mm
    F 8.0
    SS 1/800
    f 5.6
    Cropped by ~ 25% and I cleaned up the water except for the bubbles and dodged the part of the face that was in the shadows.
    Comments and critiques appreciated and learned from with thanks,
    Gail

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Gail, I would be tempted to go darker and perhaps loose the green water, and clean up even more on the RHS of the water. Bring the hippo back through using a mask, apply some more Saturation and certainly more selective sharpening around the highlighted eye. I just think it makes more of the situation, but just my take. It may also help the slight noise in the water even at ISO800. You can help reduce'higher' noise in camera, using the Menu.

    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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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Gail -I applaud you for going out of your comfort zone but this isn't really working for me as posted. I think I might try it with the shadowed side of the hippo even darker, I find the sliver of light on the hippo's left ear drawing my eye away from the hippo's nicely lit right eye and the real focus of the image. I also see the noise. I do think that this is an idea and image worth investing a little more time in.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Hi gail,
    like the idea behind this image, but as presented it is not finished for my eyes.
    I would go darker or lighter, depending on what you like, i tend to see a really dark image with only the bubbles on the surface and the already light parts of the hippo illuminated.The rest of the image i would push to the dark side.Can be tricky to find the right balance , but maybe worth a try.

    I would also invest a bit more time ,so i am with Rachel here.

    TFS Andreas

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    Lifetime Member gail bisson's Avatar
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    Thank you all for your comments.
    I think this shot is a "dead dog" but I did work a bit more on it to see if there was any hope for this shot.
    I did everything that you suggested ie. get rid of green, do NR on Bg ( which I have to say I forgot to do in the OP), Selective increased saturation and sharpened light side of face, darken side of head in shadow-actually I cloned it out, so this should now be posted in OOB!
    So, does it go in the garbage?
    Gail

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Gail - I think your rp is much better and much more intriguing. Has an air of mystery. I would keep it.

    Rachel

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Hey Gail

    sorry i do not understand what you have done to the image. Did you clone or quick mask parts of the hippo ? Looks like a hippo with a half head .

    Andreas

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Hello Gail and all you critical eyes.

    I tried to tone down the darker parts and pushed the lighter parts, is it working ? Or even go into another direction ? Any more ideas ?

    Cheers Andreas

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    OK Gail FWIW, this was where I was going in my thinking. Perhaps on reflection, based on the feedback, I am unsure if this image (no pun intended) has legs? You need to have the form and 'outline' of the head to provide a visual structure, but I think you can be a little vague and let the eyes 'join up the dots'. Obvuiously having a hi res file is always better.
    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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    I think looking at all of them, I prefer Steve's with just the very subtle outline of the other ear but still the richer tones of the lit eye.

  11. #11
    Lifetime Member gail bisson's Avatar
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    Hi everyone,
    Sorry I am late in responding. Work commitments kept me away.
    I want to thank both of you for trying to improve this image.
    I like the direction you are going in Steve, and will play away with the RAW.
    Next image I post will be more traditional!!
    Gail

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    I am with your image in pane #5 Gail. Excellent comp and post processing.

  13. #13
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Next image I post will be more traditional!!
    Why? It's always good to occasionally post something a little 'off the wall', otherwise things get rather stale and formulaic IMHO. Plus, it may inspire others in the way they approach their images and to look at things in a different way.
    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 Viewer Tom Graham's Avatar
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    Perhaps a big crop, with eye in that 1/3 1/3 top left image location??
    Tom

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