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Thread: Cheetah portrait

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    Default Cheetah portrait

    This is one of the 3 cheetah's at our ZOO. As I mentioned earlier, I have been testing out my new lens. This is from the same series. It was near 10.30-11 am and the light was harsh.


    Zoo0016 by docsanjeev, on Flickr


    Camera Canon EOS 7D
    Exposure 0.001 sec (1/800)
    Aperture f/6.3
    Focal Length 500 mm
    ISO Speed 1250
    Exposure Bias 0 EV
    Flash Off, Did not fire





    Last edited by Peter Kes; 12-13-2012 at 06:10 PM.

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Sanjeev, I think somewhere in the processing you might have got side tracked, it doesn't look good, especially the head and overall colour.

    Let me know if you want to forward the RAW so I could take a look. This is no where as good as your previous image sadly.

    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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    Steve I goofed up on the processing here. I wasn't too happy myself. First of all it was at 1250 ISO and the cheetah's face was in the shade and body in bright sun. I tried to lift shadows and that messed up everything. Will send the RAW file but I guess it's not worth it. Sorry for posting this.

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Sanjeev, never be sorry, it's all a learning curve and DO NOT forget, we have ALL been there, so no need for any apology!

    Can't remember, but if you use Dropbox or yousendit (prefer Dropbox), fire it over, we might be able to do something. Would also fire it off to Morkel, as he is quite nifty with 7D, likewise Rachel now.
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

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    Appreciate your encouraging words Steve. Will send the RAW file via Dropbox in a few hours time.
    Cheers

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Hi Sanjeev,
    first of all congrats to the investment you made, think you will be very happy with the lens.

    The content with the look of the cheetah to the side is quite nice , like wise the framing.

    But as Steve said the IQ and processing is not that nice,even in hard light conditions under controlled conditions.Think you can go back at better times in the zoo.

    I have done the same stuff , from time to time.

    Just trial and error with lifting shadows and toning down highlights.

    Cheers Andreas

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Agree with Steve, Sanjeev. Feel free to send the RAW my way too
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Sanjeev - I'm happy to take a look too.

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Now Sanjeev what an offer, three for the price of one.

    Fire it off to all three of us then you will get three different options, two of which from key people who understand the 7D very well.

    See what happens when you become a member, LOL.
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

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    Thanks everyone. I have mailed the raw file to steve. I tried to find the email addresses of Morkel and Rachel but could not find it, if you could please send me the Mail ID's I will be happy to share the file with you.
    regards
    Sanjeev

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Ok Sanjeev, Steve forwarded me the RAW file so here's my quick take on it though I did not crop it.

    In CS6, I left the WB and tint as shot, I adjusted the whites -12, the blacks +20, contrast +10, clarity +30, vibrance +4, Sharpening in ACR at 60, 1.0, 25, 30

    After conversion I did a luminosity mask at 40% and then an inverse luminosity mask with the body of the cheetah masked at 20%, then I selectively to the cheetah did the following adjustments: a midtone adjustment about 8 points to the left in levels, a very slight s/h including midtone contrast adjustment, a slight curves adjustment, -2 to the blacks in selective color, dodged the shadows on the face at 5% and then 3 rounds of selective sharpening on the cheetah, finally I lightened the eyes with screen and applied a round of NR to the bg.

    WDYT?

    Rachel

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    OK Sanjeev, you already have this but I will now post too. I have to confess, I really don't like the 7D files as i do find that they push the blacks, and give a slight 'sootyness' to the overall image and is perhaps less forgiving on the exposure, you really to nail it IMHO.

    So in LR:

    WB at 4200, Exp +0.05, Highlights -2, Shadows +10, Blacks +11 (less), Clarity 8, Vib +16 Opened some of the darker areas up a fraction to retrieve more detail, Sat +10 Red, -15 Yellow

    PS Dropped the BKG exp, ran some NR on the BKG, Cropped, applied 2 rounds of min USM on the subject.

    It's certainly not the best RP, but hopefully both RP will give you food for thought to revisit your file and explore
    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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    Ok girls and boys,
    now we see , there is room to play with this image.

    Good job of both of you, compared to OP. Matter of taste which one to prefer.

    TFS Andreas

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    Hey Steve & Rachel. The processing you both have done is amazing. Shows how much one can do on a RAW file. Both your RP are way better than mine. I think Steve's image has opened up the dark face well and both of you have toned down the bright areas nicely to bring back details. It does give me a good idea what I need to do and thank you both for helping out.
    cheers
    sanjeev

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    Sanjeev if you are using ACR then Rachel's in depth & detailed description should really help, explore and just try. If you are using ACR what version of CS is it 4, 5, 6? I am sure that if you have further questions just fire them off. Good the RPs have made a difference and you can benefit from the help.
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

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