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Thread: Twilight Elephant

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    Default Twilight Elephant

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    An image from the Chobe River, Botswana. A small herd of elephants were feeding on on the banks of the river at sunset. The light had got too dark to shoot anything other than silhouettes, and they weren't so hot either, so with the use of a flash i managed this picture. The look alike stars are actually insects lit up by the flash, i quite like them as something different added to the picture, WDYT

    Nikon D3s, Nikkor 24-70 F2,8

    1/80 sec @ f 5.6
    ISO 320
    Flash manual mode exposure 1/1

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Brendon - I've stared at this shot for a few minutes and I am still unsure about it. I like the sunset/twilight colors but the elephant lacks any detail and the flash seems stong, especially on the grasses. Also I think the closer, larger, blurred bugs distract a bit. Maybe a pano crop with less negative space above would work better. I did a screen crop and it seems to enhance and place more emphasis on the sunset colors.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    i quite like them as something different added to the picture
    I would second that Brandon, something I've not seen posted, I think, like your thinking on this. I don't mind the bugs, as you say, they have an almost 'star like' quality. Regarding the lighting, to me I feel the elephant was lit by a spot and the flash was slightly to the right, as the brighter part seems more central if that makes sense, but then the FG would be lighter as it's closer, but I take on board the techs, just my observations. I wonder if going to f/2.8 might have been better, but guess at that distance any real definition/detail would be hard to get? Finally, I just wonder if either putting a vignette in as to darken the top RH corner to emphasis things more, or also to slightly darken the FG too, just a thought.

    I like the comp, colours, but ultimately the thinking, however you do like to use a lot of flash I think?

    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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    I like it a lot mate. Great colors and the flash has created a great look...Nice and creatively executed.

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    BPN Viewer Tom Graham's Avatar
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    I like it - not as a photograph but a graphic - it has a "fantasy" feel to it, for lack of a better word. I still like it.
    Wonder how the "average-man-on-the-street" would react to it?
    Tom

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    Brendon, I like the composition and the star like effect, it is an unusual shot for sure. Agreed with the others that there is a lot of flash showing on the grass in the FG and the elephant face. I wonder would a f2.8 and less flash enhance the image?

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    I like your thinking and the effect the flash has had on the bugs, bud. I think attempting to tone down the flashed look on the grass (evening out the exposure) would be worth it here? Likewise on the elephant?
    Morkel Erasmus

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    This is a beautiful image! It has a dreamlike quality to it...however the grasses in front seem a little bright and hence are slightly distracting. As Steve suggested, maybe vignetting a bit may help darken the distracting elements. However I stared at it for a while and absolutely love it. Showed it to my wife and she too was amazed.

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Hi Brendon,
    like the image design , likewise the tones and contrast.
    But i would reduce the flash , too heavy , specially on the elephant .

    I do not like the bugs in the sky, looks like snow fall in the heat.

    TFS Andreas

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    Thanks all for your great comments and advice, Here is a RP with some of the suggestions added regarding the flash and selective sharpening on the Ele

    Name:  _D3S8246.jpg
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Size:  185.1 KB

  11. #11
    Roman Kurywczak
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    Hey Brendon,
    Great observations above and your tweaking the repost works for me. I like the glowing bugs and very creative and effective use of the flash! While maybe not the "realistic" image.....I quite like the looks and out of the box thinking!

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