African Elephant

[Nancy Bell]

Cheryl's great image of elephant feet got me looking at my elephant files. For this one I used Nik Silver Effex Pro antique plate, then PS B&W red filter, a layer of fractalius, Toppaz buz sim B&W, and finally a bit of Topaz Adjust Black Rose.

Photographed in the great Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania. Eventually a few of these huge specimens walked directly behind our safari vehicle and I thought one was actually going to rub against the truck!

[Cheryl Slechta]

Nancy, that encounter must have been exciting I like the antique look to this, the crop and the vignetting.

[Dennis Bishop]

This image runs counter to some of the norms but benefits from doing it. The close crop emphasizes the elephant's size, and the fact that it's facing left (probably toward most of us when our eyes enter the image) suggests it's used to moving on unobstructed. I like the Silver Efex Antique Plate look, too -- not so much because it adds an aged appearance but because it gives the impression that the elephant is emerging from whatever was hiding it.

[Wendy Kates]

Nancy, I really like the variegated grays and the shadowy vignetting as well. It's very effective.

[Paul Lagasi]

I can only hope someday to see a wild elephant, I like the image as presented..the effects work very well for this animal....only thing I would do is clean up around the inside trunk as shown below. Just my thought....Very nicely done

[Indranil Sircar]

Beautiful composition, Nancy. I love the tight crop and the effect. I too agree cleaning the artifacts on the inner edge of the trunk.

[Judy Howle]

I love the composition and the processing brings out all the details in the skin. I like the SE antique plate look also.

[Anita Bower]

Your photo captures the power and hugeness of an elephant. Well done. Congratulations on 3rd Place in the B&W Challenge.

[Nancy Bell]

Thanks everyone. Good point on the inside of the trunk. Will do.

[Kerry Perkins]

Hi Nancy, very nicely done and a nice compliment to Cheryl. I especially like the overall tones of the image and the way the elephant merges with the background white a bit. This is a technique I find interesting and can be used to convey the thought that some wild things are fading into the past, a tragic an inexcusable fact of life... Well done.

[Andrew McLachlan]

Hi Nancy, love the B&W and the treatment for this one. Lovely work!