Results 1 to 6 of 6

Thread: large Indian civet (Viverra zibetha)

  1. #1
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Thailand
    Posts
    301
    Threads
    57
    Thank You Posts

    Default large Indian civet (Viverra zibetha)

    A bit different I think. I was camping on top of a mountain in Thailand Keang Krachan N.P. and all night I would wake up to heavy breathing and snarling by my tent.
    The next night I put out some food and this is what I got. I talked to the guys on top of the mountain and they said when it is quiet they come into the camp ground. I was camping alone for a few days there.

    IV
    580 flash
    300mm
    f-8

    I dodged the white areas some to make them darker. But at night it was the best shot I could get.
    Also darkened the eyes. Steel eye was bad.

    www.flickr.com/photos/avianphotos



  2. #2
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    NYC
    Posts
    14,320
    Threads
    929
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Gary - definitely interesting to see a different animal but the strong use of flash has hurt the image. What were your ss and ISO? Some of the whites still appear blown too. I am also somewhat surprised that baiting animals is permitted in a national park. Personally, I would be concerned about any harm to the animal from both baiting it (thereby encouraging it to seek food in campsites) and from using the flash.

    TFS,
    Rachel

  3. #3
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Somewhere in the world
    Posts
    20,551
    Threads
    1,285
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Gary, again, great to see something different here in the Wildlife Forum.

    Firstly I feel the flash is too strong here, it's flooding everything and perhaps burning out the subtle whites based on the image posted and flattening any detail, although you might be able to recover some of it back in PP generating more detail. As Rachel mention, would be good to have more techs on the image, as the SS looks slow, creating a soft looking subject. I would look to loosing a little off the top and revisit the RAW, toning things down, juggling the exposure for the subject and BKG will I am sure help overall, although I'm not sure if it would help the level of clarity and sharpness.

    With nocturnal animals like this I might be wary about using a flash, and to the degree the image portray's, as certain night time animals have very sensitive eyes.

    Feeding and baiting animals has been covered in the Forum a number of times, but again, I would echo Rachel's thought/concerns here, as it does attract the animals to scavenge and may lead to confrontation where by the animal becomes habituated, humans mean food, but your call and I rather not go off topic on this.

    One final note, you might want to check your settings when you create a file for web as the one posted is RGB, not sRGB. Also I would look to knocking back the opacity of the signature, it's a little distracting IMHO.

    TFS
    Steve
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

  4. #4
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Thailand
    Posts
    301
    Threads
    57
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Never thought about baiting the animals. I will look into it. Is there a difference in that and baiting the owls? And birds with meal worms? The rangers were there and we both took photos. Hummm
    I will try to tone it down. Next time up there I will try and get another shot and using flash will use manual settings. That should help I used Automatic settings for the flash.
    Last edited by Gary Kinard; 03-30-2013 at 05:31 PM.

  5. #5
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    14,858
    Threads
    1,235
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Interesting species, Gary. I will echo what's been said above about the "flashed" look and it's also resulted in the grass and civet looking "pasted" onto the leafy background.
    Would like to see more of your shots on here, keep them coming!
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


  6. #6
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Thailand
    Posts
    301
    Threads
    57
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    This is my first attempt at flash photography and animals. Pretty bad for sure. I have been watching some videos and reading some on flash and protraits. I am headed to BKK for a flash box or diffuser. I guess you would call it that. I use the better beamer for birds in harsh sunlight allot. But never tired a close up in total darkness. I had to use a flashlight to get the camera to focus. I will go back with a diffuser and experment. I talked to the ranger and he said no problem. So I will attempt it one more time. But that is why I posted the pic here. I like the bad reviews. It makes me read and start playing with things I have never tried.
    Cheers, Gary
    Last edited by Gary Kinard; 04-01-2013 at 10:11 AM.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Web Analytics