Hi Morkel - I like the pose and slight head turn. I'm going to take a page from your own critique book and say that I would prefer a bit more tonal range and contrast. The vignette helps a little but it just isn't my favorite of your conversions. Also I am wondering if you can bring out a bit more detail in the face. You've just set the standard too high and IMHO this falls just a little short of your other images. Sorry.
Morkel - I had a play and here's a repost with my thoughts. I did it very quickly so please excuse the masking edges but this will give you an idea. WDYT?
Hi Morkel, I like this, it seems balanced in tone and I quite like the central head position, she has a look of Shere Khan (I know that was a Tiger ). Good detail, sharpness & clarity.
Personally I think you could tweak the RH slider in Levels to around 240 still retaining detail in the whites without blowing then, likewise adding a Curves 50 in 55 out adjustment both layers using masks to bring through the key areas. Unclear about the vignette, but it doesn't distract from the subject.
Sorry Rachel, the RP is way too contrasty and IMHO, lost a lot of the finer points in the OP.
TFS
Steve
Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.
The softness of the original works well for me, and I LOVE the expression, treatment and IQ! But I'd consider cropping in from the left most of the way to the shoulder. That would make the face even more prominent.
great pose you got Mrs Lioness. Don't know how you did the vignette, maybe opening it up, the Opacity and size would help a bit more. Also would do a gradient behind her, to get the BG a bit darker behind her head.
Just do a RP goes faster, of my HO
I opened up the whites a bit more, selective, darkened with a gradient the BG behind the lioness, selective. Pulled the curve a bit up, what Steve suggested and Levels at the end, a tiny tiny tad with the RHS. Just did not opened up the vignette.
Love the pose and the composition. Very commanding! The vignette is subtle enough for me to believe it could be natural so I am happy enough with that as well. Think I want more detail in the fur but have not seem enough b&W wildlife photos to know..
Why do you want to look at roo's when you have this..???
Morkel, evidently there're many ways to look at an image and our creativity is boundless in that aspect; but I like the OP for it's IQ, the crisp eyes and nose, and the beautiful background.
Nitpicking: I think your brush missed a bit of the Lioness' back on the edge, and took off an extra patch (closer to the edge of the canvas), which might be visible if you are going to print it. The brush strokes are more visible to my eyes in Rachel's PP, so as you know what am indicating to!
All in all, great image!
TFS
Thanks for the varied feedback, folks.
Rachel - your repost did push it a bit for me (a couple years ago that was the look I loved most...how we change over time...) - though it has merit so I might explore with finding a midway.
Anette - I struggle to see the real difference on here so will need to pull both into PS...but subtle is good!
Morkel, the OP is my favorite here. The vignette(I seldom like them past very subtle) works well here, conversion, placement in the frame, debris in coat, and expression captured. I see this as a gallery print. Nice work.