Desert elephant, taken in Hoanib river bed, Namibia.
This guy was hanging around with 2 other bulls feeding on tree branches in the river bed. I assume he did not like it to much that I have been hanging around there. He suddenly turned towards the car, came slowly no sign of any aggression. When he was closer he started shaking his head a few times and turned to the left, passing in peace It wasn't always like this. I have seen many very aggressive towards cars!
It was a bit cloudy day. This image I took around 3pm.
MKIV
ISO 640
f/ 9 1/800 -0.33
Lens 70-200mm II + 1.4ext. focal 280mm
ACR not to much, curves, Vivezia to take a bit structure out of the tree in the BG. For me the structure of the tree was way to dominant in the image. A bit LCE and a tad detail Extr. NIK
That's all. Sharpening CS6, selective
Anette I will drop you a line ahead of my comments, as I'm keen to see what others have to say on this.
I think you need to select a couple of images, armed with your laptop & software, we can then do a quick workshop in September I'll bring another suitcase for the remuneration, as I have had to close the Swissyland bank account.
Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.
Hi Anette, well seems you had the views, but not the replies so here goes:
I might look at placing the Ele a bit to the left to avoid the central placement, ie loosing some image from the LHS, but might create an awkward crop. I think the various additions via NIK & LCE is clashing and not helping the overall definition and clarity and perhaps some additional USM too much. Also taking some of the structure out from the tree for me isn't working and I'm not sure why you would wish to do that? I like the hint of the green of the tree at the top, kind of get the felling of an umbrella shading the ele.
If you have the time have a revisit and we can compare RP if that's OK? Tech's look OK, but personally prefer the more traditional ISO's rather than the in between ones, can't say I've notice much difference going to 800, that seems to be the staple setting now on the 1DX.
Cheers
Steve
Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.
Hi Anette - I know what you mean about aggressive behavior with the desert eles. As always, Steve has raised some excellent points. The color of the elephant looks good and so does the desert sands. I might burn the area of sand on the rhs behind the tree roots as it is a little brighter than the other areas and draws the eye. I too like the canopy of the tree as the top border. Looking forward to seeing how you and Steve can take the image up a notch.
my RP with much less 'fiddling'
The crop I didn't do yet.
Thaaaanks so much.
Hope this one is better without baguette crumbs all over
WDYT?
ISO 640 or 800. I just pushed up the ISO from 400 to 640 that I had the ele 'sharp' while walking towards me for the f/9. When there is not much difference, than 640 should be okay!! 800 seemed for me a bit to much. I took this with a MKIV no one is willing to give me a free 1DX so far. My kiddie bank has enough to buy another MKIV
The rest in the Swissy kiddie bank account will be used for a nice trip, not willing to spend it on a 1DX. Actually IMHO Canon's price for the 1DX is way over the top compared to the Nikon D4!!
Last edited by Anette Mossbacher; 04-03-2013 at 09:32 AM.
That is looking better, but I feel the black 'perhaps' is a little dominate in the darker areas now and easing off a fraction would be good, however it's all subjective and to the amount too? On reflection I think the crop is OK, but obviously like you, would welcome any thoughts. Sadly in changing things you lose what I did like is the overarching canopy of the tree, albeit in a small amount. Perhaps with hindsight going wider and loosing the 1.4 might have created a better image and you could still crop a little too.
BTW, I know Artie does not like the word 'picky', I don't like 'fiddling', to me it implies someone not knowing what they are doing, however you do.
Here is my take Anette.
Cheers
Steve
PS Not to mislead, but this was from the RAW, not the OP.
Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.
with the crop I am not sure yet. It takes out quite a bit, as you said already. Will see what the other members can suggest.
I started of with this ele in vertical, that I had the tree top in the frame too. I swopped to horizontal, when he just turned straight towards me. Sadly no wider image in my HD.
'Fiddling', I will forget this word and will be more serious in that matter
But won't loose my humor
Humour is very useful Anette, especially in Swissyland. Are you saying you have a vertical or portrait version, that could work? As it's part of the same sequence you could add this into the thread.
Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.
Indeed you need humor here in Swissyland
Bring lots when you come, lol.
Yes I have vertical, quite a few. But non of them he is walking towards me. More likely walking 'crooked' ( looked up this word in G- translator ) to the left, but the ears are not so far 'open', they are more close to the body!
I will do the one most appealing to me and post it in here. If that is okay!!
FWIF, I prefer the composition in the OP because of the inclusion of the canopy & the balance is more pleasing to my eye. I do like Steve's RP & what he did to bring out more detail.
Hey Anette. I too was waiting for more of our fellow members to chime in...
I agree with much of Steve's assessment...at first I hoped you would have a bit more of the tree at the top - but it seems it's full frame there?
I like your OP crop the most, and to me the tones and structure works best in your OP...just shows you we're all different
Looking forward to the vertical one.
thanks so much for your input. The OP is full frame, nothing cropped at all, not even the horizon/eyes aligned. Not even a tiny little bit more canopy left to add on top, sadly.
I will check what I can do with a vertical one.
Thank you very much Andrew for your comment.
Have a great day
Ciao
Anette
Last edited by Anette Mossbacher; 04-04-2013 at 02:50 AM.
I must really favor the warm tones because I like the OP and had no issues with the tones. I also like the original crop because the tree is very cool and I wouldn't want to lose any of it and the elephant is just making it off center for me although Steve's position of the elephant is nice ,I still want the full tree.. Your repost looks brighter and crisper but I stlii prefer the colors in the OP. I Do like the vertical crop also and I feel it takes the image to a totally different level. Not better or worse, just different.
thank you very much for your input. I highly appreciate it
I will try to get the vertical branch out and see what I can do with that kind of crop. Thanks so much