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Thread: Jackal with Cape Fur Seal

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    Default Jackal with Cape Fur Seal

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    The thread with the "eared seal" made me look back and find this one, shot a year and a half ago on the coast of Namibia. For once the subject was closer than I would have wanted, but shooting from a safari vehicle with other photographers, no chance for a re-position.

    Canon 5D Mk II, 300mm f/2.8 + 2X. Hand held, ISO 800, f/9.5, 1/2000 sec. FF.

    Light fog, basic LR processing, light Detail Extractor in PS.

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Diane - Sea lions, fur seals (or earred seals) and seals (earless seals) are all in the same Superfamily (Pennipeds). Sea lions and fur seals are also in the same Family (Otariids) but earless seals are in a different Family (Phocids).

    Now for the image, I agree that a little more room all around might have been preferable. Color and detail look good. It does appear as if the fur seal is sharper than the jackal. Perhaps a little more selective sharpening on the head of the jackal? Also, I wonder if lightening the jackal's eye slightly might improve it.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    Rachel, thanks for the info on seals. I have so much to learn about animals and plants, but what a great way photography is to do it!

    I think the focus sensor hit the seal's chest -- it was a little closer than the jackal's face. This was pre-5D Mk III -- I'd probably be able to get it more accurately on the face now. This was faster action than I was used to when the jackal came out of nowhere to grab the seal, which the driver had stopped for. Didn't even have time to grab a beanbag.

    I'll do some sharpening, as suggested -- thanks! The eye is almost closed -- can't do a lot there but will give it a go.

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Dianne, well Rachel has beaten me to it with her observations and comments/remarks.

    Unless this is the new MKIII 2x, the old one was pants and this may have been the reason for detail, sharpness & clarity loss. Certainly a bit more room all round, so again, perhaps the 1.4 would have ben better, but no time to change. This is where two or three bodies comes in handy, likewise a sherpa! The FP seems to be on the seal and changing the position is quite quick and with that large catch I don't think the Jackal was going to far, to quickly. I like the sand being kick up by the front paws and the slight head turn. Adding a mid tone adjustment with a Channel Curve pulls the overall colour together, but I don't thing there can be much to retrieve from the eye and any more sharpening begins to conflict with existing areas I think.

    Curious f/9.5 and why did you need a bean bag, would that not have limited your response time?

    Light fog, basic LR processing, light Detail Extractor in PS.
    Sorry Dianne, but for those that are new or building their experience, do you mean the scene was in 'light fog' and Detail Ext is in NIK not PS, but is a Filter within PS otherwise it might mislead those that do not have NIK and look for it.

    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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    This was the old "II" 2x. Don't remember when the "III" came out but I think it was after this was taken, Sept 2011. I have it new one now!

    I would have preferred a beanbag if I had had time to grab it (in a somewhat crowded safari vehicle) as I am small and the 300 + 2X is a bit awkward for me. I had the ISO as high as I want to go, 800, and still got a decent shutter speed (1/2000) at f/9.5. That gave me a little more DOF, as you can see I needed. Both motion of the jackal and the camera were potential factors. The jackal was tossing the seal around go get a better grip and started turning away very quickly. That was the best thinking I had time to do.

    Yes, the lighting was light fog. I used Nik Detail Extractor from within PS.

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    Wow Diane this is a great capture and I like how the dirt is scuffled from the Jackal's foot. I don't mind the tight comp but a little more room would have been nice too.

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    A great action moment here Diane. Some good points above - I too rue the fact that the seal is in perfect focus but the jackal not.
    I think in most situations a high resolution camera like the 5Dmk2/3 would enable you to rather use the 1.4x for better clarity and then just crop to taste afterwards - something to bear in mind for the future...
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Indeed, it does -- the 1.4x gives a slight edge in IQ and there is good leeway to crop with either camera, which I often do. But unfortunately we had been finding more distant subjects and I had the 2x on. When we came on the seal and the jackal approached, there was no time to change.

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    Excellent action moment captured, Diane. I wish I saw this let alone captured the image. Based on your post, it was likely the only chance you had to get the image before the jackal exited stage right with a backside view, and in a sitch like this you can only use what's on the camera. It is situations like this that tempt me to get the 200-400. Comp is just fine for me - everything that matters is in the frame and not crowded - and I like the soft tones and colors of the wet vs dryer sands on the beach. TFS this one.

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