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Luangwa Tussle

Techs:
5D plus 500 F4
1/500 @ F7.1
ISO 400
This is the first image I have edited in three months, moving home etc. I also spent the last few train journeys watching Shaun Bagshaw's luminosity mask videos, which as helped me tweak the image a little more. Some new steps for me, so any feedback would be great.
PP Steps
1) Converted in ACR (neutral, 4500k WB, adjustments for black point etc)
2) Curves adjustment - Auto with Gray point snapped (blend mode to color and opacity to 38%)
3) Constrast adjustment to the darks and dark darks
4) Increased mid-tones and light in curves plus slight contrast adjustment
5) Toned down highlights
6) Two colour balance adjustments to clean the image up:
- One applied only to dark darks (added yellow)
- One applied to lights (added blue, particulary to highlights)
7) Selective colour using a lumo mask
8) A Wide mid-tone Local contrast enhancement
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Lifetime Member
Hi Russell - lumo masks are a great tool. I like the image overall with good detail though I think I would prefer a bit more of the eles at the top and also a bit more of the leg of the left one to give more balance. The blue at the top above the trunks looks darker and a little sooty compared to the blue below the trunk. Not sure if there was a lot of dirt being thrown as I do see the cascade of dirt off the left ele.
TFS,
Rachel
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Wildlife Moderator
Hi Russell and a bit warm welcome back, nice to see you posting again, although I know you had your hands full as you mentioned earlier, plus in the coming months if my memory is right, you may have even less time on your hands to play with? 
Taking the image first if I may, do you think it could stand a bit more depth of colour, ie warmer, more saturated or it's fine as presented? Do you think you could push the 'tonality' of it and can it do with some more sharpening? Russell I'm trying here to get people who look at it including yourself, to be a bit more active and engaging. As always I have had a look so it will be interesting to hear what others may feel. As it's so symmetrical I would like to have more to the left to balance the image, however it's a little unfortunate about the OOF stems on the LHS. If you can balance the image I do feel it's quite an arresting image and some may say try a rich B/W? Techs look good and EV change?
Interesting read and it illustrates how we tackle things differently and the way we set our processing up, but I do think it's important to fully understand what it does and the cause & effect it plays on the image. So without seeing the original, what has changed via this method?
Look forward to your interaction here on the Forum. 
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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Lifetime Member
Hmm, I thought it was dirt on the lhs but maybe it is stems as Steve suggests?
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BPN Member
Hi Russell,
very nice image you have here. Love the color of the BG and of the elephants. Steve said stems on the LHS, I could not see that, I think this is sand coming down from the elephant!! But he might mean the legs of the elephant. Those look a bit thin compared to the other elephant.
Your detailed processing description is great. 
Have a great day
Ciao
Anette
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Post a Thank You. - 1 Thanks
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[quote]Hi Russell - lumo masks are a great tool. I like the image overall with good detail though I think I would prefer a bit more of the eles at the top and also a bit more of the leg of the left one to give more balance. The blue at the top above the trunks looks darker and a little sooty compared to the blue below the trunk. Not sure if there was a lot of dirt being thrown as I do see the cascade of dirt off the left ele.
TFS,
Rachel[quote]
Thanks, Rachel.
Sadly on the LHS and bottom it is all I have, and although there is more more space on top, I prefer the tighter crop, as there is a blue area on the RHS of the right eles head.
The blue behind in the Luangwa river, so I think the darker patch on top is an area in shade, or a river bank causing the difference in appearance.
PS It is sand :)

Originally Posted by
Anette Mossbacher
Hi Russell,
very nice image you have here. Love the color of the BG and of the elephants. Steve said stems on the LHS, I could not see that, I think this is sand coming down from the elephant!! But he might mean the legs of the elephant. Those look a bit thin compared to the other elephant.
Your detailed processing description is great.
Have a great day
Ciao
Anette
Thanks, Anette.
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Originally Posted by
Steve Kaluski
Hi Russell and a bit warm welcome back, nice to see you posting again, although I know you had your hands full as you mentioned earlier, plus in the coming months if my memory is right, you may have even less time on your hands to play with?
Taking the image first if I may, do you think it could stand a bit more depth of colour, ie warmer, more saturated or it's fine as presented? Do you think you could push the 'tonality' of it and can it do with some more sharpening? Russell I'm trying here to get people who look at it including yourself, to be a bit more active and engaging. As always I have had a look so it will be interesting to hear what others may feel. As it's so symmetrical I would like to have more to the left to balance the image, however it's a little unfortunate about the OOF stems on the LHS. If you can balance the image I do feel it's quite an arresting image and some may say try a rich B/W? Techs look good and EV change?
Interesting read and it illustrates how we tackle things differently and the way we set our processing up, but I do think it's important to fully understand what it does and the
cause & effect it plays on the image. So without seeing the original, what has changed via this method?
Look forward to your interaction here on the Forum.
TFS
Steve
Thanks, Steve. Yes soon to have my hands full :)
Based on some of you feedback, have posted an alternative version to push the colour depth a bit further. I took out a couple of asdjustment layers, then pulled down the expanded mid tones and added some saturation.
Beefed up the sharpening as a comparison
WDYT?
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Wildlife Moderator
Hi Russell, 'tonally' I feel this has far more 'guts' to the image, there are lights & darks which help to 'sculp' the image more and define areas which in tun give the image more presence.
I'm still not sure about the crop and to come in either side, left to remove the sand, right to lessen than side by about half, however this is just my own personal thoughts
Not sure about the amount of sharpening and as to whether the 'figure amounts' are too high, less and apply more, if that makes sense? If you want, drop me a line.
I'm sure others will add there thoughts too on the RP.
cheers
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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Originally Posted by
Steve Kaluski
Hi Russell, '
tonally' I feel this has far more
'guts' to the image, there are
lights & darks which help to
'sculp' the image more and define areas which in tun give the image more presence.
I'm still not sure about the crop and to come in either side, left to remove the sand, right to lessen than side by about half, however this is just my own personal thoughts

Not sure about the amount of sharpening and as to whether the
'figure amounts' are too high, less and apply more, if that makes sense? If you want, drop me a line.
I'm sure others will add there thoughts too on the RP.
cheers
Steve
Thanks, Steve. Was a little rushed on the RP - understood on the sharpening being two rounds rather than one with stronger numbers.
In terms of the comp, sadly I have no more on the LHS. Thinking the dreaded square could work, and no legs on either side....
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I love the intertwined trunks & the one tusk! However, for me, my eye bounces all over between the dark shadows, the very bright areas and that sharp line across the face of the left elephant. To put the emphasis totally on the trunks, I would suggest cropping from the right, leaving the same amount of leg as you have on the left, something to anchor the animals. Then, if possible blend that strong shadow line on the left animal. Again, just thinking about the interesting trunks, the falling sand is more of a distraction. A conversion to B&W might be worth experimenting with. Just thinking out loud, something with a vignette since for me, those trunks are terrific and should be the complete focus.
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BPN Member