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Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator
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Lifetime Member
Hi Gabriela - first on your comment about commenting. It took me a long time and a lot of participation and learning to be able to make more technical critiques. The best way to get started with critiques is to simply say what you like or don't like about an image. It doesn't have to be technical at all. I think James has a sticky about critiques at the top of the forum. I do believe that the more you participate in BPN and threads, the more you learn and get out of it, part of that learning is also learning how to look at an image and critique it (whether your own or someone else's). So no need to be shy about commenting.
Now about your image, interesting about using HDR toning. Due to the dynamic nature of the splash and movement of the hippo I guess you used one image and then applied the HDR toning, is that correct? You also forgot to post the camera, lens and exif data which help people make suggestions for changes in the field. I like the splash, wave and the pov works well. Colors look good too. I do wish for a bit more room all around. The mouth area looks sharper than the eye. Some more selective sharpening to the eye may help. Finally, depending on how you feel about cloning you might get rid of the dark spot in the water just above and behind the ear. I would also burn the bright highlight in the water at the bottom of the wave.
TFS and don't be shy about commenting on others' images,
Rachel
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Post a Thank You. - 1 Thanks
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Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator
Thank you so much Rachel, it is a privilege to be on BPN, I appreciate everyone's help and I am very grateful for every comment. Regarding the image, I did exactly as you said. Cannot believe I have forgotten to mention the camera settings, here they are: Nikon D3S, Nikon 500mm, 1/1250s, F7.1. There was not much room to play with, had another hippo's ear on the right below my subject and had to clone it out...I suppose I should add a bit of canvas. The spot above the hippo - it was a leaf on the water, I realize now I should have taken it out, thank you! It amazes me how much I can miss out when working on an image, I will try to pay more attention to the little things...Thank you once again for taking the time to view and comment, I have learnt a great deal from you!
Warmest regards
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BPN Member
Gabriela, I can only echo Rachel's comments about commenting - try and at least say what you like, and why, and what you don't like and why for starters.
I like the frame-filling composition here. Clarity and lighting looks good, I'm not picking up any particular HDR look here - what was your reasoning for applying it? And which HDR software did you use - Adobe's plugin or Nik? I would try and open up a bit more of the midtone and shadow detail while still avoiding that look that comes from too much shadow recovery.
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Post a Thank You. - 1 Thanks
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Like the image for it's fine detail and brightness. The Hippo looking at the camera and wave of water from his head movement makes this very interesting.
Hiran
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Post a Thank You. - 1 Thanks
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Wildlife Moderator
So please forgive me if I do not always return the favor and comment on your photos, I am still learning.
Hi Gabriela, please do not worry about the depth of your comments, IMHO by commenting you are looking at the image and by making a comment you are also learning too, so it works both ways and sometimes we may also pick up things unconsciously too by looking and pondering over an image. The more you posted and comment, the better your understanding will be and it will also come through in your images, it's a win win situation. The more you do, the better and more importantly easier it becomes. 
Rachel has covered a lot of ground in her reply, however am I right in thinking your image was dark in key areas and so you had to recover the image? Looking at the techs I think you needed more ISO for more SS. ISO1000 is not much for the D3s and perhaps helped with a crisper image and froze the water splash. It's difficult in bright conditions to avoid blowing highlights, but I think some selective work on toning parts down helps to soften the overall image, especially around the eye, nostril and the little part by the ear. This is where you need to think about not just 'Global' adjustments, but then more selective ones too, but this all comes with time. Also and this is just me, where an image has eye contact you need to put the focus point as close, or bang on that eye. If that is not sharp it looses contact with the viewer. Now I don't know if you can expand points of focus with the Nikon, but this may help when you have action shots, or where you have subjects that can be unpredictable, but helps to track them. Start to track them early on so you are ready. 
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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Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator
Hi Steve, Andre has been experimenting lately on BIF with 3D focus tracking-he is not quite happy with the results. Can you suggest a website with some info on this topic, both of us would like to learn more. Regarding ISO, I am aware of the capabilities of the D3S, but looking at the rest of the images taken that morning my guess is I was waiting for the fish eagle to fly past and saw the hippo coming out of the water and shot
. And yes, I agree the eye is soft, but I am always concerned with over-sharpening, so I focused during processing on what I liked most-which is the mouth of this big guy. I still have a lot to learn in terms of what is acceptable and what not when it comes to photography, I am beginning to build some sort of criteria in my mind, one that enables me to "judge" my own work and I am doing so more objectively these days. With your help, I'll get there
Thank You Steve!
Warmest regards,
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Wildlife Moderator
Hi Gabriela, as I said, rightly or wrongly I will always move the FP bang on the eye, obviously if it's head on that is different, but try to maximise the full potential of ALL FPs available. Sadly I have no idea about 3D focus tracking of the Nikon.
Sharpening can easily be address to avoid over sharpening and if the right amount of DOF has been applied then both mouth to eye will be sharp.
I still have a lot to learn in terms of what is acceptable and what not when it comes to photography, I am beginning to build some sort of criteria in my mind, one that enables me to "judge" my own work and I am doing so more objectively these days.
This is why it is so important people comment and post, it builds up a keen eye and a good understanding overall and a healthy friendship too, that can extend beyond the Forum. Keep building on the basics, good images come from good shooting practices and will mean less processing time and a cleaner image. With understanding you can then experiment later, but you need to produce images that YOU like, never produce them for others, but always, always enjoy as it will come through in the images. 
All the best.
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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Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator
Dear Steve, reading between the lines I can see how much you love photography. It has become more than a passion for me, it is an obsession. I realize I lack the technical knowledge others have but I often compensate with my imagination and some kind of vision I have of what I am trying to portray, the story I want to tell. You are right about the passion and enjoyment coming through in the images, to me that includes understanding of one's subjects (animal behavior, etc) which is so important, especially when one wishes to anticipate movement, action, and especially emotion.
Along these lines, I just want to thank you for your time and for showing an interest in my work-you inspire me to keep looking for that image that evokes more than it describes.
Warmest regards,
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BPN Member
Gabriela, I rarely use 3D tracking focus on the Nikons. I mostly (99%) use AF-C (continuous) with the AF set on expansion mode (so yes, Steve, there is AF expansion mode) and then I typically use D51 (dynamic 51 focus points) and make only 11 of the AF points selectable with the AF selection stick. This ensures I can quickly flip between AF points left right top and bottom and still rely on the expansion mode to track the subject using all 51 focus points. This really works well. You and Andre are welcome to contact me about setting your cameras up this way.
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Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator
Dear Morkel, we will try the 3D tracking and see how it works, thank you! Will get in touch with you soon, and err...when are you coming to Hluhluwe? There's a little cottage (full house) waiting for you! We don't have to wait till we meet again in the Kalahari!!!
Warmest regards,