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Thread: Contemplation

  1. #1
    Lifetime Member Andre Pretorius's Avatar
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    Default Contemplation

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    We shot this girl between Lijersdraai and Grootkolk in Kgalagadi. She was very relaxed, no one else around. She was interested in some Springbok, but a crow gave her away. Thanks to Steve who made me lose some bothering bits of wood.

    Nikon D300S 600 F4

    ISO 640

    1/2000 @ 6,3
    Last edited by Andre Pretorius; 06-10-2013 at 02:52 PM.
    Regards

    Andre.

    www.gappimages.com

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Andre - A nice profile with excellent detail and dof. The reds seem a little strong to me so might reduce them a bit. I wish the tree in the bg wasn't there but that's nature. Overall, an excellent image.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    A lovely subject and great angle for a portrait.

    It seems to have a slight magenta cast, and although the BG looks very noise-free, the cat feels a little over-sharpened to me.

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Nice pose here Andre. The tree in the BG isn't ideal but it is quite soft and subdued so not a biggie for me.
    I do agree there seems to be a slight red/magenta cast but I am not viewing on the home monitor...so perhaps I'll need to look again tonight.
    I would add a hint of fine sharpening to the leopard as presented.
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Andre, am away so can't comment on the cast, but would go with the above assessments on colour. If this is FF then there should really be more definition & form, however hopefully these issues will be address this week and that the next series of images reflect your hard work. I don't mind the tree as I feel the image may have been to bare and sterile without something in it, interesting as we all strive for an uncluttered, plain BKG, just my take.

    Now this is just gut feeling and I am probably way off, but I get the impression the Leopard may have been slightly in shade with some nice light and as viewed, it seems overall a little light. This is based on the laptop so... I think with a few tweaks it helps to bring backs some depth & tone. It might be too dark, to saturated etc, however to what degree is oh so personal and again, I am doing this blind as such, but if you like the concept I can tell you what I did and you can then make the adjustments.

    Just watch the white halo on the nose tip.

    cheers
    Steve
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

  6. #6
    Lifetime Member Andre Pretorius's Avatar
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    Hi Steve
    You beat me to RP! Has just tweaked resized tiff image, and removed branch. As I was to post, saw your comment. Yours is more warmer than mine. Would appreciate workflow, please. In RP adjusted red and magenta. She was partially in shade. Image captured with D300S with 600. The 300mm F,28 was moved to D3S to have FX, was anticipating action, needed to move fast if required.
    Regards

    Andre.

    www.gappimages.com

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Andre, I think overall the image looks cleaner with your adjustments, all I did was add a Luminosity layer, then two Curve adjustments in the mid tones, inverting one of them then masking all layers, but avoiding the eye, you want to keep that bright & clean. Perhaps a combination? By using them as adjustment layers you can adjust the amount easily and apply to specific areas required. Removal of the tree is better and provides a cleaner/pleasing image overall, however please remember not to get into the habit of shooting knowing you can remove objects in PP as it's, IMHO, bad practice and makes for a sloppy photographer, but note this is just my take. A little pruning, the odd leaf gone I think is OK and it's generally impossible most of the time not to have something in view, but always try your best.

    Drop me a line how you get on with the kit when you get it back.
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

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    BPN Member vishaljadhav's Avatar
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    i like the repost and love the details on the leopard
    Sharpness looks right to my eye, i wasnt worried about the OOFtree in the original
    i even like the way Steve treated this image, has a good impact to it in treatment of the light
    A great pose captured here

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    Forum Participant edwardselfe's Avatar
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    Very much like Steve's RP - looks darker and moodier and the saturated colours are spot on. It's almost as if he re-created the golden light of evening.... However, the original composition and the the sharpness are all down the the photographer and they are excellent. I also didn't mind the tree in the background, and I like the open space in front.
    I'm not so keen on the cat's ears being back but I suppose she was responding to the crow or the vehicle. I find that leopards flick their ears back and forwards continually, and unless I'm shooting an interaction between two cats, I always wait for the ears to be forward. But it's not always possible and I have plenty of images where they aren't!
    Nice image.
    Ed

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