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Thread: Chobe 2006

  1. #1
    Lifetime Member Andre Pretorius's Avatar
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    Default Chobe 2006

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    Captured this image back in the early days of digital photography- swopped my old trusted F4 for a Fuji S3 Pro. My lens was a Nikon 500F4 Manual Focus. The Fuji could not handle very bright or very dark areas in an image, gave magenta or cyan halo around areas.
    Sat for hours waiting for the moment the croc jumped. The elephant died in the water the previous night(cause unknown) and the crocs could not pierce its thick hide. The vultures opened around the eye, the only place where they could rip the skin. There was a constant flow of other members from the herd drawn to the fallen one. Image taken around 13h00, light very harsh.
    Reprocessed, tried to correct colour balance and sharpen.
    IQ not very good when compared with todays top DSLR cameras, just wanted to share and get some advice.

    Fuji S3 Pro
    Nikon 500F4, Manual Focus
    ISO 100
    1/500 @ F4
    Regards

    Andre.

    www.gappimages.com

  2. #2
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Andre, a very sad image, however life goes on and nothing goes to waste in the bush.

    I like the comp and the content is strong, and illustrates the story well. I think if you revisit the image, make some Curves adjustments for the mid tones, then for the whites, open up a bit more detail overall on the elephant and then just address some depth of colour & tone to the croc, the image really begins to take shape, then lastly add some selective rounds of sharpening.

    Perhaps something like this for direction, WDYT?

    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 Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Andre - a poignant image. Nice low pov and Steve's suggestions have taken it up a notch.

    TFS,
    Rachel

  4. #4
    Lifetime Member Andre Pretorius's Avatar
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    Thank you Steve and Rachel!

    Steve, with my limited knowledge this it what I could come up with.
    Are there different curves for shadows,midtones and highlights? I know of just one curve adjustment, use the hand to click in image for adjustments.
    Could you send me a link to a tutorial to understand " tone" better?
    There are so many sharpening techniques (Highpass, LAB, USM etc), which one do you use?

    I can not express enough thanks for the time and effort you having been granting me.
    Regards

    Andre.

    www.gappimages.com

  5. #5
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Andre, my Curves grid is set up so I have 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 tone and by adjusting the line using these key areas I can adjust the image so i tend now to keep away from the pre sets and do my own thing so I may have one or four Curves adjustments targeting key areas with masks. i done know of any 'tutorials', but Morkel may?

    Personally and I have said this may times, Sharpening and cropping are the most personal part of an image. I may do a pre sharpen at RAW, some do not and only sharpen at the end, it's all personal choice and what suits YOU. I prefer USM as Smart can be too aggressive depending on how it's set up, but things have changed looking at the new versions that are being developed in Photoshop.

    I try not to be too specific in my comments (frustrating I know) on how to do things, as we all have our ways in setting up our Workflows and would not wish to perhaps pass on bad habits or practices hence my vagueness at times, plus you need to explore and understand what the adjustments or sliders etc do. In that way you will learn and know what is required when you start any PP work on your image. Likewise I do think that getting to know the basics before buying expensive additional software is the way to go, otherwise you just blanket an image with 'stuff' and the image looks a million miles away from the original, if you know what I mean.

    The RP is certainly an improvement.
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

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  7. #6
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Dramatic moment, Andre! Impressive IQ given the setup you used. Steve's RP and yours are both very nice and have taken the OP miles ahead.
    I actually use curves less than Steve does, though I believe we use different steps to get the same results. If you do find a nice tut on how to customise it, please do share
    Morkel Erasmus

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    I haven't seen anything like this before (apart from crocs pulling elephant trunks) so well done and thanks for sharing.

    Good to see you were able to take Steve's advice on board and apply it in the repost.

    Jamie

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    BPN Member Anette Mossbacher's Avatar
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    Hi Andre,

    very rare image. Never have seen such situation! For tutorials, oh well, I was digging long in Youtube. I am a person who needs to see what all DOES. In a written way, like in a book it does not help me to much.
    Give this one in Youtube, that might help you further: photoshop layers & curves
    But careful there is also lots of crap around, which does not help you at all!!

    Have a great day

    Ciao
    Anette

  10. #9
    Lifetime Member Andre Pretorius's Avatar
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    Thank you Anette! I have the kids around for next two weeks, not much time for PP or net! Will definitely check it out. Thanks again!!
    Regards

    Andre.

    www.gappimages.com

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