Backlit Reindeer

[Rachel Hollander]

A Svalbard Reindeer. We shot these when the arctic foxes weren't cooperating. And yes, Steve, I did open up the shadows a bit more.

Canon 7D
300 II plus 2x III
1/4000
f6.3
ISO 800
HH while lying down, levels, curves, shadows and exposure adjustments, sharpened in CS6.

C&C welcome and appreciated. Thanks,

Rachel

[Steve Kaluski]

I will hold fire, you know my thoughts on this one.

[Anette Mossbacher]

Hi Rachel, very nice image. Am a blue addict since...the Milka addict...never mind
I would take out the blue in the neck. I did in PS looked a bit different though. I liked it that way, but that is a matter of taste.
The hair under the neck are a bit blown, but honestly, I don't mind at all. I like it very much

Enjoy your Wednesday, middle of the week

Ciao
Anette

[Roman Kurywczak]

Hey Rachel,
I like these type of images.....but I may not want as much detail in the neck area. These are tough to pull off as the animal really needs to cooperate!

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks Steve, Anette and Roman. Anette - I purposely went very bright on the highlights. I'll take a look at the blue.

Roman - I have a few versions of this and posted the one with the most detail after applying suggestions to open the shadows more from Mr. Detail himself. Here's another version with less detail. I've also got one with no detail and just the highlighted outline.

Thanks again,
Rachel

[Roman Kurywczak]

Well.....you can't just tease me.....where is the one with no detail? I might go with that one!

[Rachel Hollander]

Ok Roman, here it is.

[Roman Kurywczak]

Yep....my favorite is this one!

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks Roman, I'm still on the fence.

[Morkel Erasmus]

Nice rim-lighting here, Rachel. My first thought was to do one like you just posted...minimal details and just outline. Love it!
Steve - so what are your thoughts?

[Steve Canuel]

I don't mind the neck detail in the OP, just feel I need to see more around the eye. But I don't know if you can get that without it looking unnatural. That said, I think this one is about the rim light which for me means detail on the shaded side is not necessary so your post for Roman works too.

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks Morkel and Steve, much appreciated.

[Andrew Merwin]

I too prefer the 3rd. post as I agree with Steve C.—this is all about the rim lighting. I think the detail in the first 2 images detracts from the silhouette & the rim lighting. Very creative Rachel. TFS.

[Jamie Douglas]

Hey Rachel, I know you said you are on the fence but the recent rim lighting post is my fav. The reindeer just looks a little angry/un-photogenic in the OP.

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks Andrew and Jamie - the third version that you all like the best was actually the first version I did. I think its my favorite too. I'll just blame Mr. Detail for the "angry" reindeer.

Thanks again,
Rachel

[Steve Kaluski]

I'll just blame Mr. Detail for the "angry" reindeer.

Yep, the 'buck' seems to fall always with me.

[Martin Dunn]

Interesting to see the 3 images and the different stages you went through.
My preference is the 3rd one, with the least detail. Simply because there is less to distract from the impact of the backlit antlers.