Picture from last week's trip to Kruger National Park. A large troop of baboons were foraging in open grass veld with the youngsters up to their usual antics! Four youngsters were in playful battle, picking on the pictured cousin. The tables turned and as they fled, he/she went in hot pursuit!
Techs: Canon 1D-X | Canon 600mm MrkII - 1/800s @ f/7.1 | ISO 800 | EV +1/3
PP: FF, Contrast & sharpening in LR, Luminosity mask - BM = Multiply, Smart sharpen selectively x 2, Smart sharpen eyes & BM = Screen.
I used a neutral grey layer and used D&B to darken the LHTC and RHBC to try and emphasize the effect of the little one coming down the pathway/"tunnel" towards the viewer. I also considered a vertical crop for the same effect and to bring the baboon "larger" into the front of the image, but decide on this no cropped version as I liked the wider angle and context better.
I would appreciate all C's & C's; I have already benefited a lot from the 2 previous images posted and the valuable advice received. Appreciated.
Regards.
Hennie
Nice capture. I found the grasses on the left a bit distracting, so made it a vertical. Also, made a couple of screen blends (low opacity) to lighten around the eyes.
Hi Douglas - Thank you for taking the effort, I appreciate. I agree, the V-comp also looks good, eyes are an improvement - I will be a bit more liberal with my PP in that regard, it works. Thanks again for spending the time.
Cheers
Hennie
Hi Hennie- I think I prefer the wider view to the portrait because it does give you that coming down the path feel that gets a lost in the portrait comp. An alternative that I think would work well would be the 16x9 because you won't have quite as much negative space. Some of the blacks on the baboon are a little choked. You may be able to extract more detail if you go back to the RAW. Doug has improved the eye area.
Hennie-congrats-a new camera and lens! Enjoy. If it were mine, then I would crop a little at the bottom and LHS-the oof grass. The rest-typicle Bosveld-I like it.
Ben
Lovely image Hennie, i really like the space in this but agree that a possible 16:9 crop may be better, the blacks do look a little constricted and a little more work to extract some more detail from the eye area would be great. The image as a whole could be lifted a little in curves and levels as well. Otherwise nice comp and pin sharp.
Hi Hennie. I like you how channeled the viewer's gaze through the composition and the subtle PP work!
I've got 2 reposts for you...sorry if it's too much .
First one - used your colour version and lightened the baboon's face by dodging midtones and highlights, and also burning some shadows for contrast. I also burned the midtones and shadows on the grass around him some more...
Morkel - Thanks for the work! The color version definitely "pops"! The D&B makes a huge difference. Huge improvement with subtle edits.
The monochrome - Not sure, not ready for that leap yet!
Cheers
Hennie
Hi Hennie, well framed in the grasses, and love the approaching pose and eye contact. Your OP works, but as you have been spoilt with a few versions, I quite like Mork's colour version.
Like this - I prefer the full frame one and I like the fact that the baboon is coming right at you. Would lighten the face and eyes as has been suggested.
Ed
Baby baboon coming down path in hot pursuit
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