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Thread: Driven by Thirst

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Default Driven by Thirst

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    This September we drove about two thousand kilometres through the Kalahari in search for our lions. I say "our lions" because we know so many of them, because we love them, and because they are an integral part of our photography. We often found fresh spoor and followed but we were always too late. This never happened before. The Kalahari taught us a humbling lesson this season but we were rewarded for opening our eyes and learning to appreciate everything around us. Our eyes wondered tirelessly from the river beds to the top of the dunes and often found beauty in the landscape and the life it contains, at times capturing uncommon images of what some see as "common" subjects. This is but one example and I quite enjoyed taking the time and shooting frame after frame hoping to capture those lovely blue wildebeest walking towards the water against a beautiful red dune. As some would say, a common Kalahari scene...

    NIKON D3S
    Nikon 500mm F4
    F6.3
    ISO 640
    1/1000s

    Wishing you all a lovely Sunday,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Hi Gabriella

    I think this is absolutely stunning! Very beautiful complementary colors and great quality. Love it!

    /Gregor

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Gabriela - I agree with Gregor, this works quite well. I really like the line formation of the wildes and the sense of weariness that comes from their heads hung down. Nicely captured and processed.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    Hi Gabriela - Agree with above totally. Love the line of animals and also the great light you managed to capture here. Super shot.
    Thanks again to you and Andre for the tutoring and dinner of course

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    Hi Gabriela - I am enjoying this series of herbivores of yours. I share you disappointment on missing out on the lions - we had the same scenario in the Kruger 1 month ago - in 5 days we didn't see a single one! It is true that one is spoiled with the big cats, and then tend to underestimate the beauty of the prey!
    About the image - I think it looks great. The colors are beautiful and rich. The composition works really well and the single file across pano portrays the message very well.
    TFS
    Cheers
    Hennie

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    A real winner here Gabriela, like it a lot.
    Well composed/framed, overall colours and of course the line Wildebeest, the second from the right is the killer one, love the stance! Finally, to clinch everything, very well processed too, VWD

    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 Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    One thought today while I was working on a few images was that the lack of predators on the last trip was in fact a blessing in disguise-back home I am enjoying processing those shots of various species and it is great to try out my hand at something different. Over the past few days I felt like a poet lacking his muse but soon my frustration was replaced by the desire to produce images that the viewer would truly enjoy. I am so glad you liked this, thank you all from the heart for your wonderful comments.

    Wishing you a great week ahead,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Hi Gabriela, love the colors and line formation. Excellent sharpness and the wildebeest stood out against the BG. Looks like you were far away as the wildebeests all look very sharp. If you don't mind, I'd love to see the original full frame to see how you arrived of the crop. To me the wildebeests are just a little bit low on the frame. Loi

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    BPN Member Anette Mossbacher's Avatar
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    Hi Gabriela,

    this works with all for me. Very nice comp and overall

    Have a great week

    Ciao
    Anette

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Default Driven by Thirst Original Image

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    Thank you Loi and Anette,

    Loi-here's the wildebeests as I shot them...err...photographed them do you think I should have left more space at the bottom? I remember trying all sorts of crops and eventually decided for this one, I'd love to hear your opinion.

    Kind regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Bit more space to the left would have been good.
    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 Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Indeed Steve, I have some images with more space at the left but the "boys" were not in order, you know how these guys walk, they shake their heads and nod and often get "out of line"... Will see what else I have in that file
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Hi Gabriela, Thank you for posting the original FF. I actually like the little bit of sky at the top of the image as it shows the habitat and hills. Cropping out the sky makes the BG a little 2-D. I'd be tempted to crop something like this. Your PP is so much better, so I won't attempt to match the colors and sharpness :).

    Loi

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    I love your OP, Loi! I have another image with less wildebeest in it and a tad more sky-I will crop it as per your suggestion So kind of you, thank you so much for taking the time to view and share your opinion, I truly appreciate it!

    Warmest regards and many thanks once again,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Gabreila, this just ooooozes Kalahari. Great pastel colours, depth of field and composition for me - soft light tops it off nicely...
    One of your best recent posts.
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Thank you Morkel, and thank you all for your critique and advice-I truly appreciate your input

    Kind regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Forum Participant edwardselfe's Avatar
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    This is spectacular. Wouldn't change anything about colours etc. A sliver more on the LHS would be ideal but it doesn't really matter.
    Ed

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