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Thread: Bugling Elk

  1. #1
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Default Bugling Elk

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    Another one taken on my recent trip to the town of Estes Park, Colorado. Taken in the early morning in the small park overlooking town and the lake. Cropped from horizontal to vertical to get rid of a large distracting bush in the rlc.

    Canon 5D3
    70-200 II @ 200mm
    1/2500
    f5.0 (given ss I could have stopped down a little more)
    ISO 800
    HH, levels, curves, selective color adjustments, luminosity mask, sharpened in CS6.

    C&C welcome and appreciated. Thanks,

    Rachel

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    Forum Participant edwardselfe's Avatar
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    Beautiful colours and composition. Might lose 2cm off the bottom perhaps. You controlled the backlighting expertly although it's a shame that flare has reduced the contrast in the tree in the trc. I might use a brush to put in some contrast/blacks as it's a bit distracting. Also perhaps a little more sharpening/clarity around the elk's eye....? Great timing to capture this moment and with only a 200mm lens!
    All in all a good pic.
    Ed

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Rachel a nice alternative to the previous image.

    I do like the pose, although, there's that 'rear' again, but perhaps in a more modest light. As you had the SS I would have gone more the f/8, but at least f5/6. I would try and tame the exposure to the RHS easy enough to do, perhaps also above & at the foot just to bring a hint more 'depth' through, see what loosing some off the foot would look like, the image not the elk . Add say 6% brightness and sharpen the Elk overall. You might also adjust the yellow in Sat/Sel col. Also, and I know you don't like to, but take the white spot out to the RHS of the elk & in the mountain, likewise the reddish one near the water in the BKG.

    I didn't want to RP, but fired this off to Rachel to accompany my thoughts, however she very kindly ask if I would attach it.

    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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    Rachel, lovely image. I like the comp that shows the elk, the early morning light, the mountain and water. Steve's RP eliminates the flare, which takes the image up another knot. Loi

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    BPN Member dankearl's Avatar
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    Rachel,
    I would crop all of the sky, it adds nothing but a white bland patch.
    Steve's repost added a bit to it, but I really don't see any reason to keep it.
    A simple screen scroll and you see the improvement.
    Dan Kearl

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Thanks everyone for the comments and suggestions. I really like what Steve did. As far as crop, because this is already cropped from horizontal to vertical I won't crop any further due to potential loss of IQ and I'm happy with the comp as is.

    Thanks again,
    Rachel

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Steve's repost added a bit to it, but I really don't see any reason to keep it.
    Sorry Dan, unclear about this remark can you please expand for clarity & understanding. Thanks.
    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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    Steve - I understood Dan to be saying that although your rp improved the sky he would still crop it out.

    Rachel

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    Sorry for jumping in, but I'm with Rachel on leaving the comp as is for a habitat, not portrait, shot. Even though it does not have much color, it does give a perspective on how high is the hill and gives it a more 3-D or depth. I made the same comments on Gabriella's wildebeest shot a couple of days ago as well. Loi

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Rachel, nice one to take at 200mm...
    I like the tonality of Steve's RP. I get what Dan is saying, and a crop off the top would work well if you could add some space on the RHS (which you say you chopped off due to a distracting bush). I also considered less at the bottom...
    So I would keep it as is (especially since you don't want to crop further).
    Morkel Erasmus

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