Results 1 to 15 of 15

Thread: Athena

  1. #1
    Lifetime Member Andre Pretorius's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Hluhluwe, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
    Posts
    1,237
    Threads
    135
    Thank You Posts

    Default Athena

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Another image captured on the last Kalahari trip.

    This was taken with the "evil" Auto ISO.... I wanted a very fast SS- selected 1/3200. Wanted enough DOF- selected f6.3. The D3S then decided to settle on ISO 640 to capture this image.

    I could then concentrate on comp and focus.

    Image taken in harsh light(9AM), but that is when they run.....
    Regards

    Andre.

    www.gappimages.com

  2. #2
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Hyderabad, India
    Posts
    5,088
    Threads
    1,356
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Excellent image Andre, Love the pose, the sharpness and in coming angle. Wish for a slight more room in front than above. What was the focal length used for this shot?
    TFS.
    Sanjeev

  3. #3
    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Centurion, South Africa
    Posts
    21,360
    Threads
    1,435
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Andre, cool action shot, and I like that we can see the flying dirt from the Springboks hooves as it changes direction. The light doesnt look too harsh, and agree, more space in front will work.

  4. #4
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Lincolnshire UK.
    Posts
    4,951
    Threads
    187
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Andre, you really have caught the action in what looks like difficult conditions, excellent

    Keith..

  5. #5
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Solothurn-Switzerland
    Posts
    1,658
    Threads
    127
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Nice action ! Liked the kicked up dust from its previous landing spot as well. The dry tree on the right adds a lot to the frame IMHO.
    Nice image...

  6. #6
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    NYC
    Posts
    14,320
    Threads
    929
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Andre - I'm getting a deja vu feeling. Just kidding. Great timing and I too like the clouds of dust. The springbok feels a little flat and the face looks slightly gray. If it were mine I would apply a levels adjustment just to the bok bringing in the right hand slider to about 247 and then also give it a boost of linear contrast in curves. Simple adjustments just take it up a notch.

    TFS,
    Rachel

  7. #7
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Phoenix AZ
    Posts
    644
    Threads
    85
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I like it but if the image can handle it I'd try a pretty good crop, you would lose some flying dirt with a vertical but I'd try some different looks if it were mine. Great capture though and good use of Auto ISO, I'm still very scared every time I use it.

  8. #8
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Somewhere in the world
    Posts
    20,551
    Threads
    1,285
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Andre, well I know I shouldn't compare, but having the additional Springbok in the BKG (Gabriela's image a while back) just adds to the comp, therefore seeing this image I keep questioning, 'there's something missing?'.

    The tech's look good albeit Auto ISO, likewise the light doesn't appear that harsh, so I would expect a bit more sharpness/clarity in the image, WDYT? Good position in frame and I like the way the SB is turning into frame from the right. I wonder if there is a slight 'green' coming through, therefore if I'm right, then a slight tweak in Colour Balance easily resolves this.

    TFS
    Steve
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

  9. #9
    Forum Participant edwardselfe's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    South Luangwa, Zambia
    Posts
    701
    Threads
    26
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Agree that there might be a slight green cast - making the yellows look greener than they might be. But the action is great, framing good and the kicked up dirt just makes it.

    Ed

  10. #10
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Posts
    324
    Threads
    78
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Slight head turn and eye contact would lift this image even more. Good on you mate for getting it sharp!

  11. #11
    Lifetime Member Andre Pretorius's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Hluhluwe, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
    Posts
    1,237
    Threads
    135
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Thank you al for comments!

    Sanjeev- Sorry for not stating the obvious- Nikon 600F4.

    Stuart- Cropped a sliver of in PS- went back to PSD file and added it again, that is all I got.

    Thanks Keith for kind comments!
    Kaushik, she was turning at the log to face me, I LOVE that log

    Rachel, me and my friend/partner/critic/lover/adviser/etc,etc.. lenses are less than 1m apart, I just have the bigger one. We have almost the same images. Now the question is- who posts what first? This image was part of series taken as the youngsters were approaching, selected this one for obvious reasons. Re PS: In my levels mask my slider was exactly on 247! The whites on the face and on front legs was a bit hot in my opinion, did another mask only on these areas and brought the output white slider to the left- the greyish whites. Changed my curve layer to linear contrast preset, wasn't to happy with luminosity blending mode, changed to Screen @ 20%? WDYT?
    Are the whites better or too hot?
    Decided to do Midtone Contrast Layer Mask and did S curve.
    D/B layer for a bit extra punch.
    Could not do NR on BG,wanted to keep dust and log, used blur tool at decreasing %'s.
    Content aware to remove some blobs in BG.

    Stan do not be afraid, be like a Bear....but I am afraid of a vertical crop...
    Steve- my second bokkie(the other one sits behind me) was not going to make an impact on my image , 500 vs 600, my focal point placed the SB more to the front, the second bokkie was to far and OOF to include.
    Did Colour Balance layer, -2 on greens, looks stacks better, thanks!
    "albeit Auto ISO" -yes, the eternal question.. AllanB from ODP is staying over Friday and Saturday; we will discuss this thorny issue over a few bottles of a good Merlot...

    Thanks Ed for comments, removed the Greens.

    Thank you Gerhard for comments!
    Regards

    Andre.

    www.gappimages.com

  12. #12
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    NYC
    Posts
    14,320
    Threads
    929
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Andre - personally I feel it is an improvement, particularly on the face. Maybe just slightly burn the top of the left front leg (right as we view it) but overall nicely done. WDYT?

    Rachel

  13. #13
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Somewhere in the world
    Posts
    20,551
    Threads
    1,285
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    AH, Rachel beast me to it, either burn or a luminosity %, perhaps around 30%? Selectively adding some mid tone adjustment just brings a bit more form to the body, likewise a couple more rounds of selective USM, but it's how far you want to take it and personal taste, but certainly the RP is better.

    AllanB from ODP is staying over Friday and Saturday; we will discuss this thorny issue over a few bottles of a good Merlot...
    I would do all the 'work' issues first, then relax, chill and talk about the finer points of life, where's the next trip to and more importantly, when!
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

  14. #14
    BPN Member Anette Mossbacher's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Switzerland
    Posts
    1,818
    Threads
    95
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Andre,

    great action shot. Your RP is much better, the added FG looks great with it.
    Everything has been said above

    Have a nice eve

    Ciao
    Anette

  15. #15
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    14,858
    Threads
    1,235
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    You've got some good builds here already, Andre. I like the pose and action. And I shoot on auto ISO all the time! - as you said, it frees you up to make the right call on aperture and shutter speed if you have confidence that the camera can handle the IQ for a broad range of ISO settings.
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Web Analytics