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Thread: Happy as a pig in mud!

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    Default Happy as a pig in mud!

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    Really a capybara, but they remind me so much of pigs. The capybara is the largest rodent in the world. According to Wikipedia: "Adult capybaras grow to 107 to 134 cm (3.51 to 4.40 ft) in length, stand 50 to 64 cm (20 to 25 in) tall at the withers, and typically weigh 35 to 66 kg (77 to 146 lb)." They have thick, web feet making them strong swimmers plus they are a favorite food of jaguars. We were surprised to watch them explore from the shore faster than a speeding bullet and into the water when a jaguar was near. They can hold their breathe for several minutes, and I imagine swim hard under water to escape. We never saw a capybara resurface once they dove into the water.

    Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 400 f4 DO IS, 1/1000, f8, ISO 800.

    C & C always most appreciated.

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Nancy - talk about a mud bath or wrap! Nice to see another species from the pantanal and thanks for the info about them. Too bad about the stalk in front but I imagine it is very difficult to get a clear view with all the scrub along the river. Nice detail and colors. Maybe just a little too much sharpening of the head.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    Nice to see this species Nancy! He seems to enjoy the mud bath! Rachel has made some good points above. TFS.

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    Hi Nancy, another new species for me! He really liked the mud bath it seems. The BG is just a tad busy and the branch in front is distracting, but I assume there wasn't much you could do about it. TFS. Loi

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Nancy, I agree with Rachel's observations, but was there an opportunity to move to the left to perhaps help some of the vegetation? Did you do any work in 'pruning' some vegetation in the middle of the subject, as there seems to be some specs of green with the mud coat? I might be tempted to just adjust the Exp a fraction, to darken it, but you may then need to mask the subject in key areas, may help the BKG/FG?

    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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    Great image and sighting. Image has great detail and colour, also well exposed for the darker body wrapped in mud. The two little shrubs in front are not a big issue for me. i would however agree with steve that a little exposure drop in the BG would help the subject pop a little more.

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    Thank you everyone for your helpful comments and suggestions. Steve, nothing gets past you! I did remove a stalk of vegetation in the middle of the capybara. Now I see those greenish spots. I like the idea of adjusting the exposure to darken the bkgd some. Will also back off on the sharpening of the head. All photographs are taken from a moving boat. Even with the engine turned off the current is always strong, giving you a brief opportunity for the perfect shot. Sometimes we would go back for a second attempt but often the animals shifted by then, becoming suspicious of the attention.

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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Hi Nancy, thats a lot of mud, but an interesting image having the head free of the mud wrap. Good low shooting angle, no one has mentioned it, but I feel this needs a CW rotation, unless its a natural slope.

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    Stuart, You're right about the CW rotation. I saw that when I went back to work on the other suggestions.

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