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Thread: Mara Stripes

  1. #1
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Default Mara Stripes

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    Just a classical scene from the East African plains...

    Techs:
    Nikon D3s
    Nikkor 500mm f4 VR-II
    f8.0 | 1/800 SS | ISO-320
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Beautiful framing and the monochrome works very well here. Love it.

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Hi Morkel,
    Like the monochrome look of the frame and the layered subjects, giving a nice depth to the image.
    It would be nice to have more room to LHS, do find the zebras in front bit tight to that side , looking a bit squeezed in there .The cut off ones in the BG look kind of distracting to me.
    I would go for pano in this case.

    TFS Andreas

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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Love the contrast between the stripes and that classic BG here Morkel, I'd go for a pano crop as well, but for a different reason to Andreas.
    For mine I would like to see the lighter band of sky BG taken out, just personal taste.


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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Hi Mork, great conversion, and I like the two sharp alert Zebbies on the left. Im fine with the cut off Zebbie on the left - when there is a herd of any animal, one is bound to cut off something.

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    Hi Morkel

    Classic, simple and so beautiful. I´m starting to get restless here in the north. I would so much want to be in that picture.

    I agree with Andreas comments. Mostly that the lhs is so close to the sharp Zebra. Just a sliver more would be good for me, because I like the comp, balance with the oof Zebra group in the middle. I like the bright sky.

    TFS / Gregor

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Morkel - very nice conversion and classic scene. I too would like a little more room to the lhs just to give the front zebra a bit more breathing room.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    BPN Member Anette Mossbacher's Avatar
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    Hi Morkel,

    nice classic B&W. I agree with the others for more room to the LHS.
    Have a nice eve

    Ciao Anette

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    Great conversion and soft bg. I however agree with the issue on the LHS. Even if the sharpest zebra was in the centre with others scattered in the tow, it'd still work as you have a lot of scenery (in the 2/3rds) in the bg - IMO. I'd think you may have some shots panning left?

    TFS

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  18. #10
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Thanks for your comments and suggestions, folks.
    I wondered if the tight crop on the LHS would bug some of you.
    I cropped like that to exclude other "cut off" zebras. Here's the original frame straight OOC.
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Well, I like it more FF.

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Morkel - another vote for the ff.

    Rachel

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    Forum Participant edwardselfe's Avatar
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    This is a tricky one because each element is nice on its own, but as a whole, they lead to a slightly unbalanced image. I like the FF more than the crop, but I do like what you did with the B&W conversion which really brings out the tones and details of their hides.
    Ed

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  25. #14
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Thanks everyone!

    Quote Originally Posted by edwardselfe View Post
    This is a tricky one because each element is nice on its own, but as a whole, they lead to a slightly unbalanced image. I like the FF more than the crop, but I do like what you did with the B&W conversion which really brings out the tones and details of their hides.
    Ed
    What made it stand out for me is the lineup and almost "fanning" of heads from left to right...
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    Lifetime Member Andre Pretorius's Avatar
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    Everything has been said.
    Would prefer pano B&W with no skyline.

    Just wondering- you had the light, what would f16 look like?

    Andre
    Regards

    Andre.

    www.gappimages.com

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Default Morkel's Zebra

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    Hello Morkel,

    Just played a bit with your zebra to see what it would look like if one character was out of the picture I know, cloning is to be avoided at all costs, I just thought I'd give it a try anyway... Although I like your image very much, I find that the amount of space on the right is too much, comparing with the crowded left hand side of the image. WDYT?

    Warmest regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    BPN Member Bill Jobes's Avatar
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    When there are half-bodies of creatures hanging on the edges of a photograph, cropping is at its most challenging.

    In the OP, which I like very much, I would crop from the top to eliminate the sky, as to my eye, it adds an unnecessary complication, especially when presented as mono. Not so much in color.

    I like Gabriela's edit the best. My only suggestion would be to extend the right-hand side just a bit.

    Gabriela, in my opinion, cloning is perfectly acceptable in an 'art' piece; while obviously verboten in journalistic and contest settings, unless disclosed and permitted by the rules.
    Last edited by Bill Jobes; 11-10-2013 at 06:51 AM.
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  32. #18
    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Thank you Bill Regarding your last sentence above-I cannot agree more, what you have said makes perfect sense.

    Zebra images make great prints, and especially the B/W. I cloned the character on the left because I felt it would make a more aesthetically pleasing print.

    Kind regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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  34. #19
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Thanks a lot everyone. Like your last vision Gabriela! I have no qualms about doing this kind of editing for my fine art print collection so will give it a bash!
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Hi Morkel

    Sorry I have to disagree with everyone, this is not one of your best. The composition just doesn't work. It feels off balance , no separation between the zebras so your eye just wanders. Gabrielas crop works better. The toning shud add depth to your image but the tone is leaning towards a pink tone….jusr doesn't work for me…

    Sorry mate …

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