Another one of old images I redid against better advise…the Fuji was close to the D200 then(2008) but it had massive file sizes(18mb).
Fuji S5PRO with Nikon 500f4 M/F (700mm- DX sensor)
1/1250 @ f4,5
ISO 400
FF image with no crop.
Image captured in Hluhluwe Umfolozi Game Reserve.
LR5 B&W from Basic, adjustment layers incl D&B layer in CS6. Tried new avenue with Quad tone to achieve max contrast, do not know if succeeded?Should one process in colour in LR and then convert in CS, or start with B&W?
Does the closed eye lessen the impact?
C&C welcome
Last edited by Andre Pretorius; 11-28-2013 at 01:28 PM.
Hi Andre,
a better base post , compared to last of the dinosaur cam , LOL.
Basically you have more structure and detail inn the frame, but i do feel it is overall a tad too dark.I think you have to open up the mid tones light and dark, and the push them with really hard contrast to make this work, at least for me.
The BKG is too dark compared to the subject , so i would try to go darker or lighter , and see how it looks.
I like the curled? trunk, but think the frame is too tight on bottom and top.
The biggest issue for me are all the extreme highlights, not much you can do about, they just there when there is mud, water and sun.
Hope you do not mind my critique,but somebody you are a technical person , who knows who told me that.
somehow I agree with some Andreas said. A bit tight, would be great when the lower lip would be included as well, the whole mouth.
The highlight spots do not bother me much, that is water. You might can turn them down a bit. I also would lighten the ele a bit more and as well, as Andreas said, play with the BG lighten or darken!
Just my thoughts on this one.
Edit, 2min later. The closed eye always depends for me. Many want to have the eyes open, but for me there are some cases in which I find closed eyes very appealing.
Conversion in LR or PS. I do mine in LR, but before I set up the image like a color image. That all sits including WB, contrast..etc. Just all I do in LR. When this done, than I start to convert!
Have a great weekend
Ciao
Anette
Last edited by Anette Mossbacher; 11-29-2013 at 04:00 PM.
Hi Andre - You've gotten excellent suggestions from Andreas and Anette. I don't mind the closed eye as much as I mind the tightness of the frame. For me the missing bottom of the mouth/head is a deal breaker (sorry). The closed eye just indicates to me that the ele is enjoying the mud bath. I do really like the textures here.
Hi Andre, diving into B/W is way out of most of our comfort zones apart from as I have said, Mr Delaney, so my comments are purely based on my own thoughts.
Firstly, using a Duo tone, or in this case a Quad, why? To me the choice of colour (toning) has flattened the image and has created a lot of mid 'grey' areas which has given the image no real depth, I think you need to play with the blacks & whites to get more tonal values in there. The darker areas have truck loads of detail, but you have hidden it all. Remember your mid tones are where your detail is. I would start with your B/W, get that right hen think, if appropriate applying a Duotone or what ever version you choice, but make sure int's a plus choice, not a negative one where you loose a lot of the nice tonal feeling/qualities you had in the B/W.
If it was me, I would create a virtual copy and do my conversion in LR as you are using the RAW, then export to PS and dolour 'enhancements' there. Personally having the eye closed isn't a big issue for me, where as, the although we know the trunk is curled, I would like to see more of the curl, as it does look truncated, plus the image does need some more room below.
Andre I have really (IMHO) pushed this and you perhaps could go more or less, I want to convey that wet, baked on mud in the bright light, the wetness being highlighted by the blown whites, the rich shadows etc… This is perhaps way off, but may help?
TFS
Steve
Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.
Thank you Andreas, Anette, Rachel and Steve for comments and suggestions.
I knew this image is not the best, using it to fall out of my box! It is a pity that I was so close (FF) and that the eye is closed, but processing this image (again) has taught me some more on my PP journey, quest to get better?
Began from scratch; again; did Virtual Copy(Steve), used WB dropper, did Basic, Tone Curve, and Detail in colour. Tried some LR presets, did not like. Conversion HSL/B&W. Proceeded to CS6. (Tx Anette)
Did first Shadows/highlights with +20 Midtone contrast.( Tx Rachel) Then masked adjustment layers for curves, selective colour and levels.( I find myself tweaking the output white slider more-
am I on the right track?)Tried to get more detail in darks and achieve max contrast. First did inverted S and tried to get contrast back by adding blacks in Neutrals- did not work. Back to S and less in Selective Colour.
Did Brightness/Contrast and thinking what Andreas suggested, Brightness+2 and punched the contrast.
Inverted mask, Levels on BG
Steve, I love your "wet" look, can't achieve it?!
I still think it is a bit flat..
WDYT?
No duo, trio, quad, penta etc tones- have to learn how to drive them first...
Hi Andre, I guess the best way to describe what I did was like pealing back an onion, the whole image was built up with layers within Curves & Selective colour using Neutrals and blacks, but each layer was masked so you 'revealed' that KEY area and either by using the brush as a % or the Opacity slider you can vary each application. My RP is not great and in some places overly done I feel, but it's purely pasted as an illustrative POV and I am sure others far more proficient than I am in B/W would make a far better job. Look at the image then step back each the to review and if you don't like it, trash it.
OK so lets be positive here. Having the lighter BKG helps to separate the subject and adds a little more depth to the image. You now have more detail, clarity and sharpness which wasn't really there in the OP. I think combine the two, then with a brush start off with it set to 50% and begin to paint in areas, perhaps the darker areas then at a 100% likewise say the really brighter ones so you are then playing with light, or, as a friend of mine would say 'sculpting with light', however you are using a brush.
Come on Andre, lets see the Van Gogh/Turner in you, you can do it and you know I've already tried it.
Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.
just another take on this image from my side of view for tomorrow. When you do the image, try to look away sometimes and focus on something different. That helps, or go have another glass Merlot, it will be Sunday than
Had a 5min play with it and this is what I had in mind, CS was so nice to do the PP. Go as simple as you can with your PP on this one. Grab the most easiest steps, that will bring you there
The only thing was had to brush 2x, did not quite a nice job, you have the big file, there the brushing should sit