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Thread: The Sun Seeker ( Sun Agama)

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Default The Sun Seeker ( Sun Agama)

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    This is the Sun Agama. Loves to soak in the Kalahari sun and always chooses a nice vantage point from where he can survey the surroundings. Image taken in harsh sun and without a hat, followed by severe dehydration and I was offered a beer on return to the camp. I almost never touch any kind of alcohol during the day and especially when it is so hot in the Kalahari, but on this occassion the beer did the trick. Followed by a few sachets of Rehidrat and some Paracetamol for the headache. Since that day I never get out of the car in that (semi)desert without wearing a hat. I took this image sitting on the sand and fairly close to the Agama, as close as the 500 lens could focus. Had to wait for him to settle in order to get what I wanted, which is that smooth sandy BG behind him. The Agama did not run away, I guess I looked nothing like a predator to him since they get taken mostly by birds and especially Pale Chanting Goshawks. No support so VR on, I shot at various F-stops and got some pretty cool images despite the scorching heat I had to endure. One image I really liked (despite the very narrow DOF) I have recently posted in Macro-I just loved the pose so much, and the blue sky behind the Agama).

    Nikon D3S
    Nikon 500mm F4
    F6.3
    1/4000s

    Not much of an eye unfortunately, in light so harsh the eye of the Agama went completely black. Recovered some but wouldn't go further as it would look dull and washed out. Tried to keep the original colours although I was tempted to add more contrast. Inspired to work on this by Carl's photograph recently chosen as "image of the week"-congratulations again, dear Carl
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Gabriela - I like the pose and the clean bg. Did you need to add blur to achieve it at f6.3 or was it far enough away to achieve in camera? Something seems off about the sharpening with some areas sharp and others not as sharp even though they seem to be in the same focal plane? I think I might have stopped down even more in the field as you certainly had the ss to do so. Harsh light handled well.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Default Sun Agama Lijers Draai

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    Hello Rachel!

    Thank you for viewing and comments as well as questions, this image was taken at a picnic spot in the Kalahari and the name of the place is Lijers Draai. The spot is demarcated by poles and the Agama was sunning itself at the top of one such pole. I attach an image of Andre and a friend at the picnic site to give you an idea, the moderators are welcome to remove it should they find this post inappropriate for wildlife. This image is not processed, by the way, just converted to Jpeg.

    What I am trying to explain is, we got as close as we could to the subject , see Andre in the image on the left (he was shooting with a 300 F2.8 while I shot with 500 F4), Agama just a few poles away from him. At such short distance, F 6.3 is nothing-in retrospective I should have had F8 or more, but at the time I did not know Unlike Andre, I shot from the outside, therefore no grass in the BG. Perhaps it looks like most areas are in the same focal plane, but at this distance every cm counts (see hind leg OOF and tail). Hope this helps?

    It's a pity about the "perch" being man-made, I just liked the little guy and wanted to share

    Have a great evening and a great Sunday too!

    Chat soon,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Hi Gaby, love the raised head pose, and I do like the detail you have brought out, even in the harsh light. Awesome smooth BG, and your additional post shows the setting nicely. No need for it to be removed.

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Thank you dear Stu, can you spot the Agama a few poles in front of Andre?

    Wishing you a great Sunday,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    On top of the 3rd post.

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Hi Gabriela,
    you did well with the harsh light, i tried the eye, it is working from my POV, no washed out look , for me.

    I made a blank levels layer and pushed the white slider to 140, invert the mask to turn it black,add a new levels layer set to hard light, clip the layer with underlying layer and set opacity to taste (both layers ).Just wang sliders.

    Quite like the image ,good detail and sharpness, good colors too.Super smooth BKG. Well done, Gabriela.

    I do find the pole a tad too dark, even if it is a man made.

    I am not sure about the species, I think it is the Ground agama, that is living there, maybe you just using a different name. For me It is Agama anchieta ??!!

    Cheers Andreas

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    BPN Member Anette Mossbacher's Avatar
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    Hi Gabriela,

    I like it how this one has it's throne by himself
    Would darken a bit more the animal highlights. BG looks great to me. Did not this eye trick Andreas did.
    Looks like Andreas does quite some tricks, I just cannot see those!! Did you forget to attach this Andreas?
    I made a blank levels layer and pushed the white slider to 140, invert the mask to turn it black,add a new levels layer set to hard light, clip the layer with underlying layer and set opacity to taste (both layers ).Just wang sliders.
    Can happen, I assume Andreas has now snow and drinks to much Gluehwein

    Have a great eve, both of you

    Ciao Anette

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    This image really appeals to me. I really like the soft background and the tonal range across the image. Whilst I would prefer not to have the post, I can live with it. I think the is as dark as it appears in the second photo so realistic, although it does add quite a strong contrast to the image. I really like the toe on the front right foot lifted up, as if it is waiting for something.

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Good morning! Oops, no Gluehwein for me but I slept till late this morning, woke up to find Andre working on the same Elephant he was working on the whole day yesterday! He just said to me "no more B/W, we're a rainbow nation", LOL….This Agama is known by the locals as Sun Agama but it may just well be a Ground Agama, although I have never seen one on the ground Glad Stu spotted the little one, I was afraid it was too small in the picture!!!Thank you all for participating, I guess I could lighten the pole but it is an ugly perch really and no textures and detail can make it better so I left it as it was. Try not to compare the "temperature" in those images, the one of Andre and our friend was taken with my D300S and 80-200 lens, and also, some time after I had completed my "session" with the Agama, so the conditions aren't the same.

    Busy looking for something different to show you next time I post

    Have a fun day!
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Gabriela, nice to see the smaller creatures being posted too.

    Like the framing, colours and posture and even the post, but it's the DOF that I, like you wish you had more of. I don't mind the tail, tailing off, but not having that rear leg in focus, it just stands out, hence I guess Rachel's question about sharpening?

    You had the SS, so more DOF and using an extender to avoid heavy cropping and you would have nailed the image, you have so much good light over there.

    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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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    You are absolutely right Steve.

    I do have some images taken at F7.1 and F8, but his head is turned away from me.

    I promised myself I will pay so much attention to my settings in February when I go back to the Kalahari. We go there every five or six months, meantime work on the images taken, every image has lessons to be learnt and remembered and this is one of them

    Wishing you a great day,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Hello,
    no snow and no Gluehwein, just tired……...

    The trick was or is , to make use of the brush on the mask ………………….of the first levels layer, with FG color set to white …………….

    I was digging deep in my secret box, just wanted to share this with you.

    You don`t have to use it , but feel free to do so.

    Cheers Andreas

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Awww, thank you Andreas! For RP and for sharing your secret with me (but now every one knows the secret) Brilliant, I will use it, for sure!
    And get some rest please, it is Monday tomorrow
    I am off to prepare for a tiresome busy day, and maybe a glass of good South African red wouldn't hurt either

    Warmest regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Landscapes Moderator Andrew McLachlan's Avatar
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    Hi Gabriela...South African red wine is fabulous...nice capture and I like what Andreas did with his repost...I too wish the rear leg was more in focus...perhaps a contrast mask on the leg would help improve a little..I am imagining that these lizards are quick and difficult to photograph at times.

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