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Thread: Lookers on support the bull in his efforts to 'fight for rhino' campaign against poachers

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    Default Lookers on support the bull in his efforts to 'fight for rhino' campaign against poachers

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    About two weeks or so ago I came across this male who was with a cow in heat. He stayed with her and the calf over the next few days until after much attention from him she finally was ready to stand for him. I came across them late one morning and watched their interaction. They were about a hundred meters off in an open area. I watched them for a while before taking out my gear as this happens numerous times over the next few days. I really battled to find a decent position to shoot from as there were those usual painful bushes that always seem to get in the way.

    There was little groups of zebra( some of them also mating) and other general game in the near vicinity so I couldn't even stalk them on foot to get closer, without giving myself away and disturbing the rhino pair.

    Cloudy dim rainy weather and distance did not help with IQ but thought I would share this with you all. I have two other interesting and different shots of him dismounting and also the initial 'chin pushing on her rump' behaviour when he tests her to see if she will stand for him. I might post these with this thread if anyone is keen to see them.

    This mounting and dismounting behaviour can happen a number of times before he finally gets to business. The reason he is testing her thoroughly is because he can be on top of her for up to half an hour at times in between sessions whilst resting on her and he is heavy. It is also quite tiresome for him too. Rhino behaviour and communication is quite impressive. They have so many different squeals, grunts, roars, lip chomping and body actions to communicate with.

    There is a young calf partially hidden behind on the right hand side and few cows and young male looking on OR perhaps waiting their turn White rhino are very gregarious I have seen up to 26 together at times especially on the lushy green pastures.

    There is a lot of distraction in the foreground here too.


    1D Mk IV - 300mm f2.8L IS USM Mk II plus 2x extender Mk III
    Beanbag

    ISO 800 - I knew that the distance and poor light would bring in a lot of noise so I tried shooting at this to lessen that but suffered ss.
    1/800sec - f8

    ACR basics
    PSE 9 - adjustment layers -levels-sat- Viveza for curves
    I took most of the colour casts out. The redness on them comes from the typical red soils from the area. Some of the grey colour is from ash from burnt patches in the veld.

    C&C welcome

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    Rhino porn, cool

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Certainly a treat to see Carl, especially in these times! I hope she stays safe and carries full term.
    I like the onlookers here and the clear view of Casanova. I also don't mind the view "through the bushes" in front, but wish those dead branches weren't competing for attention behind the main man. Nothing you can do, I know. I feel there's a magenta cast all over, especially prevalent on the rhinos. I would also increase apparent sharpness on the subjects slightly.
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Thanks Morkel. I brought the image back into PS and see what you mean. These casts are driving me insane and I hope you can tell me what I am doing wrong with my PP work.

    When I bring the image into LR I do all the basics WB ect and also look at the HSL levels checking for these casts or whatever else needs attention. When it is in PS I generally always have separate sat layers for BG and subject so that I can revisit possible cast issues. I normally do this at the start of my PP work in PS. If I am fiddling around with different adjustment layers I guess I may be creating the casts somehow and should look at it again once the image is virtually processed. Am I answering my own question perhaps? Thanks

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Carl - I think you have answered your own question to some extent because various adjustments can make casts more apparent or intense so looking at that issue just before saving will help. This is a good storytelling image and I think the 3 onlookers add to the story. In addition to Morkel's suggestions, if it were mine I would also darken the greens a bit in a hue/saturation layer.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Hi Carl, the subjects themselves are way cooool.
    You got really lucky to see that, i think.Some good suggestions of Morkel and Rachel about the colors are already made.
    I would try to give the rhinos a bit of tonal contrast to make the more pop from the surrounding.

    Thanks for the additional info on the animals.
    TFS Andreas

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Carl, don't you just hate it when you have onlookers?

    A tricky one in terms of which way to go and without seeing the original any real direction may be as helpful as misleading, however. Based on the OP I double processed the image, tricky as you can't quite get the real colours you envisage, but with some 'jiggling' of exposure & HSL I think there is more detail you can extract from the environment to give the grass & scrubland more form & definition and a better colour balance, not that this is ideal, but there is more even at this size of image. I would also look to applying some NR to the BKG as it's looking a little mottled IMHO. Then I would look to getting the main subjects & audience balanced and combine the two. You can obviously refine & tweak the two as you see fit before blending. Using Curves also to reduce the red & in parts blue.

    As I said, not ideal, but perhaps this will add to the above feedback.

    cheers
    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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    BPN Viewer Steve Canuel's Avatar
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    Most rhinos I've ever seen in one shot. Only needs three score cards for the observers to hold up. An interesting shot, thanks for posting.

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    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
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    Hi Carl, Super-interesting. I like both versions. You did a perfect job of choosing your perspective. I'd much rather have the light you had for this image than bright sun... I'd love to see the other two behavioral images that you mentioned. Please post them here in separate panes. As far as the exposure, the most important thing you can do to reduce noise is to expose as far to the right as possible without getting any significant blinkies on the subject. And educated guess here indicates that you probably did not do that....
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    Default Out of camera

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    Thanks Rachel, Andreas Steve K and Steve C. I'll work on it again thanks for everyones input so far.

    Arthur I have been working mostly I'm manual mode trying to get used to it for a while now. I remember that when I was clicking away here that due to varying light changes in this weather I was working on between 0 and +1 but mostly in + 2/3's ev. This is the shot here so guessed correctly

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    He pushes down or rests his chin on her rump. If she does not move after a while he will attempt to mount her. Occasionally she will turn around and chase him off if she is not ready.

    The curved tail is a really good indicator of different emotions, stress ect. If a rhino is disturbed it may run off and you will almost always see the tail curling in an upright position.

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    Default Dismount

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    There is nothing special about this dismount other than with a slow ss it shows partial action as his blurred front leg slides down her rump area creating a small dust cloud. Only a series of frames will really show how he dismounts. Basically after a session he will lie on her gathering strength or she will begin to edge forward to indicate she has put up with his weight for long enough. He will then slowly lift himself up as in the OP and walk his backwards until his chest reaches her rump and then he slips off as shown here

    Thanks for showing an interest

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    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
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    Carl, Thanks for posting the two additional behavioral images. They are both great. As for the "right exposure," you cannot judge that either by looking at the image on the back of the camera or on a computer. The image as captured in this case should look washed out in both cases if you have truly exposed to the right....
    BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.

    BIRDS AS ART Online Store: we will not sell you junk. 35 years of long lens experience. Please e-mail with gear questions.

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