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Thread: B&W Rhino Portrait

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    Default B&W Rhino Portrait

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    Hi All. A very prosperous 2014 to all friends.
    I took this image early in 2013. I had been messing around with Nik software when I came across it and thought it could work as a B&W - hope you agree. I took the image from an SUV, handheld. The rhino was blocking the road but eventually got up and moved off after assessing the surroundings for a little while. Image is 98% of full frame as presented, no room really available.
    Own nits:
    I was hoping for a frontal view; never got it - moved diagonally across and away.
    I would have liked better eye contact - also, never faced us.
    EXIF:
    Canon EOS 7D, Canon 500mm F4, f/5.6@1/800s, ISO 400
    Minimal tonal adjustments in LR, Silver Efex Pro 2 used for conversion from within PS6. Selective USM to rhino only.
    Thank you for having a look; All comments welcome

    Cheers
    Hennie

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Hennie - Happy New Year! Rhino shots often lend themselves to b&w conversions. It seems that the rhino's head is angled slightly away. It would be preferable to have it a few degrees toward you or at least parallel to the sensor. I like the textures that you have brought out on the rhino but wish there was more tonal separation between the rhino and the bg. Perhaps darkening the bg a bit would enhance the image. I do feel that you need a bit more room around, particularly on the left. You did get a nice low pov despite being in an suv.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    Hennie, I agree with Rachel's critique; particularly increasing tonal contrast between the subject and bg and more room on the left. Good detail in the subject.

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Hennie, and a very happy New Year to you too.

    Sadly for me the image isn't really working for me. Tonally it's all a bit flat with a lot of 'mid' grey, I feel you need to have a play and try to get some darker tones back into the overall image to try and create some more depth & tone back into the subject. I agree with Rachel, having a balance between subject & BKG will also help great a 'layering' depth too. The crop is way too tight and having the subject moving away from you is not ideal. The darker top LH corner is also a little distracting as I feel it draws the eye away from the subject, blending that back is an easy fix and will help I feel. I would also watch you don't lose the detail in the heavy dark shadows in the ear and under the chin, retaining a bit more detail, which is there, will help.

    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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    Rachel, Gary & Steve - Thank you very much for looking and the advice. I tried to apply the suggestions made; toned down the Bg and boosted the blacks on the rhino. I did a RP. I am not sure if the black spots on the face bothers me, but the mid-grey is less. I also went back to the RAW file and managed a bit more space on the LHS & Top. Thanks again for the help.
    Cheers
    Hennie

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    BPN Member Anette Mossbacher's Avatar
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    Hi Hennie,

    Happy New year to you.

    The most has been covered already above from Rachel and Steve. Your RP looks good, I just would go a tad further. This is just me!
    I was so free and grabbed your OP. Tried a bit, my brushing is not quite as it should be. Did it on the fast run. You can give the rhino a bit more pep. This is up to you, to your own liking

    Have a nice eve

    Ciao
    Anette

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    Hi Hennie

    I'd prefer a mixture of both op and rp. In my opinion I think the area around the rhinos eye is way better in the op.

    TFS
    Gert

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hennie, I think the RP has lost a lot in the blacks, just look at the eye now. Anette is going in the direction I was thinking and this was mine, but I still feel it doesn't quite answer the points raised, but then we are working with the OP and not the RAW, hope this all helps.

    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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    Thank you all very much for the comments. Anette, Steve - thanks for spoiling me with the reposts - I learn every time!
    Cheers
    Hennie

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Overall this one isn't working for me, Hennie, sorry to say...
    Head angle was mentioned, the tonal range is very limited here (too much grey and not enough blacks and whites for the rhino to stand out and be noticed, and the composition feels a bit cramped for me. I too have struggled with creating vertical close-up portraits of rhinos recently so I know full well that it's tricky to pull off.

    Show the colour version for comparison, perhaps?

    Happy 2014!!
    Morkel Erasmus

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Hi Hennie,
    i am sadly with the most of the other comments about being too tight all around.
    But i think with some tweaking tonal separation between the rhino and the BKG it could work , at least from the tonal range POV.
    Would experiment a bit…...

    TFS Andreas

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