Chobe Chompers

[Morkel Erasmus]

A scene from my foray on the Chobe river last year. I'll be taking some guests out there again next month, can't wait. Photographed from a specialised photographic boat...
It was after sunset and quite overcast, hence the techs below.

Techs:
Nikon D3s
Nikkor 500mm f4 VR-II
f4.0 | 1/500 SS | ISO-4000
Slight crop

Which do you prefer - colour or monochrome (colour posted in frame 2)?
And why?

[Morkel Erasmus]

Colour version...

[Dvir Barkay]

Hello Morkel, I personally prefer the color version. The reason is that I think it is more dramatic. I know the B&W usually happens to be more powerful, but for me, this one has to be in color. Really nice image, maybe the crop is a tad bit tight on the right hand side, by just a little, but that is really negligible. I really like the action and expressions of the faces, and the color helps convey that much better in my eyes.

[Tobie Schalkwyk]

Beautiful, Morkel! My tick is behind the colour version - it's just a little more 'dramatic', if that makes sense...

[Rachel Hollander]

Hi Morkel - I thought this one looked familiar http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...ighlight=chobe

I like the b&w version but the water at the bottom of the frame looks smudged for lack of a better word. If that were cleaned up I think it would take the b&w up a notch. If not then I would stick with the color version.

TFS,
Rachel

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Morkel, I prefer the colour as the B/W is just a bit too heavy in the blacks and the elephant is dominating the image for my tastes, but a nice concept in comp.

I seem to recollect the image before, however for me, I might selectively adjust the blues in parts i.e. on the hippo/water.

Enjoy your trip, look forward to the fruits of your labour.

TFS
Steve
PS Not sure about the two watermarks in the image.

[Douglas Bolt]

I prefer the mono. It simplifies and focuses ones attention on the three primary subjects - 2 hippos and the ellie. The sky, green grass, and water in the RGB version all tend to compete with the animals for my attention. That said, both are appealing images.

[Tobie Schalkwyk]

Looking back at this, it suddenly dawned on me why I prefer the colour version. It makes me feel that I'm there - I can hear the splashes around me and smell the water. The mono is more like an 'historical' event. Both nice, but with two totally different affects.

[Morkel Erasmus]

Thanks folks for your valuable input...

Rachel - I see what you mean, perhaps a shade from my toning, as it's not there in the colour version.
Steve - this is a different frame than the one posted before, but good memory on your part! (I picked the colour version from the wrong folder, hence the 2 watermarks )

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Morkel,
late but i vote for mono, too blue /cool the color version for my taste.
If mono , i am with Steve about the elephant being a bit distracting in tone, so if this would be mine , i would just give the elephant a bit lesser contrast and more light , just my 2 cents.
Like the composition a lot…..
TFS Andreas

[Jamie Douglas]

I do like the colour version Morkel and the more I see Africa photos like these the more I want to go. Am I right in thinking this was taken during the wet season given the lushness of the grass?

Jamie

p.s That big Nellie looks a tad worked up at the hippo keeping her kid in check.

[Anette Mossbacher]

Hi Morjkel,

I am late on this. For me it is the color version, I like that one very much. The B&W does not work for me in this one. I think it is a matter of taste as usual

Have a great week
Ciao
Anette

[Morkel Erasmus]

thanks for your feedback and input, folks!
will try and tone down the contrast of the ele in the mono version for sure!