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Thread: All ears

  1. #1
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Default All ears

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    OK Rachel & Anette, you ladies are trying to force my hand by posting, so I guess I need to address that point LOL, although I will still stick to my thinking of leaving things for a while before editing, just in case.

    The trip was a cracking one with superb sighting, but also in parts draining, due to the intensity of sightings. As Rachel kicked off with some nice interaction I thought I would go the opposite way and perhaps more of a 'marmite' image. I chose to go the route of Quadtoning to break the harsher B/W and more in keeping with the subject.

    Subject: White Rhino ear (Ceratotherium simum)
    Location: SA
    Camera: Canon 1DX
    Lens: 200-400f/4 with UniqBall
    Exposure: 1/250s at f/9 ISO800
    Shot: Landscape

    Small area removed, as the tonal area became prominent.
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

  2. #2
    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Hi Steve welcome back and with a unusual one from you to start with, honestly i thought you come with a cracker back to the stage , meaning in terms of action/awesome light or something else.

    Stunning conversion and very nice graphic design.Very nice texture and detail you brought out.Asking curious have used a blur filter or something similar behind the ear ? Or natural bokeh , my guts are saying artificial .If i am right i would try to make it less visible , if i am not leave it .
    If it was mine i would move the crop down a fraction to get the ear more centered , to me it looks a fraction unbalanced .
    Watch for the halo under the ear .

    Are you still happy with the uniqball ?

    TFS Andreas

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Andreas, BKG is as shot, it's the yellow/orange of the grass or the sandy path, can't remember, but significantly away from the subject. The ear tuffs are soft on the original as the FP was more on the joint of the ear. I wanted the placement, central is to pedestrian for me, LOL. You had to be patient and the ear as you know, will not stay there for long, constantly moving.

    The ball worked well, yep, just everything is covered in that fine dust, so a trip to Uncle Canon for a wash & brush up is in order. Tough call between Wimberley or UniqBall, but hey, nice to have the option.
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Steve - I recognize that ear but think I was shooting the other one at the time . If I recall correctly this was the grumpy rhino with the fresh wound on its hind leg and just off the road. If so, I think the bg is the distant grass. I like the quadtone treatment. F9 was a good choice. You brought out lots of detail and textures. I also see the slight halo below.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Hey Steve - by saying behind the ear, i meant behind the ear on the body because their is a relative abrupt fall off in sharpness , that is why i thought you used a blur (on the skin) .Should ask more detailed next time .Plus the area is a lot lower in contrast compared to the front .

    Andreas

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    BPN Member Anette Mossbacher's Avatar
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    OMG, you forgot your wide angle as it looks Steve You post a "ear"!!! What on earth is with a ear of a cat

    Great conversion, I see you have learned as well! Good to see that

    I do not see the halo, but see that the rhino was using conditioner on it's ear hair! Very fluffy, for sure it used L….. or so for such fluffy soft treatment on hair. Might also the mud beauty bath have helped a tad.
    Details great, so the scrubbing against the trees and bushes did a great effect on the skin of the rhino, wow, need to try that too.
    F9…. you saw my shooting out in the bound, didn't you?

    Crop is for me more than fine, would not change that at all. Andreas needs to get some glasses soon I suppose

    Enjoy the great weather, I hope you have also 36 degrees in your corner on the "mainland" of Europe.

    Ciao
    Anette

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Anette - will tell you a funny thing , i already wear glasses for 4 years now - my eyes got tired from looking at so many "nice" pics .So i started wearing glasses and all the "nice" pics looked even "nicer" ……………. sometimes .
    With my brand new glasses (almost) i do see a slight halo (pixel peeping wise ) , maybe you need to start using glasses , to see that .LOL. And when it comes to personal preference or optics of an image , not the best glass in the world would help, i guess.
    I will stick to my view .

    Cheerio Andreas

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    Lifetime Member Andre Pretorius's Avatar
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    Hi Steve

    Welcome back with your first posting from the trip

    Love the quad tone conversion, and the explicit detail, as always...

    The Thread started with a ear, now we are discussing eyes? LOL...

    Stunner..

    Would like to see meat eaters!!!
    Regards

    Andre.

    www.gappimages.com

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  11. #9
    BPN Member Anette Mossbacher's Avatar
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    Andreas, I wear glasses to read

    Andre, the meat eaters will come soon, I bet ya

  12. #10
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Would like to see meat eaters!!!
    Hi Andre, you two have had a sneak preview already, my workflow has always been to wait two weeks prior to posting anything like this, as image selection is key and if you rush things you may make an error, however as Rachel was with me you will get to see what we saw in all good time, but hopefully we will have put our own spin on things.
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

  13. #11
    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Hmmm..."...friends, fellow photographers, lend me your ears...", does anyone remotely recognise Shakespeare here, or is it just me? Just kidding, I know there's some awesome stuff on the way but I pay great attention to this "ear" which by the way funnels my attention in terms of detail and makes me think of things/images to come...A kind of crescendo...This is "tantalising the tastebuds" to me - well done Steve, this post will make me wake up earlier than usual in the mornings (as of tomorrow) to see what's new, and yes I did have a sneak preview of some pretty stunning captures and I am patiently waiting to see those again after you have applied the final touch! Or shall I say...tweak?

    Very original approach here and the crop/presentation is just great, I am more jealous of this than I might be of a portrait of my favourite characters, because this is very original and even though I have thought of something similar now it is too late for me to post my own...you are far more daring and adventurous than me and I have learnt something precious right now, which is....don't hold back! Brilliant shot Steve, you have my ear once again and this image grabs my eye too, an anatomy lesson hard to forget!

    Warmest regards, thank you for inspiring me once again,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    I really like the very singular and focused approach to the rhino ear. Unique thinking and perfect in quadtone. I am with Andreas for cropping some off the top. I think my subconscious tells me ears are on higher on the head, not lower.

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    Not sure about the eye contact on this one Steve ! Very daring, works a treat though, love it.

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