Results 1 to 14 of 14

Thread: Camouflage

  1. #1
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    NYC
    Posts
    14,320
    Threads
    929
    Thank You Posts

    Default Camouflage

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Another of the Vomba Young Male Leopard taken at Londolozi in the Sabi Sands, South Africa as he hunted impala and wildebeests before eventually deciding just to rest under a bush. No wonder the impala and wildebeests did not spot him for the longest time.

    Canon 7D
    300 II
    1/640
    f5.6
    ISO 1600
    HH from safari vehicle, slight crop for comp, luminosity mask, levels, curves, selective color adjustments, sharpened in CCPS.

    C&C welcome and appreciated. Thanks,

    Rachel

  2. #2
    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Dortmund / Germany
    Posts
    10,906
    Threads
    1,196
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Rachel , for some reason i like this a lot .Just looked at this and thought ........ wow.No exact explanation for this .
    Just 3 things to improve this , from my side . A slight mid tone boost , reduce the sharpness of the grass in FG and in the field a bit more of the virtual body /legs would have been better i think.

    Nicely seen and captured , love it Rachel

    TFS Andreas

  3. #3
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    NYC
    Posts
    14,320
    Threads
    929
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Andreas - Thank you so much for the kind words and praise. Your reaction to the image is exactly what I was hoping for. I agree with your suggestions (well most of them). The lack of more of the leopard was what originally had me passing this one by while editing but something about it kept drawing me back. I can't put my finger on it either.

    Thanks again,
    Rachel

  4. #4
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Somewhere in the world
    Posts
    20,551
    Threads
    1,285
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I would agree with Andreas thoughts here Rachel, it also looks a lot brighter too, I thought it was a bit more overcast, and this would help the tone within the Leopard I feel.

    However, I could be wrong.

    TFS
    Steve

  5. #5
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    NYC
    Posts
    14,320
    Threads
    929
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Thanks Steve. You'll find when you finally get around to reviewing your images that it was bright sunshine that morning, our last one at Londolozi. This was taken on the same game drive as my LBR posted in Avian.

    Thanks again,
    Rachel

  6. #6
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Location
    Munich
    Posts
    390
    Threads
    23
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    The sharp foreground grasses and the oof BG makes this really POP! No nits to be honest!

  7. #7
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    1,298
    Threads
    112
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Nice one perfectly portraying this beautiful cat's stealth features, Rachel! I love the focus on the eyes and the intense focussed stare! Well done on this one!

  8. #8
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    NYC
    Posts
    14,320
    Threads
    929
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Thanks Neil and Tobie

  9. #9
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    14,858
    Threads
    1,235
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I like it, Rachel! I agree with Andreas' thoughts about adding midtone. I would actually consider a crop from our RHS (to remove those leaves even if it places him on the edge of the frame) and from the top to bring things "in" a bit and focus on the leopard. I would also play with clarity in RAW to reduce clarity on the grass while boosting it on the cat just to make him stand out a bit more?
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


  10. Thanks Rachel Hollander thanked for this post
  11. #10
    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    7,738
    Threads
    455
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I too love this Rachel! Thought I posted a comment the other day while at work but I see it is not here, I must have forgotten to save it. So, here it goes: there's so much leopard in this image that the grass does not take anything away from the subject, on the contrary, it makes him stand out in the loveliest way. Great pose, subject full of concentration and purpose, either unaware of the photographer or simply not concerned with the human factor I agree with suggested mid tone boost on the leopard but not sure about reducing sharpness on the grass? Since the grass is in front of the subject? The IQ is so good, makes me think I would also try a tighter crop, just to have another version of this image. I do like it as is with all the space around but I would try it anyway What amazing sightings you have had on this trip, so happy for you and so looking forward to more, you must have hundreds of images!!!

    Warmest regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

  12. Thanks Rachel Hollander thanked for this post
  13. #11
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    NYC
    Posts
    14,320
    Threads
    929
    Thank You Posts

    Default Repost

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Thanks everyone, here's a rp incorporating the suggestions of a midtone boost, a tighter crop and backing off on the sharpening of the grasses. I'm not sure which I prefer yet.

    Thanks again,
    Rachel

  14. #12
    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    7,738
    Threads
    455
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Yes, yes, it works beautifully! Lovely, great work Rachel!

    Have a fabulous week-end,
    Gabriela Plesea

  15. Thanks Rachel Hollander thanked for this post
  16. #13
    Forum Participant edwardselfe's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    South Luangwa, Zambia
    Posts
    701
    Threads
    26
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Rachel - Morkel said exactly what I was going to say. Crop in so that the grasses in front fill the frame and the cat is hidden in amongst them. Prefer the RP. Good sighting and well executed.
    Ed

  17. Thanks Rachel Hollander thanked for this post
  18. #14
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    NYC
    Posts
    14,320
    Threads
    929
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Thanks Gabriela and Ed, much appreciated.

    Rachel

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Web Analytics