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Thread: Warthog grazing

  1. #1
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Default Warthog grazing

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    Well this afternoon has been the first clear break I've had to start to edit the SA images taken with Rachel, and having such a long break has meant I can look at things with a 'clear' head and hopefully with no distractions.

    So with Rachel riding shot gun from a high, this meant I could get a better perspective on things, however these guys would not stay still, creating frustrating framing and with me constantly checking from behind, as this family were very sneaky, but Rachel did a sterling job! Although at times the 500 was too long, the 200-400 as yet cannot deliver the true crispness of a fixed lens and this will always be my preferred lens.

    The light was harsh (mid to late morning), creating very strong shadows & highlights and so I felt going quite a 'Contrasty' route (but this is not using Contrast), I felt went with the look & feel. B/W was just too strong so this has a subtle quadtone of black and three other colours just to take the edge off, then it just a mixture of what PS has to offer.
    Rachel I thought I would hold fire on the expected one, it was a cracking time, thanks, we'll sort another one out.

    Subject: Warthog (Phacochoerus africanus)
    Location: SA
    Camera: Canon 1DX
    Lens: 500f/4 HH
    Exposure: 1/400s at f/8 ISO1600
    Original format: Portrait FF

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Steve - I very much remember standing on the viewing deck above at Kings Camp (with a drink in hand) and watching the warthogs, one in particular, make runs at you while you were trying to photograph the rest of his family. You are correct, this was not the one I expected you to post first from this encounter but I really like the conversion, the excellent detail and the intimate view of this one. Well done!

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    Wow, Steve, the details on this warthog is stunning. I quite like the strong backlit effect near the mouth. I have no idea what you talked about with the B&W conversion, but it works. looking to see more. Did you have both the 500f4 and the 200-400 with you? Loi

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    Lovely image Steve, great detail and really nice toning throughout the image, the dark BG certainly helps here too. Great image and like the B&W

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    Fantastic detail, amazing sharpness and well presented in B&W. I like the comp as well. I too am loving my 500II very much, so glad I bought it over a 300 II where I would have missed the reach esp for birds.

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Hi Steve, i looked at this several times and still unsure about it.
    I like the clarity/texture detail in the upper area of the WH , but the area around the snout ....... mmmhh . The comp is great like wise the conversion , good job on that .
    For me the biggest issues are the HL in the BKG behind the snout and the pitch black BKG and FG. Sorry Steve.

    Thought you just used the CONTRAST slider in PS for this edit .

    TFS Andreas

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Hello Steve,

    Been looking forward to your images and very happy to discover this post, I like the silvery look of this warthog and it is indeed a tight crop but works for me! Great detail on the hairs and I love the way you captured him while busy biting on that grass stem, makes this more memorable and kind of different from the usual "head shot" one is accustomed to seeing now and then. I have a few close-ups of warthog from Zimanga, you have now inspired me to work on them. And I know there's so much more where this came from, so I look forward to your next post, welcome back Steve

    Warmest regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Andreas I hate that slider, it should be deleted!!!

    There is motion blur, chewing in the mouth that is probably what you see, 1/400 is not enough to free the movement. BKG is all as shot, just going/looking for more of a dramatic contrast, just pushing things a little and trying to think occasionally, having more conventional, then a slight twist. I much prefer PS to do the conversion using Adjustments, Channels, Curves, Luminosity & Mode blends, something I normally do not need to use on the more day to day images, it fun and I already new I wanted to try some new stuff prior, so I shot in certain ways to allow the process, I think?

    Thanks folks for the previous replies too, more to follow!

    Steve

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Steve i fully understand your points and good to see you exploring and go the OOTB way .
    But the risk is , as we know , not fitting or pleasing all eyes....... .

    Hey man just pulled your leg with the contrast slider - i knew it was more complex than that .

    As i said the best part for me is the upper area of the WH , which i really like !!!!

    Thanks Andreas

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Gabriela, I think our posted crossed thank you, but what is really nice is the fact, as you mentioned, is that some of the Wildlife members are inspiring others to shoot, i.e. Brendon, Rachel, Anette etc... over the last few months, so it's great to see others build on those platforms. Brendon a big thank you for adding the additional info on spotlighting images, it's a great help, cheers bud.

    G
    abriela you have had a small insight in what we have seen whilst away, so posting will be a mixed bag, along with my thinking and portrayal. Look forward to you two also posting, otherwise Andre doesn't deserve his new toy, LOL.

    Have a good weekend folks.

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    LOL Andreas, you are beginning to know the beast.

    There is stuff to please most, but occasionally I need to push & explore too, the gear is allowing that, like you in creating new stuff, but it has to be coupled with new trains of thought too, nothing too radical, but perhaps a step way from what we may expect.

    A day off for the F1 on Sunday, your home patch.

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Sadly no time , i am busy the whole weekend , maybe i chime in sunday night ,but no experiments , my head is not open to that at the moment , just going straight forward .

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Steve, Andre decided against buying a new toy, at least for now. He is busy organising our Nikon corner in the Pharmacy and doing some carpentry as well. I gave in to temptation though...Wondering if I did the right thing choosing the D4 over the D4S. But the price was right and I am grateful to Nikon for thinking of me

    And yes I might have had a preview of some of your images from the SA trip but waiting patiently to see them on BPN Wildlife. You must have hundreds of images to work on, so I guess we're in for a treat over the next few months!!!

    Hope you have a wonderful week-end (filled with PP work)

    Warmest regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    BPN Member Anette Mossbacher's Avatar
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    Hi Steve,

    a beautiful grass eater, very well done with the conversion, but but …
    Love the details, the angle… the overall image looks great

    have a nice salad

    Ciao
    Anette

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Nice low angle, toning and textures Steve. I suppose you don't have the room to "rotate" but would have liked the dark grass edge at the bottom to be level?
    Morkel Erasmus

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