Results 1 to 13 of 13

Thread: The Greeting

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

    Default The Greeting

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    This is the Kwela Kwela Female and her 7 month old female cub. We were fortunate to spend at least a couple of hours with these two in a heavily shaded drainage line where mom had hidden a duiker kill and brought the cub to feed. They actually didn't spend much time feeding but spent more time sleeping, grooming and just lazing around. Mom seemed pretty relaxed as the cub wandered around a bit. Here the cub returns and greets mom. The heavy shade and brush made shooting a bit of a challenge but it was an amazing experience nonetheless.

    Canon 5D3
    300 II plus 2x III
    1/400
    f6.3
    ISO 2500
    monopod from safari vehicle, ff, levels, curves, selective color adjustments, Nik Detail Extractor at 4%, sharpened in CCPS.

    C&C welcome and appreciated. Thanks,

    Rachel

  2. Thanks WillieHall thanked for this post
  3. #2
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Nacka, Stockholm, Sweden
    Posts
    433
    Threads
    43
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Rachel

    Very cute and a nice portrait. This kind of moments is really nice to witness. I might have chosen to go with a little more saturation. Is it blood stains on the whiskers?

    TFS, Gregor

  4. Thanks Rachel Hollander thanked for this post
  5. #3
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    NYC
    Posts
    14,320
    Threads
    929
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Thanks Gregor and yes, it is blood on the whiskers.

    Thanks again,
    Rachel

  6. #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

    Definitely a great encounter, however it was a shame Dumay could not have shared the sighting due to the location/access, another tricky encounter, but we got the best of it.

    Nice interaction & detail, personally a fraction more above but no deal breaker. Techs look spot on.

    TFS
    Steve

  7. Thanks Rachel Hollander thanked for this post
  8. #5
    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 very nice and intimate close up of the greeting behavior .
    Good detail and town as expected , close to perfection .There is some magenta/red (blood ?) creeping through in the ear of the cub and in other parts too .
    I would have liked to see a bit more DOF to get more detail in the forehead of the mother and in the neck area of the youngster , but that is just personal , so no big deal breaker.

    TFS Andreas

  9. Thanks Rachel Hollander thanked for this post
  10. #6
    Forum Participant edwardselfe's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    South Luangwa, Zambia
    Posts
    701
    Threads
    26
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Beautiful interaction. I would also like a bit more dof and a bit more space around, and it looks a little light to me, but the moment has been perfectly captured.
    Ed

  11. Thanks Rachel Hollander thanked for this post
  12. #7
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Hyderabad, India
    Posts
    5,088
    Threads
    1,356
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Such a nice moment between the two, well composed and executed Rachel. I like the subtle colors very much.

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

    Default

    Thanks everyone. I too would prefer a bit more dof and a tiny bit more room.

    Thanks again,
    Rachel

  15. #9
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Thousand Oaks, California, United States
    Posts
    3,023
    Threads
    416
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Rachel, intimate moment and excellent sharpness and details. I think you had excellent IQ with the 2X. Color wise, I think it is on the cool side because of the shade. I'd suggest trying a little warm filter or go B&W and more contrast. Loi

  16. Thanks Rachel Hollander thanked for this post
  17. #10
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    NYC
    Posts
    14,320
    Threads
    929
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Thanks Loi. I prefer for my images to be consistent with actual conditions than add a warming filter.

    Thanks again,
    Rachel

  18. #11
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Russellville, Arkansas
    Posts
    5,189
    Threads
    674
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Rachel, you captured a beautiful, tender moment. Since you described the animals were in the shade, I think the cool tones perfectly convey that.

  19. Thanks Rachel Hollander thanked for this post
  20. #12
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    14,858
    Threads
    1,235
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    It's all been said Rachel. DOF at a premium given the ISO you needed with the available light. Perhaps you could have gone with 1/320 and f7.1, but hindsight is perfect, eh?
    Nice intimate moment. I would perhaps lift the colours/vibrance/saturation a tad, even though this may perfectly represent what you saw?
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


  21. Thanks Rachel Hollander thanked for this post
  22. #13
    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

    This is so, so special, dearest Rachel - I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed viewing! And I really do not mind this being a little tight, after all it is a very close and intimate scene.

    This is something every wildlife photographer dreams about, despite the shade and conditions I am happy to say you made the best of this opportunity - congratulations!

    Looking at your settings I think you must have been either very still or very brave (I am talking about the 1/400s) - the monopod certainly worked in your favour and the IQ is superb, I love this as is and would be very happy to see more images from this encounter!

    Warmest regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

  23. Thanks Rachel Hollander thanked for this post

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