Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: Terrestrial Happiness

  1. #1
    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 Terrestrial Happiness

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    This is for you Carl, and Thank You again for an amazing experience! LR adjustments and then sharpening for web in CS6, no time for proper processing but I just wanted to share with you this image. Almost "as it was taken", save for a few tiny tweaks. Will do an RP when I get the time, right now things are a bit hectic at work...

    Nikon D3S
    Nikon 500 F4
    ISO 1600
    F6.3
    1/1600s

    ...Subject flirting with camera and a bit of movement as he rolled on his back, therefore the higher ISO to get a bit of shutter speed...Overcast and from time to time the sun shining through clouds...Yep, I cut the paw but this is about full frame
    Gabriela Plesea

  2. #2
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    NYC
    Posts
    14,320
    Threads
    929
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Gabriela - Interesting and playful perspective and pose. I do wish that you had not cut the paw. The other paw looks huge!

    TFS,
    Rachel

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

    Default

    Hi Gabriela, must have been great fun to be around such a playful cub. Yes, it is too bad about the clipped paw. I'd suggest using a lumi mask or tone down the whie part of the belly a little as it draws my attention away from the face of the cub. TFS. Loi

  4. #4
    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Dortmund / Germany
    Posts
    10,906
    Threads
    1,196
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Gabriela a playful looking kitty cat that is flirting with YOU.
    Besides the cut off paw , nice framing and good clarity and colors working very well.
    Overall i do find it a bit dark in the 1/2 and 3/4 tones , easy fix for you . No need for burning the HL , just open up shadow would help , think.

    TFS Andreas

  5. #5
    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

    Thank you so much for your comments, and sorry I cut off the paw, at least I managed to save the ear! These chaps were close and I did not have a smaller lens...Will look at the dark bits Andreas, and shall sort them out. I also agree with Loi about the white belly, a bit too distracting from this cute little face. This cub was actually quite big, in fact a subadult, when I saw his mom I realised what amazing genes he has...

    I apologise to you all for not commenting lately, I have been really busy at work and now even my PP work is suffering. I am posting to share at the moment, finding a few minutes before I go to sleep and "tweaking" a slider here and there. Just wanted to show you I am still around. Some stunning images posted lately, will sit down and enjoy them all one of those evenings.

    Wishing you all a great day tomorrow,
    Gabriela Plesea

  6. #6
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    637
    Threads
    78
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Gabriela - thanks. I think you had the best posy as many of mine at this angle are flanked with oof bushes. Love how the eyes draw you in. I think, as he is in the shade and with the ever constant change in lighting it is difficult to get it right but you have done very well here IMO.

  7. #7
    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

    Thank you dearest Carl, you are so kind with your comments.

    And I can never thank you enough for this amazing Sunday! You are such a giving and generous friend - thank you from the heart. We spent some 6-7 hours in the company of those lions, and you obviously had the same patience and enjoyment we did! I noticed you did not mind the wind and the sun and the clouds in the sky, and when we returned from this trip your face was as burnt as mine (I forgot to bring along my hat). The three of us had so much joy, having shared our space with those amazing creatures! To me, lions arouse awe and respect. And even a sense of sublime, despite their predatory nature - if I may say so, I worship the species. Forgive me for my open enthusiasm, I just wanted to say how grateful I am for this opportunity. At times -in between the Kalahari trips - I feel despair to be among lions again. Sunday night when I got home I felt I had to be the happiest woman on earth.

    Good night Carl...
    Gabriela Plesea

  8. #8
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    14,858
    Threads
    1,235
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Such a playful and flirtatious pose, Gabriela, love it.
    The paw is a shame, but shooting with the same setup I can appreciate you take what you get and hope for cut-offs not to be too distracting. Last year when lions took down a wildebeest close to us in the Mara I shot most of it with the D3s/500 and in the excitement forgot that I have a D800/70-200 on the seat next to me...needless to say many of those will never see the light of day haha.

    Good luck at work, looking forward to having you participate fully again
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


  9. #9
    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

    Good morning Morkel, and thank you so much! Just when I think I am happy with my equipment I discover I need something else. Andre has given me his older 70-200 at some stage but I gave it back to him, I think I might take it along in October, just in case. It is noisier and heavier than the new 70-200 but I see clearly it would have come in handy in this situation. I have many frames of this youngster rolling about and the paws are in, but the eyes are slightly closed in some or he is not looking right at me. Found a few good ones but the paws are curled up, I so liked this one with a paw stretched towards us, it shows how relaxed he was in our company and at the time it almost felt as if he was inviting us to cuddle him

    Regarding your Mara shots - perhaps you could take a look again, I would love to see some of those exciting moments.

    Morkel, I will never leave BPN for as long as I enjoy photography - I have learnt so much here and my friends are here. I have to disappear from time to time for a week or two, sometimes more, due to business commitments. Setting up the Nikon shop in the pharmacy means selling equipment and helping other people enjoy photography, hopefully introducing new members to this forum. I miss you guys when I am unable to participate

    Have a great Sunday,
    Gabriela Plesea

Tags for this Thread

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