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Thread: Ethereal Elephant

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Default Ethereal Elephant

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    I am trying to hold back from processing too many Mana Pools images while still in the post-Mana euphoria, but I can't help but having a peek at some of them .
    Just another sunset in a tranquil forest, on foot with one of the legendary bulls of Mana, called Fred Astaire (because he does a funny little 2-step as he goes up on his hind legs to reach the highest leaves). We were anxious for him to do this in the amazing light we had here, and he ALMOST did it...but hesitated and stopped short of going bipedal. Given my obsession these days for incorporating starbursts into my wildlife photos, this is probably the next one in the series...

    What do you think? Vegetation could have been cleaner, but it's not the be-all end-all, it's wildlife and we are venturing into their domain...

    For the Nikon-heads: I tested the Nikon Df and 80-400mm lens combo for walking safaris in Mana, and I was quite impressed. The Df just looks super cool and retro to me, but moreover it really made me think about my settings with using the mechanical dials for SS and ISO, and made me enjoy shooting with it immensely, it just feels great in the hand and delivers great images. The 80-400mm really works well for its weight, image quality and versatility in these situations. I hope the guys from Nikon SA will let me use one every time I go

    Techs:
    Nikon Df
    Nikkor 80-400mm VR-II @ 160mm
    f11 | 1/125 SS | ISO-2200
    ON FOOT!
    The shimmer in the background - well that's the Zambezi river!
    Last edited by Morkel Erasmus; 09-09-2014 at 02:57 AM.
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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Morkel - I prefer this one to the previous one. The sunburst here isn't overpowering and the vertical comp allows one to take it all in. Nicely seen and captured. Only thing I would do is burn the reflection of the sun in the water between the trunk and front legs of the ele slightly. Looking forward to more from Mana.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    I like it, Morkel. I agree with Rachel - the 'sunburst' is not as overpowering as in the previous shot. The 'scale' of everything just works for me here as well, the huge tree stamping its authority on the giant of a different kind. Nice one!

    Interesting about the Df. Sometimes the number of products from Nikon & Canon is simply overwelming. I looked at the specs of the Df and I can't help but wonder why someone with (for example) a D800/D610 (i.e. lower priced models) would want to buy a Df and I can't come up with a reason. But I guess it's similar to all the cars on the roads - each car model has its fans for some reason.

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    Hi Morkel, really love this one. You handled the exposure so well here. although the elie didn't stand upon his hind legs, this is a memorable image for me. TFS. Loi

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    BPN Member Anette Mossbacher's Avatar
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    Hi Morkel, this one I as well prefer much more than the previous. The sun is not to much and the Elle comes out more. The vegetables! Are not to much for me at all, it is how it is! I agree with Rachel to tone down the reflection light in the Zambezi. It drags my eyes a tad more away from the Elle ! Just me

    Have a great day

    Ciao Anette

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    Yes, you really get a feeling for Mana Pools in this shot, the water, the sunset, the trees. Only nit is that white sky on the right but even the Df does not have that much DR I guess. :|

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Thanks folks - did I mention this was ON FOOT?

    Tobie - I am not looking to buy a Df now, even though I enjoyed it, but I can definitely see a market for it. Street photography, candid travel photography, guys who want a Leica type look body but can't afford it, etc. It's by no means good for action photography if you are the spray-and-pray type, but for those who anticipate and calculate the moment of tripping the shutter, it will work even for wildlife action.

    I will look at the shimmer, but to expose the elephant as I did without having to do too much shadow recovery necessitates some sacrifice on the highlights end of a scene with this kind of dynamic range...
    Morkel Erasmus

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Hi Morkel , keeping the light situation in mind you did the best possible keeping all the details in the shadows . Great job in doing so. The price are the HL you have to pay .
    Like the overall tones and color (even if you have no profile in the file , check it out )

    One day i will call you and force you to show me the magical place .

    TFS Andreas

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    BPN Member Anette Mossbacher's Avatar
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    When Andreas calls you, Morkel, let me know. I come than along

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    Lifetime Member Andre Pretorius's Avatar
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    Hi Morkel

    All the crits covered above.

    When you exposed for the Ellie, did you use spot?

    Suppose a fill flash wouldn't work on foot?
    Regards

    Andre.

    www.gappimages.com

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    very nice Morkel, the sunburst is cool and unique idea. Good shot.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Morkel Erasmus View Post
    Thanks folks - did I mention this was ON FOOT?

    Tobie - I can definitely see a market for it guys who want a Leica type look body but can't afford it, etc.
    But that's the thing Morkel - it's not a 'cheap' camera - one must be desperate for a Leica look body!

    I saw that you were on foot and thought to myself that you must have felt quite small at that particular moment! Fortunately the ele's north of South Africa are much more 'relaxed' than its SA brothers...

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tobie Schalkwyk View Post
    But that's the thing Morkel - it's not a 'cheap' camera - one must be desperate for a Leica look body!

    I saw that you were on foot and thought to myself that you must have felt quite small at that particular moment! Fortunately the ele's north of South Africa are much more 'relaxed' than its SA brothers...
    They are very relaxed but you must still be cautious and vigilant...
    Have you seen what the #realLEICA costs??
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Quote Originally Posted by Morkel Erasmus View Post
    Have you seen what the #realLEICA costs??
    Not cheap either, but that does not make me feel better about buying an expensive Df if you can get a D800 for less!

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tobie Schalkwyk View Post
    Not cheap either, but that does not make me feel better about buying an expensive Df if you can get a D800 for less!
    True. I also won't buy one myself, rather save some more and get a D810 (I have a d800). But it definitely was fun to use and I think there are a lot of people who enjoy this camera even more than I did...but it's definitely not for everyone.

    Getting a bit OT here, so let's park this
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Quote Originally Posted by Morkel Erasmus View Post
    Getting a bit OT here, so let's park this
    Agreed (I wasn't expecting a response on my last post)...

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    ...A bit late, but I am catching up slowly with those posts I have missed...Read with much interest those discussions above and found them all very interesting, nice to have feedback on various equipment and I am grateful. I might call on you as well Morkel, to show me Magic Mana, maybe one day we organise a nice trip for a few BPN members?

    Love the gentle sunburst here, it is a beautiful serene scene and I like the colours and proportion, the image conveys a mood that is so pleasant to my eyes. This is one such photograph that makes me think of you Morkel not just as a photographer but as a Nature lover, someone who returns from a trip carrying with him images of beautiful places. Your recent Mana posts convey the message: " I want you to see things the way I saw them, and I want you to notice the details". You certainly know how to use your equipment to blur the distinction between looking and noticing. I suddenly remembered right now Ruskin's words, if I am not mistaken he once said " ...Your art is to be praise of something that you love. It may only be the praise of a shell or a stone"...Well, this is your praise of a Mana sunset - well done Morkel, you did convey the mood beautifully here and really the techs are not that important to me right now, this image evokes your feelings and love for the place and I "dig this big time"

    Warmest regards and wishes of a great evening,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Andre Pretorius View Post
    Hi Morkel

    All the crits covered above.

    When you exposed for the Ellie, did you use spot?

    Suppose a fill flash wouldn't work on foot?
    Sorry Andre, missed your question.
    I rarely if ever use spot metering, almost always evaluatative, using exposure bias based on a test histogram if the exposure is a tricky one. Just my personal preference...
    And I doubt I would use flash with an elephant so close to me (+-20m)
    Morkel Erasmus

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