Everything stops when listening to an alarm call

[Carl Walker]

1 d Mk IV - 300mm f2,8 L IS USM MK II + 2 x extender Mk II
IS0 800 - F5,6, 1/3200 sec -- high ss as was busy with Pied Kingfisher when I heard alarm calls
From gimbal mounted on vehicle window

Taken around 4pm this winter in a riverbed where I was trying to capture a few shots of a KF fishing in a pool of water. A herd of impala immediately reacted to an alarm call from a kudu not too far down the river. It turned out nothing to be too concerned about but this ewe's ears in typical listening mode attracted my attention.

ACR basics - PS CC14 - luminosity masks, sat layer, curves levels and cropped about 40% to 1:1 square crop. Now I am thinking I should given her a bit more space behind the head!!

C&C welcome and appreciated as always - thanks

[Rachel Hollander]

Hi Carl - I do like the way you have captured the alert ears. Colors and detail look good. Because of the way the eyes of an impala are set on the head parallel to the sensor seems like the head is actually slightly past you so I would prefer the slightest degree of a head turn toward you but not a deal breaker. If you do decide to add a bit of room behind then I would add a similar amount in front too.

TFS,
Rachel

[Marc Mol]

Wonderful behavioural image here that says it all Carl,

the swept forward ears, the freezed attentive forward stare, the grass stalk still firmly clasped in the mouth, coupled with a pleasing BG, lighting and squarish framing is the icing on the cake,
nicely done.

TFS

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Carl agree with Rachel and Marc about the image as it is .Meaning the comp and pose of the impala.

I just see some tonal issue , if you want to call it an issue.To me the tones looking a bit thin/flat , you have not really shadows /blacks , the mid tones are missing some punch , all saying this from my view .
I do see some noise in the eye , have you lightened the shadows ? I think with some mid tone contrast and pushing the blacks to edge of the histogram the frame will look slightly better .

Just my thoughts , TFS ANDREAS , see you very soon

[Sanjeev Aurangabadkar]

Wonderful pose and detail Carl. Nicely composed as well. I agree with Andreas about the contrast getting a minor boost, but a good one! TFS.

[Carl Walker]

Thanks Rachel, Marc, Sanjeev and Andreas for comments and helpful suggestions
Andreas tried your suggestions.Touch too much maybe! WDYT

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Carl i like it , others maybe think a bit heavy handed , up to you .
But i would leave the BKG alone , ,just the subject .

Cheers Andreas, only hours before i start

[Nancy Bell]

My thoughts are as Andreas', just alter the subject and not the bkgd. Very lovely capture showing off the elegance of the impala's features. The bit of grass gets a smile from the viewer!

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Carl, a sweet image for sure, nice clean BKG and indeed, the grass stem is the 'icing on the cake'.

Agree with Andreas observations, the initial posting looks flat, the colours need a bit of Vibrance to show off that lovely warmth you capture, likewise some Black to get the tonality back in, did you reduce anything like Contrast or Black in the original PP? The RP is better, but again, agreeing with Andreas, it is a bit heavy, if you have used Layers and kept the file then I might just back off on the Opacity. Perhaps a combination of the OP BKG and the RP subject maybe the answer or at least worth exploring perhaps? If you have the image content, moving the whole crop down a little with less above, more below may also offer an option to your thoughts? Remember, it's easier to darken an image than lighten, as you will bring up any noise (albeit small) in the shadow/dark areas, something to avoid for the future.

TFS
Steve

[Anette Mossbacher]

Hi Carl, great alert image, love the grass in the mouth. Andreas did already address my thoughts. I like the RP, and with BG. With the others as well. Very nice pose of this one.

Have a great eve

ciao Anette

[Morkel Erasmus]

Love the light and attentive pose here Carl. Your repost addressed my initial concerns with the OP (too much shadow recovery, lack of contrast and overal flat appearance).

[Carl Walker]

Thanks Nancy, Steve, Anette and Morkel.
Steve I looked at your suggestion re the crop and it makes a huge difference. Thanks

[Steve Kaluski]

Steve I looked at your suggestion re the crop and it makes a huge difference. Thanks

Your welcome.