Ash cloud snort

[Carl Walker]

I know I am going to get comments about the BG but it was impossible to get the right angle with everything falling into place. The management policy is to avoid going off road for anything other than cats and especially recently burnt areas(which this was).

I liked the ash cloud produced from moms breathing nostril. I left the other oof youngster in as I felt it would be a tight crop excluding him from the frame. This was around noon with a lot of intermittent light changes due to cloud cover.

These animals are naturally gregarious by nature so mothers with calves at foot will often tolerate or allow their previous offspring or other add ons to tag along from a safety and comfort aspect as they are still too young to defend themselves from larger predators. However, the adult females will let them know when they are encroaching in their space through a series of bellows or grunts which keeps the youngsters at bay.

The reason these youngsters are 'orphaned' and seek company of other adults is that just before the pregnant females are due to drop a calf they sometimes violently chase off their subadult regularly to break that strong bond that had developed from birth. The pregnant mother looks for secluded areas where she will stay alone with the newborn for over a week sometimes until it is strong enough to walk or run with her. So this is the most vulnerable period of the calfs life and a time when mom needs to be at her most attentive to all her senses to any potential threats.

7d - 70-200mmm f2,8 mk II @200mm
ISO 800 - f8 - 1/1600 sec - ev +1/3

DPP conversion - PS CC14 - WB , LM, sat adj layer, some cloning of twigs and a large stone done in fg

C&C welcome - thanks

[Sanjeev Aurangabadkar]

Hi Carl, This is a busy scene! So many things happening, the ash cloud, the oxpecker, the other two rhinos & those branches in the BG. I like the ash cloud and the story that goes with it. Good details and light handled well. TFS.

[Rachel Hollander]

Hi Carl - an interesting behavioral image but as you said with a busy bg. The bg rhino's rear intersecting with the main rhino's head is problematic, more so for me than the branches. Any chance you shot any wider, I would prefer more of the young rhino on the lhs. The oxpecker adds to the image and you handled the exp well. Colors look good too.

TFS,
Rachel

[Steve Canuel]

IQ looks good and I like the cloud. Reminds me of a old train pulling into the station. Only issue with the busy scene is the BG of the smaller horn, not a good spot! Also want to say thanks for the BG info on the subject and shot. I personally enjoy hearing that kind of info more so than the technical as so much of that can come down to personal choice.

[Morkel Erasmus]

Cool moment here Carl - as said, lots happening and overall it works for me (we can only shoot what we get/see eh).
Is that water behind the BG branches??
It's so interesting to see the rhino mothers tag along with more than one generation of offspring. I recently saw this with Black Rhino, which is special as they don't keep in numbers by nature.

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Carl, I agree with Steve C, nice to have some background to the shot, as it puts things into perspective and the viewer has a better understanding,g without having to always make assumptions.

The branches are perhaps not ideal, likewise the intersecting rear & horn, but it's there, nothing you could have done and probably trying to move may have meant that you did not get any images. I love the plumes of ash rising up as the Rhino wallows, the LH rhino is again, not ideal, but you had no control, yes you could have cropped, but this would, as you said, leave things too tight. Perhaps a bit more FG, and so moving the crop down, or just increasing the depth would help IMHO. Adding just a simple Linear Curves adjustment (a pre-set to save time) and moving the Opacity to the required point (your call) certainly helps, likewise adding some more sharpening brings the whole image more into focus so to speak, techs look good too.

I like the fact the image is different and perhaps unique in what we have seen today, thanks.

TFS
Steve

If you are using DPP then see when Artie/Arash brings out the guide to DPP4 which should help you, you can also download version 4 free from Canon.

[Carl Walker]

Thanks all for the feedback.
Steve C - yaw re info stuff. Rachel I did have wider but IQ not so good all round in general. That is water behind in the BG Morkel. Yeah Black rhino tend to be more solitary but do meet up with others occasionally.Have even seen good non aggressive interaction between White and Black on numerous occasions in the past. Thanks Steve K for your suggestions. Re DPP I am in that period of trying out different options to see what results I can achieve.

[Steve Kaluski]

Re DPP I am in that period of trying out different options to see what results I can achieve.

Hi Carl, do you mean looking at different 'Brands' of software, or just looking/using to see what can be created with DPP. If it's the first part then perhaps grabbing a few hours with Gabriela to see how one of the other Brands work and what can & cannot be achieved. In doing so I think you will find what will suit you & your workflow to create the best from your captures.

[Andre Pretorius]

Hi Carl!

Nice to see you again today!!!

Yes it is a busy image, in my humble opinion I would prefer more texture/contrast on the mommy's body, that would prevent the eye more from wondering in the image.
Great capture, love the angle!
Was Shangaan with you?

[Carl Walker]

No I am just trying out DPP for a while as opposed to ACR and LR. I have been using DPP3.14.15 with some positives but it is not as easy like any of the other setups and yes I do use Arash's guide. Happy with PSCC14 and in for the long haul in learning curve re that software. I have the same aspirations as Gabriela in terms of getting it right in camera first and then minimal pp work. I just find that during the learning stage I tend to either over process or lose focus on what I actually want to achieve with the selected image if you get what I mean. What you guys have forgotten I am only just touching on now.

I'm off topic now but I have a good feeling about where I am heading now. Thanks Steve.

[Carl Walker]

Good to see you guys too. We'll catch up soon!!!! Yes he was but fell asleep after a whileWas 'dog' tired and bored

[Gabriela Plesea]

Dearest Carl!

Whew, quite a few characters here! Love it! And I like the ash cloud of course, makes this image for me. A tough one to compose and I think you've chosen the best possible option under the circumstances. Wish you had just a tad more on the LHS (but I guess by the time you moved the vehicle to get a better angle the ash would have been gone:)

Set aside busy BG - which by the way does not bother me that much, perhaps because I am so familiar with the landscape- I think the colours look very natural. I would try another round of sharpening on the rhino mom if I were you, I think the detail is there but you need to bring out the dried-up mud on that lovely wrinkled skin.

Great work Carl, lately you have been posting a lot of interesting images and I like that you seek the unusual, the "yet unseen" scenes in wildlife.

I might have missed out on a lot of images while away, been pondering whether to spend the rest of the week checking out the latest posts or processing something new. For now I take great delight in browsing through BPN Wildlife, really enjoyed this Carl and looking forward to see you on Sunday morning, weather permitting:)

Sleep well tonight, see you soon!

Warmest regards,