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Thread: Zebras at Etosha Waterhole

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    Lifetime Member Charleen Ratcliff's Avatar
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    Default Zebras at Etosha Waterhole

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    As a beginner (for about 1 year on DSLRs) any suggestions and help would be most appreciated.

    I have and know Lightroom and have just acquired the NIK Collection software. On this shot, I only straightened in LR, set the camera calibration to 'camera standard' and lens corrections as noted:

    Nikon D7100; Nikon 70-300 lens; ISO 640; f6.3; 1/1250 sec
    Last edited by Charleen Ratcliff; 01-15-2015 at 03:36 PM.

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Charleen - Welcome to the Wildlife Forum! The best way to learn around here is to read lots of threads and participate as much as you can. I saw that you have already commented on some images and that's great. I'm not a LR user. I just really dislike the interface but a lot of others on here love LR. Steve Kaluski is a big LR proponent and I'm sure he'll chime in. Do you also have PS and use it? Since you said you are a beginner I am going to just make some basic suggestions to start you off. One of my mantras around here is that when it comes to PP "less is more." Master the basic adjustments and tools before adding all the bells and whistles and a whole bunch of other software. The more info you give us in your intro the better. Include questions if you have them.

    You've captured a classic Etosha waterhole scene though admittedly the waterhole isn't as crowded as one often sees them. From a comp perspective I find the zebras to be a bit too centered for my taste. I would have put them more to the right and either up or down of center, perhaps in a Rule of Thirds position but it would depend on what else was around. I know it's not always possible to move or change your position at the waterhole but it might have been better to have a lower pov and have more bg animals if possible. As is I find the springbok and brighter yellow grass strip along the top more of a distraction than adding to the image so I would crop it out from the top which would help with moving the zebras out of the center.

    Overall, I find the image a bit bright and thin in tones. I noticed in your EXIF that you used +.33 in EC and I'm not sure you really needed it. Here's a rp in which I brought back some depth, particularly in the midtones through curves and levels adjustments (moving the middle slider to the right). I also added a couple of points of black to both the blacks and neutrals in selective color. Finally, I dropped the saturation of the blues. WDYT?

    TFS and looking forward to more of your wildlife images,
    Rachel

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    BPN Member Anette Mossbacher's Avatar
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    HI Charleen, welcome to wildlife

    Rachel gave you some great suggestions above. Try to push the sliders in LR that your image looks like the RP (repost) from Rachel that is a good start to learn
    Read as much as you can in all threads in here what other suggest for a image. A great way to learn fast.

    Have a great day

    Ciao Anette

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Charleen and another 'warm welcome' to the Wildlife forum. Rachel has provided a very good platform, with a good overview of things, including a RP to illustrate her points.

    Not knowing how much you know etc, so forgive me if I cover things you already know or have read. The more you get to use your camera the better you will become, basic yes, but general operating of your camera and it's functions become instinctive, plus you get to know the +/- of the limitations of your camera. Subjects do NOT have to be exotic, simple wildlife in the local park, back yard etc can provide a great starting point and are seriously over looked and access is easy, no long journeys or flights involved. Not knowing where you are in the UK, but there are some excellent locations to think about, likewise for Avian too.

    With the digital age the world is your 'lobster' however you also need/require some basic understanding of Post production (PP) fact, as Rachel mentioned. You need always to start with a good/reasonable file, if it's soft (not sharp) bin, but remember all digital files require some sharpening, some more than others. Check out the Resources Forum as that has some great nuggets, plus Artie's blog on ETTR (Expose to the right). I would also engage with Morkel (drop him a PM) as he shoots Nikon and should be able to provided some excellent advice on shooting with Nikon & some of the basics in PP of Nikon files to really get you moving in the right direction. As he also does workshops from time to time I am sure he may have some PDF's he could share with you too get a good head start on things. Avoid large crops, as your IQ will suffer even at this size, but if you have a well exposed image, your PP will be minimal and therefore the image will be cleaner & overall better for it. Don't get bogged down with the need for truck loads of software, use a good RAW converter (I assume you shoot RAW not JPEGs) and PS (Photoshop), a real must!

    Looking at the image, Rachels RP appears spot on, some simple adjustments which you can do, cropping also helped to remove some distracting items, but retaining the Egyptian Goose was good. I think some more sharpening, albeit it a small amount on the Zebra's would also help. I like the V shape the water has created with the FG diagonal of land too. Often it's some subtle adjustments that make the biggest difference.

    Look forward to more and don't forget to drop Morkel a line to gain some valuable hints & tips. Good luck and most of all, enjoy what you do & shoot, it's all about fun!!!!

    TFS
    Steve

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Charleen something I meant to add, but your reply in a old thread prompted me.

    Please feel free to ask questions, but more importantly when posting your own work, if there is a specific question you have, ask it. So often we all have to assume/guess when replying, however the replies may not help you, the poster. Therefore, never be hesitant and as I have said many times, ask that daft or mad question, we all have been there, but you may just ask that question that others have hung back on, but don't make them too hard, LOL.

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Hi Charleen a warm welcome to this side of BPN .
    You got good suggestions already by her and his majesty ........... LOL, thatīs how i am from time to time !
    I agree fully with them . Try to ask as much as you can and /or follow all discussions .
    The image does look like atypical Etosha scene , as i have been there myself a couple of times , i like it as a reminder . Nice little line up of the Zebras and the curved waters edge adds to the image , like wise the geese filling the FG with life .

    TFS Andreas

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    Lifetime Member Charleen Ratcliff's Avatar
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    Many thanks Steve, I will ask lots of questions! and have no doubt that some (many) of them may seem daft, but ask away I will!

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    Lifetime Member Charleen Ratcliff's Avatar
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    Default Thanks for all your comments and suggestions!

    Dear All!

    You have provided me with lots of really good feedback on this image as well as suggestions / and some questions for me which I will try and answer:

    No, I don't have Photoshop...I didn't want to get involved in a monthly subscription plan and don't know if they do it differently...will have to check on that!

    On this Namibia trip, it was the first time I had used a DSLR away from my home in the Lake District, Cumbria England so followed the photo tour leader's advice and was shooting on Aperture priority and using EV -/+ (badly in most cases which explains the +3 on this shot in the Namibia sun!! Not necessary, but the leader would wander off and not stay with 2 of us to give us guidance....I missed a lot of avian BIF shots due to not having a high SS! oh well....

    Also was shooting in raw and jpeg...why?? because I didn't know any better! and again, guidance from the tour leader....oh well....
    This trip was in June 2014 (went to TZ in July but was shooting jpeg...another story another day!).

    NOW I shoot only raw and full manual and I love it! I also sold my Tamron 150-600 - I filled the bin with soft image! and have a new Nikor 70-200 f/2.8 which I love.

    So that is where I have been, and this is where I am now....have been using LR since Sept 2014 for PP...

    Question: Do I need a different raw file reader/converter thingie or is LR good enough?

    So this evening, I will work on this shot and see if I can replicate the excellence that Rachel has done! I will also send a PM to Morkel re: Nikon knowledge bits!

    Thanks so much everyone, oh and I have MORE waterhole shots where there are hundreds of critters!
    Kind regards, Charleen

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Thanks Charleen, Lake district well a nice location, plus two good RSPB sites and not to far from Scotland or the Yorkshire Moors.

    If you are used to LR then fine, but as I said, drop Morkel a line about Nikon files and Nx. PS is a great asset as you can do more, add those finishing touches and use layers, a great way to do adjustments and sharpening, will drop you a PM.

    Unless you are thinking about sending JPEG out before processing your RAW files then just shoot RAW, you will then have more space on your cards too, but ultimately have the best information capture in your RAW file. If you are away like Africa always take a laptop/notebook & two back ups just in case one fails, mirror your images!!!

    If you have 'general questions' rather than specific question to your images, I would post in General discussion or Workflow Forums.

    Have a good weekend.

    Steve

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Thanks Charleen, let me know if you have any questions about what I did. Btw about 4 years ago or so Steve dragged me kicking and screaming to PS. It was one of the best steps I took in improving my photography.

    Rachel

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    Hi Charleen

    Welcome, I like the scene in this image. Nice blue water and the IQ looks good. I would have suggested Rachels crop and also what she had done to make the Zebras pop more. Thats all I have to add....
    Look forward to your participation

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    Lifetime Member Charleen Ratcliff's Avatar
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    okay, have made some adjustments as per your guidance...yes it is better, even with the photo bombing Egyptian goose!

    Many thanks for all your help!
    Name:  Etosha zebras at waterhole repost.jpg
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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Welcome to wildlife Charleen

    Rachel's RP has addressed most of the issues in this classic Etosha scene, you have the basics to start here already as the quality & comp are good. For me, I'd crop out the lower FG geese & edge line altogether.

    TFS


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    Lifetime Member Charleen Ratcliff's Avatar
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    Thank you Marc, I would tend to agree with your suggestion.

    Cheers, Charleen

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Hello Charleen!

    And a very warm welcome to BPN

    My apologies for coming in so late - enjoyed viewing your first post and the RP's!

    So good of you to comment on other members' images

    Your RP looks great! If this was mine I too would crop from the bottom of the image, less distractions and more focus on those lovely zebra drinking:)

    Looking forward to see more from you,

    Kind regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Lifetime Member Charleen Ratcliff's Avatar
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    Thank you Gabriela, yes, the bottom should be cropped, I agree!

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    BPN Member Anette Mossbacher's Avatar
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    Hi Charleen, you RP looks much better. I am sure you picked up some to learn from this first image

    Have a great eve

    Ciao Anette

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    Hi Charleen and welcome! I haven't been at this for too long but have definitely found that spending time on forums such as this along with reading some of the amazing photography publications available does wonders for the learning curve, of course while shooting as often as you can. Some good tips and advice have been dispensed in this thread. The only thing I would change to the last repost you made is (a) crop out the egyptian goose and (b) keep the shadow of the last zebra on the right (personal preference, i love shadows) in your frame. All the best.

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  33. #19
    Lifetime Member Charleen Ratcliff's Avatar
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    Thank you Charles, yes I like shadows as well and the Egyptian goose will just have to wait for another day for his chance!

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