Bison in Thermal Field

[Rachel Hollander]

I thought I would start us off with April's Animalscape Theme. I know this won't be everyone's cuppa but I purposely went low contrast in this frame to emphasize the steam and mist produced by the thermal features at Yellowstone. We were actually photographing some of the thermal features in one of the basins when I saw a lone bison trudging through in the distance. I processed another frame with substantially more contrast and pp and will post that in the second frame for comparison.

Canon 5D3
70-200 II @ 200mm
1/250
f7.1
ISO 200
HH, slight crop to straighten, levels, curves, sharpened in PSCC.

C&C welcome and appreciated. Thanks,

Rachel

[Rachel Hollander]

This is 2 frames later. Exact same techs as the one above, just more contrast added, luminosity masks, more masking and greater adjustments in levels, curves and selective color adjustments. Also cropped a little bit more to remove the sky.

So which do you like better?

Thanks,
Rachel

[Steve Kaluski]

What was your 'original' vision when capturing the image Rachel, what did you want to convey in it and why? Just trying to get an understanding/thinking behind the image.

[Rachel Hollander]

Hi Steve - my original vision is the top version which is very close to what I actually saw. I wanted to show the vastness of the thermal features and Yellowstone but also show a bit of the "hardships." This is also a case where smell-o-vision would enhance the experience because you would get some of the sulfur smell of the thermal features.

Thanks,
Rachel

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Rachel i understand your point being as close as possible what you saw in Yellowstone , but as long as we have just a 2D image to look at and no sound/smell is included i prefer the RP for its tonal depth and more visible detail , plus the crop is working better . Still think the subject is too small in the frame ,i guess the reason for my thinking is that the landscape is not that much attractive for my eyes to be honest . I like the overall colors and tone in RP , likewise the detail you have extracted .

TFS Andreas

[D. Robert Franz]

Hey Rachel,

I hope you don't mind that I took the opportunity to work with your 2nd image and cropped it to 2-1 ratio. You know I'm not big on cropping but for this image it seems to working taking away some FG and improving the overall comp. I'll post one that I was looking at of mine having similar questions about...

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks Andreas and Dale. Andreas - somehow I knew you would have a strong preference for the processing of the 2nd version. I understand your point about the small in frame.

Dale - thanks for the crop suggestion. The pano does improve it and I'm not sure why I didn't think of it because I never really liked the fg of the edge of the thermal run-off.

Thanks again,
Rachel

[Andreas Liedmann]

Rachel wonder why , i have some images of my South Georgia trip where i have the same issues like you , the thickest fog you can think of with some hardly visible fighting elephant seal bulls . I tried it so many times to keep the mood and get the detail and tones .......... never got it working for me . I either lost the mood or the tone/detail.

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Rachel, thanks for the explanation. I think Dale's RP takes it to where it needs to be, the crop works beautifully with nice placement of the subject. The depth of colour in your RP certainly helps, but the ratio of subject to landscape now works and makes for a lovely image.

[Andre Pretorius]

Hi Rachel

I like Dale's RP the most, but the artistic side is not my strong point....
Maybe because my eye does not wonder to find an anchor point, looking for some detail- rule of thirds, golden spiral etc...

[Sanjeev Aurangabadkar]

Hi Rachel. I like the RP by Dale. I can imagine the sights and smells of the place. Would love to visit there sometime.

[Gabriela Plesea]

Dearest Rachel,

Should I be able to see this beautiful place with my own eyes, I would certainly go for the OP:) As first time viewer of this image "on screen", I will choose your RP as well as Dale's RP. I do prefer the crop in Dale's RP.

For some reason the camera cannot replicate precisely that which the eye sees - maybe it is because of the mood and atmosphere Andreas was talking about, which our photographic equipment cannot capture - for this is something one has to experience and "feel", and sometimes photography alone cannot do that. We often think we have done all the work by taking a photograph and derive extreme pleasure from a certain place...later when processing frustration creeps in because we realise that, in order to make others appreciate it, some interference in terms of PP work is needed to make them "see" what we saw.

I believe this is the case here - you have a stunningly beautiful landscape with a solitary bison in it, yet the frame is not as effective "as taken" - it needed some "tweaks" to enhance our sensitivity and help us viewers "possess" the beauty of this place.

I really enjoyed this post and comments, as well as your RP and Dale's - an interesting exercise and it made me understand my own dilemma about some KTP images of animals engulfed in dust clouds - I think I now know how to process them:)

Thank you so much Rachel, once again I realise how much I have to gain by visiting this Forum every evening - so much to learn, and I will never know enough:)

Warmest regards,

[Morkel Erasmus]

I like this, Rachel! I do prefer the tones of your RP and Dale's crop though.
Perhaps something between your OP and RP for tonal depth is best to stay true to what you wanted to convey but still "Grab" the viewer sufficiently?

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks everyone. I'm glad this thread provoked some discussion.

[haseeb badar]

Hi Rachel , i also liked the second version of yours along with Dale's version. such a beautiful image . and very well said by Gabriela .

[Marc Mol]

Another vote for the RP here and Dale's crop as well has improved upon that composition wise.

It was good to see the comparisons between your two images Rachel and shows the contrast/colour/clarity boost very well.

TFS