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Thread: Do I Look Fat?

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    Default Do I Look Fat?

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    Still searching for that "perfect" leopard image from my recent trip to the Mala Mala. For one reason or another, the leopard and the good light didn't go together. Here is another attempt to make the best out of what I captured.

    5D3
    500f4 II
    1/1000
    f5.6
    ISO-1600
    Flash ETTL, 0 compensation
    Gitzo monopod
    Mongoose 3.6 sidekick
    Cropped for comp all around.

    The bright BG really gave me a hard time. Did a couple of luminosity masks to try to tame it and Curves to give more light to the leopard.
    More PP than I usually do, which is usually a red flag.

    Appreciate your comments,

    Thank you

    Loi

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Loi - It's that quest for the perfect shot that keeps us returning to Africa. Nice pose and the comp works. Using fill flash in these situations can be a good solution but I'm not a fan of the flashed look in the eyes. I took the image into PS and reduced the reds which I thought were a little strong but recognize that you were there. To deal with the highlight issue I darkened the greens of the leaves in a hue/saturation layer (in greens, used the + eyedropper to drop the lightness of the greens by -25). WDYT?

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    Lifetime Member Ákos Lumnitzer's Avatar
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    I kind of don't mind the OP Loi. However, I concur with Rachel regarding the flashed eyes. You could probably fix that up so the flash is not obvious in the pupil.
    What a lovely image and you've done (both of you) pretty fabulous processing to arrive at this final image.
    love it!

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    Hi Rachel, love it. Time for me to go back to Steve's PP school. I forgot how you can darken a color in Hue/Sat. As for the flash, it was just for learning at this stage. It does not make a big difference in this case. Thank you. Loi

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Hi Loi!

    Nope, you don't look fat to me at all, saw your photos on Facebook and I think you are rather on the slim side, LOL

    Ok, now seriously...you have brought back from your Africa trip an array of images, all of them truly special moments, this particular one is quite unique in the sense that we get to see this whole leopard with very little or no distractions, and yep, such a lovely pose...
    A well-fed leopard female with a tummy index second to none - any idea what she has been feeding on?

    Loi, the framing is great and so is the pose, BG is superb - nice work there. A few hot spots on the leopard (upper left limb) but not too bothersome, the blacks appear a tad chocked in places and some magenta creeping in on the log and subject's belly (I think it is magenta...). All in small measure and I am tempted to ask you to revisit this image and carefully apply those things you learnt at Steve's PP school, only because I feel you can extract more detail and perhaps you might have gone a bit far with the sliders, be it Levels or Curves, etc.

    Have you used Highlights and Shadows, by any chance? If the answer is yes, I would abstain from doing so. There's something slightly harsh about the subject, do you know what I mean? Also watch for those blues on the back, behind the head, just a tiny line (masking?)

    In all honesty I am not sure I would do a better job of processing this (easy to see everything sitting in front of one's computer at home) but I am willing to give it a go if you send me the RAW. I just wanted to mention those few issues because - in my experience - we don't always see them until someone points them out, simply because we stare at a frame for too long as we do the PP work. I know you by now, you work hard to produce the goods, and - just like myself - take any critique in a good spirit and go back to sort out whatever issue was mentioned. I honestly think you can bring this up a notch, too precious and too special:)

    It looks like in Andreas's absence I have become the new Nitpicker - my apologies Loi. Been thinking that lately some of us (including myself) became lazy in some way, soon we might end up with comments like " great shot" and "well done"...I would appreciate it if you and the others took the time to analyse my work and Andre's, and give as much feedback as possible on our images - best way to learn

    I love what you captured here, Rachel's RP took care of some issues but IMHO you need to spend a little more time on this frame...I know you will

    Warmest regards, have a wonderful evening,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    I wouldn't be too hard on yourself here regarding this leopard image Loi, on the positive side you have good eye contact and an unobstucted view, also nothing wrong with the use of fill flash during the day as long as it's used judiciously and at a lower power, good detailed advice from Gabriela and all easy fixes.

    TFS


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    Thank you everyone for your thoughtful comments. I appreciate them. I knew I was struggling a bit with the PP of this one, so yes I will put it in a Drop Box for Gariela. Gabriela, please send me a PM for your e mail address. Loi

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    Quote Originally Posted by Gabriela Plesea View Post
    Hi Loi!

    Been thinking that lately some of us (including myself) became lazy in some way, soon we might end up with comments like " great shot" and "well done"...I would appreciate it if you and the others took the time to analyse my work and Andre's, and give as much feedback as possible on our images - best way to learn
    Yes, apologize for not spending more time here. Will do my best to provide honest and thoughtful comments Loi

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Sorry Loi, I did not mean to say you did not give proper comments, you are so wonderful and kind always and comment on so many posts - all I meant was, we are all becoming "too nice to each other", we need to up our game so no need to be too sweet ( I am guilty of that, my nickname was Mrs Nice according to Andreas, LOL). Will send you a PM with my email, oh let me have a crack at this, should I fail we'll have to wait for Steve to come back and teach us a couple of things, right?

    PM on it's way, Loi:), have a wonderful evening, so glad to hear from you...

    Warmest regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Hi Loi -- Since so many things have been discussed here I would like to agree with most of the things said and expressed by Gabriela , and Loi you have thrown open so many images of yours recently that it has really inspired me to post in the manner you have done but unfortunately i was a bit too busy lately but nevertheless i try to find as much time as possible in whichever i could contribute to this great forum .

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