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Thread: The Promise of Rain

  1. #1
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Default The Promise of Rain

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    I've been keeping this photo under wraps for a while...felt right to post it to the theme this month

    By now, if you've followed my work for some time, you would know that I have this sort of fetish for contextual atmospheric wildlife photos taken with shorter focal lengths. I simply love the scenery of Africa too much to resort to frame-filling portraits in the majority of my image-making.


    This photo shows a herd of desert-hardened Oryx, also called Gemsbok, moving across the barren Etosha salt pan as the first summer rains roll in from the distance. Etosha is a hot, harsh and unforgiving land for most of the year. However, towards the end of November a transformation happens - clouds start to form, moisture is tangible in the air, and storms start to build across the endless horizon. Water comes to this land, much needed sustenance, preserving life and keeping this fragile ecosystem in the right balance.

    Techs:
    Nikon D800
    Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 VR-II @ 175mm
    Circular Polariser
    f8.0 | 1/400 SS | ISO-900
    Grain is intentional - this is processed for my limited edition monochrome print range
    Morkel Erasmus

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    I really liked this when I first saw it on facebook Morkel. Feeling so so about the grain, but I am a nut about clean files even in B&W so I am sure I am alone on that. Overall Really great, especially the atmosphere it conjures with the parched land and the promise of quenched mouths really telling a story, you can use that description if you like haha it sounds like the little descriptions in art galleries :)

    All the best, Dvir

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    Hi Morkel -- I like your style ! very appealing image and the overall mood is fantastic ! i like the gritty look here and also the composition is very good ! TFS

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Morkel - I am sure this looks great in a really large print. The comp and conversion both work great. Dramatic lighting and scene. The grain doesn't bother me (at least not at this size). The only thing that would improve it for me is if more of the gemsbok were parallel to the sensor but you had no control over that.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    BPN Member Douglas Bolt's Avatar
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    Hi Morkel,

    I really like this image. Grain enhances for me. I did have the feeling that the nearly blown out cloud had a bit of a blue/green tint. Must be my monitor.
    Douglas Bolt
    DougBoltPhotography.com

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    I love this sort of shot, Morkel and it goes to show you do not need to spend a shed of money on super telephoto for effective wildlife photography. I don't know if it is the jpeg quality (or aforementioned noise?) but the gemsbok seems slightly indistinct against the desert land but that is a minor point for me.

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    Hello
    the shoot for me is perfect.
    It show wildlife in its natural situation and give to the viewer the right impact with the hard situation where it lives.
    A bit less space on the up right Good the b/n and grain showing the and in the air

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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Love everything about this Morkel, happy with grain, the framing & comp are first rate, with that sky it's crying out for a colour submission mate!

    TFS


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  16. #9
    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Hello Morkel,

    I jumped to open this thumbnail as soon as I saw it, loving it...Oh man, power just died so I have to finish my comments later or tomorrow, depends when electricity comes back! Was just busy thinking about this...so sorry, will be back, Andre busy to sort out generator and hopefully by next week I don't have to deal with this anymore...

    Welcome back Morkel...I will return to comment, awesome scene by the way!

    Warmest regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Lifetime Member Andre Pretorius's Avatar
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    Stunning scene Morkel!

    What are your printing on, size of print?

    Dors-Land...
    Regards

    Andre.

    www.gappimages.com

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Hi Morkel very late to comment ....... simply love this frame . The stunning BG sky is a real stunner for me .

    TFS Andreas

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    Lifetime Member Ákos Lumnitzer's Avatar
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    I don't mind the grit either, but would be curious to see less too I suppose. And colour!
    Wonder whether you have an image with more space below and even above. I cannot help but see more and more ominous looking clouds increasing based on the overall lighting and the darkness on the right and on top. It would be nice to see an even wider view if possible.

    Still very much like it as it is right now Morkel!
    Great work mate. TFS

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  24. #13
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Thank you all for the varied feedback and kind comments...
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


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