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Thread: Not Quite a Crash of Rhino

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Default Not Quite a Crash of Rhino

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    Hello everyone,

    Not quite a crash of rhino, since there were only two...more of a "clash of rhino" really, as mom and baby eventually bumped into each other in this not-so-swift getaway from a mud pool they have been wallowing in at the time..Lots of images to go through as I am trying to find something worthwhile printing. Not in the habit of printing my own images but I have committed to donating one for a fund raiser next month, so in my quest to finding a good quality frame I stumbled upon a few that are somewhat interesting, so I am experimenting.

    So much has gone into this frame - it would take me longer to explain than it took me to work on it - to be brief, I started in LR and did the conversion and basic adjustments and then Photoshop CC for exposure, levels, dodging and burning, and then a touch of Nik (first time in a very long time, and just barely there at low percentage - so I hope it does not show). A very slight sepia toning added, kind of "barely there". Not enough space in front of the little one so I added canvas - I really don't like doing it but I had to, knowing my BPN Nitpicking friends would pick on that:) Sharpened for web before posting.

    Do tell me what you think - I really look forward to your comments, be it technical or otherwise. What do you think of the comp? I did crop from the top to get closer to the rhino's faces, also from the LHS. Is it sharp enough for you, and do the subjects "pop" well enough? Does my cloning on the RHS show? And finally, does that blade of grass falling off the baby's horn bother you?

    EXIF:

    Nikon D4
    Nikon 500mm/F4
    ISO 4000
    F6.3
    1/1000s

    Thank you so much for viewing,

    Kind regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Gabriela - Nice to see you experimenting with this month's theme. Great low pov and you've brought out nice texture and detail. I love the walking pose of the youngster with the front foot. The comp is fine but I would like to see it with what you took away on top and to the left put back for comparison and to give the adult a bit more room. Sharpness looks fine to me at this size. If it were mine I would probably burn the brighter dirt by your name in the lrc. I do see a bit of repetition where you added canvas but probably only because you told us and I looked for it more closely. I don't think I would have noticed had you not said anything. The blade of grass doesn't bother me but I was slightly surprised to see that you left it, given your preference for clean images.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Hello Rachel,

    Many thanks for viewing and reply - I have just sent you a jpg version of the original, see what you think:)

    I did see that patch on the R corner, part of it was there already so I carried on with it (see file I have sent you). I could have done this differently (and carefully) but this frame was not what I wanted for the auction so I moved onto the next ones quite fast, searching feverishly for that perfect one to be printed on canvas. So quite sloppy PP work on my part (I do see the repetition) but I felt like sharing because the little one is so cute. I have been unable to pop in to BPN for a few days due to time constraints so feeling rather guilty:)

    The grass...I wanted to take it out at first, but since this is not going to print I decided to leave it in...It was stuck to the baby's little horn... I am very tempted to remove it, LOL, you know me so well by now!

    I have a few more frames from this instance... let me see if I can share another, funnier one. Tried all sorts of PP work, they all look quite different. Some lean towards OOTB, I am just experimenting and having fun by the way. I think Peter Delaney was right, l must let that imagination flow. B/W and toned images have never been my forte, perhaps if I play around more I will get it right, think I must find my own style?

    So more to come, this is the time to learn and play...I appreciate any feedback, thank you

    Have a wonderful evening,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Hi Gabriela -- very nicely done ! i like the conversion and also the hint of sepia is giving a good taste ! As Rachel said the canvas work is brought to our notice since u mentioned otherwise it is very neatly done and also the blade of grass is absolutely not bothering instead it gives a "playful kid" feel to the baby rhino ! only a bit of glossiness in the top LHS is catching my eye but not a deal breaker at all ! TFS

  5. #5
    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Thank you Haseeb,

    Hope my recent images entice you even more to participate in this month's theme, I have done very few conversions myself but really having fun experimenting these days.

    Regarding glossiness - I could change that but felt it enhanced that darker, wet patch of skin beneath. I admit I did think about it. I see what you mean - it might be a bit distracting, in the sense that it draws the eye to that corner of the frame. Easy fix, will do!

    I really appreciate your participation Haseeb, with comments as well as images of your own - this is wonderful.

    I could sit here and select the very best and only post when 100% happy with an image, but the whole idea about this Forum is to give and get feedback, and share. Unlike you, a few other members sadly do not understand this. I experience great joy when others participate with questions, suggestions and RP's - it makes me revisit my images and there's always room to improve my PP skills. Don't know if you realised it, but sometimes I try post something as an "exercise", hoping the newer members would get involved - I ask questions like "what do you like about this, does this work for you, is it sharp enough, are the colours right?", etc. A bit disappointed with some who post an image and then disappear for a while, having benefited from our time and efforts to contribute. So a BIG THANK YOU for getting involved and for constructive criticism, I really appreciate it

    Warmest regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Thanks Gabriela ! I have posted an image on BPN a month back but that is purely due to the workload i was struggling with and hence made sure atleast I contribute by visiting each and every image on wildlife forum coz giving constructive criticism is no child's play either. Learnt a lot from all the images that have been posted. Just a few more days and then i will be back posting images on this forum and other forums also including the Story sequence !

    Apart from above mentioned things , I really enjoy reading your comments, especially the way you describe each and everything !! keep posting :)

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Just wonderful, Haseeb! And thank you. I am sure everyone appreciates your participation.

    I will certainly keep posting, been around for a while now and still enjoying it, very much

    Kind regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Hi Gabriela this does work as well as the other one , even if complete differently approached . This does work either way for me . Blade can stay for me .
    As far as the image height i am fine for the comp , but as with the other one i think it is too tight on RHS . I might to try to back off on sharpening by 10 - 20 percent on the final sharpening group .

    I keep it short , i enjoy your experiments with the rhinos ..... keep going .

    A pleasure to watch , cheers and TFS Andreas

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Hearing from you is music to my ears, Andreas!

    I missed your comments, the precision, the technical bits.

    Will look into the sharpening as well as comp, much appreciated Boetie:)

    Have a super evening,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Gabriela, the B/W conversion lends itself to these great beasts, so good call.

    I would have pushed the ISO more to gain more SS, hard to get both sharp, but again, you did well. The only real way to know if it's sharp is to see the RAW, anything else is all perceptual. Regarding your 'cloning' I would practice more and leave it out for the moment as it is more evident and so for me, detracts from the overall image. I would perhaps add some selective mid tone and some darker shadow areas to add more form.

    Keep experimenting and try to have some key points you want to introduce to the conversion and try to have a 'vision' for the end result, in that way I think you will be less tempted to wander off in other directions.

    TFS
    Steve

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Have to agree with Steve here Gabriela, leave the cloning for now.
    Conversion and contrast nicely handled here, it does work so well for most pachyderms eh?
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Thank you Steve and Morkel, will do

    Interesting how you picked up so easily that I was wondering, Steve Well, I kind of knew you would...Was hoping you won't see this and I'd get away with it LOL, nothing escapes you. Great, I'll get to back to work then...I needed this:)

    I understand what you mean by "vision" and admit to have begun this conversion with an idea and then tried different things, eventually kept all of them. It is not hi-key, not high contrast either, toning almost invisible...so everything in small measure and perhaps acceptable to some extent, but the image as presented has no "direction", for lack of a better term.

    Thank you Steve - your input is so valuable and much appreciated as always

    Warmest regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Lifetime Member Ákos Lumnitzer's Avatar
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    I like it as is Gabriela. Really, I do. Cannot really tell the cloning on the RHS - with the exception of some repetitive patterns - and the grass is fine by me on the baby's nose.
    TFS

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