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Thread: Bathing time

  1. #1
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Default Bathing time

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    Trying to get a 'pod of hippos' to cooperate is never an easy task, so you just have to take what you can get. This was taken very close to the waters edge to try and get eye level with them and my good friend 'Passepartout' (AKA Rachel) close by, looking for any signs of bubbles in the water, although I doubt I would move quicker than a croc lunging forth!!! Kind of like the diagonal symmetry of the two flanking Hippos either side of the main subject as they can of 'mirror' things, but could have done without the one in the BKG.


    Pushed the image a tad more in PP for a bit of grittiness.


    Thanks to those who viewed or posted a comment on the previous thread.

    Steve

    Subject: A pod of hippos (Hippopotamus amphibious) in the water
    Location: SA
    Camera: Canon 1DX
    Lens: 500f/4 plus 1.4 Gitzo tripod/Uniqball head
    Exposure: 1/640s at f/11 ISO400 (needed to crank that ISO 2500+)
    Original format: Landscape, FF on width
    Processed: LR6 2015 & PSCC 2015

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Steve - I was happy to help and wasn't this the stop where we needed eyes in the back of our heads to see the leopard chasing the warthogs? The low pov and the dof both work very nicely. It may be an optical illusion but I feel like it needs a small amount of ccw rotation, leveling the waterline on the snout of the one in the middle. If it were mine I might open the midtones slightly but not a dealbreaker.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Indeed it was Rachel, amazing to think how close we were and we had to delay our breakfast too!!!

    As I mentioned in the intro, I pushed it a bit more as I wanted to gain more depth/form to the main subject and as there is enough detail, I think the mid tones can take it, but again, all personal taste to a degree. Not the greatest sighting we encountered but still enjoyable, including the Leopard too. Fun times indeed!

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    beautiful shot Steve, I like how the center animal is dominant in the frame, with the two on the side looking more submissive. The low angle is awesome. I might have set the eyes a little higher in the frame,
    and I bet you were wishing for less breeze! A quick edit to remove the back animal. Not a great cloning job, and such an drastic change is not for everyone, but this is mainly just for interests sake.
    Personally, I would have left the image as is.

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    Lifetime Member Mike Poole's Avatar
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    Great perspective in this one Steve, the low level rally takes this one up a notch or 2.

    I'm a little torn on the rear hippo. My first thought was it's a bit of a shame he's there, but upon further viewing I think he adds a little more depth to the overall frame.

    Mike

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    Hi Steve -- superb angle , and great IQ overall . liked Raymonds RP with the hippo in the BG cloned out feels more easy on the eyes ! TFS

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Folks, thanks for the comments.

    I'm 50/50 with regard to the hippo in the background as I mentioned in my original intro, but not ideal. Obviously overall it's a cleaner image without it Raymond, but I feel it would be too much manipulation within the original image and ultimately changes the dynamics of the image. Don't get me wrong, I'm not adverse to removing blades of grasses or leaves etc, small items when necessary, but I think in this instance it's too much.

    Thanks
    Steve

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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Hi Steve, I actually like the tones on the Hippo's, and I like your comp framing the middle Hippo. When it comes to Hippo pods, I would leave the surrounding Hippo's in any image, as you have done. Its very seldom you can separate these guys in a pod.

    I could see large on a wall.

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    Outstanding image! The low perspective creates a very powerful viewing experience! It feels like the viewer is drawn in to the pod! Well cropped!

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