Hope you are all enjoying a happy Sunday. After much searching and deleting I have finally selected a few images worth sharing, this one I particularly like because of the lovely expression on this little one's face. Taken in Kruger Park one afternoon at about 3pm, the light was not favourable but we just had to grab a few frames of two young Spotted Hyena lying by the side of the road, they were so relaxed in our presence and even came a tad closer to investigate...
I do have other images with both siblings which I will share at a later stage, here I considered cropping tighter as well as adding canvas at the top but changed my mind: I like this as is, subject in the centre and some space on the sides. In other words, this is FF. Processed in LR and Ps CC.
Nikon D4
Nikon 500mm F4
ISO 2500
F7.1
1/800s
Thank you for taking the time to view, I truly appreciate it.
Last edited by Gabriela Plesea; 09-27-2015 at 10:55 AM.
Hi Gabriela - Congrats on getting your young hyena. I know how much you love them. Nice soft colors and good detail and dof. My initial reaction was that this screams out for a portrait/vertical presentation with more room above. The more I look at it, the more I like your comp but I probably would still have shot some vertical.
Hi Gabriela. This is a really nice shot, what makes it for me is the awesome eye contact and head-on stare. Lovely detail and sharpness with nice muted colours. The comp seems to work rather well but I too would go with Rachel's suggestion on trying an alternate vertical crop. Well done.TFS.
Earlier when I uploaded this image I thought of a few things you might ask me, like "why I did not warm this up more", "why I did not add more mid-tones", and "why not crop tighter".
So let me explain my thinking behind the composition for now, since you both mentioned it: first of all, I had this nice soft BG that really made this little one stand out, the colours were pretty and muted, some greens and faint yellows and orange here and there, I also liked those faint blades of grass barely showing - a bit of context and it kind of made sense to me. 99% of the time I crop tight, for I like to get close and love portraits, but in this case despite F7.1 the body and even R ear of my subject are quite OOF, which might not look so good in a tight crop (too obvious). Eventually gave it a try but when I compared the two versions I liked this better, despite the cut-off legs and everything.
I do have a number of vertical frames and will share those with you at a later stage, this is not the most exciting one but appealed to me because I liked the eye-contact.
Thank you both so much for comments and viewing, much appreciated!
Hi Gabriela -- This is an excellent portrait with terrific details and sharpness. The clean BG with a lovely eye contact makes this image for me . I loved it ! TFS !
I felt this image lacked a bit of punch and the colors on the hyena looked a bit soft , so i tried some subtle changes with levels and vibrance. I hope you don't mind .
I don't mind one bit, I welcome your RP and in fact I anticipated that some of the members might wish for more "punch" here:)
The only problem I have with increasing vibrance etc. is, those brownish hairs on the crest of the subject turn orange. Hyena pups are born pitch black (with open eyes and also with teeth, can you believe it?), later on the fur turns light grey with barely a tinge of brown (as per OP). The colours do change as they reach adulthood and they often become like in your RP, reddish brown. The reason why I do not wish to add more "punch" is, I am trying to emphasise that what you are looking at is a subadult. Some thought has gone into this image, I am passionate about Hyenas and spent a great deal of time in the Kalahari with them, as well as in the Hluhluwe/Umfolozi Game Reserve.
Another interesting fact is, those beautiful round eyes which still maintain a degree of that "milkish", or "white-washed" appearance at this stage of their lives later turns into pitch black, they become glass-like and quite bulging.
Some years ago I had the most amazing experience with a spotted hyena (adult) who came to visit our camp in the KTP, we just finished supper and she pitched up sniffling around. She approached us and I was tempted to take some video of her. I crouched under the table and sat on the concrete floor, camera in hand. She came so close that I could see my reflection in her eyes. Andre had more common sense than I did, I was mesmerised and although aware to a degree of the pending danger I pushed my luck allowing her to get within a meter away from me. Then Andre suddenly chased her away...up to this day he still reminds me that I was seconds away from losing my nose, LOL. Just one leap was enough...
So this my take but let us see what the others say, I am open to suggestions and opinions. Thank you from the heart for taking the time to RP, I really appreciate it. It does have more "POP" and is similar to another version I have and which I decided to not share for the above reasons.
Hi Gabriela, hope you had a good time during your trip.
Although I have been back for a few day days I've hit the ground running due to a forgotten deadline and so it's my first real chance to get back into the seat, but away again in two days time LOL, but in the UK.
I agree with Rachel, to me screams of a vertical format. The space flanking either side isn't working I think and I would hate to crop loosing all that image content. Interesting regarding the DoF and how it drops off, you must have been close. The colours look quite muted & soft, as you were there your recollection is best, but a bit more richness may help to bring some depth to the image, but in your description above I think justifies the OP.
Glad to know you are back, and thank you so much for looking and comments:)
The Kruger was as beautiful as ever although extremely dry - almost no water left in the riverbeds, which is a great concern. Same here in Hluhluwe, had no proper rain in...nine months or so. Don't remember ever experiencing such draught, and for so long.
Overcast for most of the time, only a few of drops of rain here and there... We have not a lion or leopard image from this trip, tried to avoid the crowds and so we travelled up North where the animals are scarce, amazing scenery though. Driving past Skukuza we did see a young lion at some point, he was lying on the side of the road, not quite a cub but rather small, just skin and bone really and barely breathing, do not think he lasted an hour after we saw him. Probably a reckless driver knocked him as he was crossing the road and he just made it to the side, the rest of the pride must have waited for a while and then eventually left. I still cannot get this memory out of my head, much as I try to.
We had a few interesting moments over those two weeks but both myself and Andre did not manage as many decent frames as we usually bring back from our Botswana trips. We are too polite towards the other drivers/visitors and do not squeeze ourselves between other vehicles at a sighting, also too respectful of wildlife to drive up and down or leave the road to get the right HA or the best pose. We stick to our ethics and obey the rules, and do not stress our subjects just to get the images - at times we just put the cameras down and observed.
Anyway, here's something to please my critics, a vertical crop and I am not happy with it for reasons you understand. Tried to add more "pop" but again, I just like the softer look so much more. I have about 100 frames of this chap and his sibling, vertical and horizontal and taken at various settings, allow me some time and I will show you the rest:)
I have a great number of vertical ones... some very, very cute, but in most of them the little un' is looking to the side. You'll get to see those, I promise:) Unless you are willing to view a KTP lion image again, it'll be just hyena pups for the next few months, LOL!
And yes it was frustrating, and you'll be horrified to see what people do in the Kruger...This Forum is not the place to describe in detail what I have witnessed, but I will elaborate on the matter for anyone interested in visiting the Park, so they know what to expect...Just email or send me a PM. What is most painful is the thought of this lovely Park exploited beyond its limits, more accommodation being built and therefore more visitors, you cannot imagine the traffic and the accidents occurring at sightings...Oh well, it was my last visit there and next year we are off to the Kalahari again and now busy booking for Moremi, Savuti and Chobe. With the Channel Master, Mr. Liedmann
On the topic of comments and suggestions, I do try them out before I reply - just in case I change my mind, LOL!
Thank you again Steve...loved your recent PB image, hope you find the time to share a few more images from this trip
It's mid-September and we are driving there in two vehicles, plus our trailer with tent...Andreas flying in early, staying with us at home for a while before we depart, so we can "get to know each other" again...
I know nuffin' about Andreas's channels, he seems to think I do not work in layers but I do, I just flatten them too early sometimes, LOL.
You said hippo? I have some hippo images to share, just gimme some time...
Aww Steve, so glad you're back, missed your sense of humour
Hi Gabriela a very cute head on shot of this little guy , as always a great story around your posting .
I am fine with both versions , your OP has a lot higher cuteness factor and the tighter one is more in the face and the cuteness is somehow gone for me .Like the overall light/thin tones and colors in this case , but i think the HL ca stand a bit more depth without loosing the OP feeling , see my RP and tell me your thoughts .
You have nice sharpness in the face but a tiny bit too strong on the bridge of the nose and surroundings for my taste , wonder what sharpening radius you have used , i might try a lower radius giving you finer detail or reduce the white sharpening fringe for x % .
Yo Yo the channel master is me ,not that big fat thing in southern africa as Steve thinks , LOL , for sure we are battling in another weighing class , as i am more for the fine adjustments and the other one is more for clarity pushed to 100 .......
Yes you work with layers but you are the layer flattening mistress , LOL , nothing wrong with it if the endgame works out well
Thanks for sharing Gabriela always a pleasure to look at your frames !!
Good evening, Slim Master of all Channels, and Fine Tuner - Herr. Liedman!
I am stunned, and at the same time extremely pleased that you managed to put in words precisely the feel I had when trying the vertical crop. I realised something was "lost" when cropping and getting so close to the subject, who suddenly seemed older and (in my mind) no more a little pup, no longer as "lost" or "innocent" as I wanted to portray him.
Regarding my second post here, I took the jpg of the OP and applied the vertical crop, I might have forgotten I already sharpened and gave it another round, sorry. (opacity 20% for lights and 40% for darks). I just wanted to show you what happened when cropping, and sorry Andreas I only had the Jpg available on the hard drive connected to the computer and was too lazy to go get the Tiff:)
I like what you did in your RP, very subtle changes and it works for me, thank you Boetie. The Flattening Mistress shall lend an ear (or two) next year when you visit, I am tempted to learn how to "dig" those channels, LOL. In exchange I shall get you a great number of grey socks, enough to last you the whole trip - we need them for that grey point, anyway. As well as cook a few meals that'll entice your taste buds, big time! You will also be excused from helping with washing the dishes... do we have a deal?
Once again thank you Andreas, I really appreciate that you managed to read my thoughts with this frame, and also your thoughtfulness when doing the RP - I love it. Hope you find the time to chip in with my next image, I would be very grateful.
Hi Gab always a pleasure to help/guide you folks and even more for you , i cannot give you that much lessons as i would have to do when taking your offering ,you still have plenty free from last trip . But i hope we can mange more than last time , i am already excited . Oops to much private .... so i stop here.
I am glad that our thoughts match perfectly with this image !!
Andreas, we cannot wait for September 2016! New territories to explore, new subjects to photograph, old friends together again:)
In all honesty, you are at times too technical for me. But I guess you know that by now. I learnt a lot on my own, although I thank Andre for teaching me the basics, and Steve for giving me direction and confidence (and for that hard honest crit when I deserve it:)
My work - if I may call it that - is mainly based on emotion and context... I have come to understand my equipment pretty well and these days - save for this Kruger trip where conditions were really extreme in terms of weather but especially circumstances - I get home with decent images. I wish I could spend more time doing PP work and learning more stuff but I my time is so limited. I look forward to whatever you are willing to share, right now so happy to discover we think along the same lines and I am really blown away by your ability to see things through my eyes, thank you Boetie!