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Thread: A lone Hyena fights off a Wild Dog pack of 8.

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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Default A lone Hyena fights off a Wild Dog pack of 8.

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    The classic cackling/wooping sounds of the hyena coupled with the white tail flicking squalling squadron of wild dog was amazing.

    Normally encounters like this are very fleeting, lasting just seconds, with the hyena running off quickly, but this situation was a little different, as the lone Hyena was trapped by the high bank and water with the wild dog flanking it on both sides.

    At one stage the hyena viciously bit down on the neck of one wild dog and it let out a an almighty howl, the wild dog started to wear it down by continually biting his rear and it became a battle of attrition and "backs to the wall", eventually the hyena thought it was better taking his chances with the gaping jaws of a hippo and sit it out in the water.
    Wild dog have an inherent fear of water and it's association with crocs so they kept their distance and eventually got bored with it all and moved off to find other conquests.

    I have a heap of images of this sighting, (most including the water and hippo moving in to check out the commotion) so I might indulge with some more later and add some to the sequence forum, which has been very quiet of late.

    Sabie Sands- RSA.

    D4s 400 f/2.8E FL 1/1600s f/5.6 ISO 640, bean bag from front pax seat, cropped for comp, slight levelling, curves, levels, TK adj in PS CC '15 & ACR.

    Cheers

    Marc


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    Wow Marc, this is spectacular and indeed epic! Great interaction, stunning emotions and very well composed! Awesome sighting and opportunity, well shot and processed.
    Last edited by Sanjeev Aurangabadkar; 11-25-2015 at 02:24 PM.

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    Lifetime Member Andre Pretorius's Avatar
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    Hi Marc

    Classic display with the dog's tail's up in excitement, the hyena tail down to cover his/her arse from the biting..
    Stunning predator/predator interaction well captured!

    I would crop this into pano from the top, just above the bank of drainage line, and add to left of image if you have it.
    Regards

    Andre.

    www.gappimages.com

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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Thanks Sanjeev & Andre

    Quote Originally Posted by Andre Pretorius View Post

    I would crop this into pano from the top, just above the bank of drainage line, and add to left of image if you have it.
    Your crop suggestion was something I had played with but decided otherwise, personal preference of course, unfortunately no more room on the LHS.


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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Marc - Fantastic interaction, well captured. I also thought a crop of about halfway between the top and the top of the river bank would work as a good alternative and focus the viewer's attention on the action a bit more. As you said, personal preferences. Interesting about the wild dogs and water because we saw wild dogs playing in a dam and also crossing the river back and forth to run off an intruding hyena at a kill. Looking forward to seeing more from this sighting.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    Super Moderator Daniel Cadieux's Avatar
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    I like the crop as is because I find the tree line is an important part of the image and habitat. Super cool behaviour and interaction you got for us here. The expression of the dog face-to-face with the hyena is priceless!!

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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Rachel Hollander View Post
    Interesting about the wild dogs and water because we saw wild dogs playing in a dam and also crossing the river back and forth to run off an intruding hyena at a kill.

    TFS,
    Rachel
    I think you posted some of those great shots, they will of course play and cross water but, like lions have a healthy respect IF they know crocs are around.

    I love my wild dogs, when you follow them there is always something happening as opposed to most who just want to see, tick their list and move on.

    I know you are a follower yourself


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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Thanks Rachel

    Quote Originally Posted by Rachel Hollander View Post
    Interesting about the wild dogs and water because we saw wild dogs playing in a dam and also crossing the river back and forth to run off an intruding hyena at a kill. Looking forward to seeing more from this sighting.
    TFS,
    Rachel
    I remember you posted some great images of those here. As you know WD still like to play and cross water where no crocs are present, but a different story IF they know they're around.

    I love following WD as there is always something happening, as opposed to most who just look, tick........and move on.

    I can't believe the amount of times I hear other clients just say "oh......it's just a dog"



    Thanks Daniel

    Quote Originally Posted by Daniel Cadieux View Post
    I like the crop as is because I find the tree line is an important part of the image and habitat. Super cool behaviour and interaction you got for us here. The expression of the dog face-to-face with the hyena is priceless!!
    My thoughts as well Daniel, there are 4 different expressions going on here.


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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Hi Marc stunning action captured , so much to look at in this frame .
    For sure the center is the most powerful part of it .
    I am fine with the overall crop and i like the colors in the image .
    I think you use that clarity slider on most of your images ...... as personal feeling i might back off on it as it seem to add ( if used) a bit too much crunch to the images .
    If you use it it i might use it at lower % just on the action , and not that much on the habitat . I might be wrong with this .... just a personal view for sure .

    Well still a great action shot , i would also like to see in real life and take pictures

    TFS Andreas

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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Andreas Liedmann View Post
    Hi Marc stunning action captured , so much to look at in this frame .
    For sure the center is the most powerful part of it .
    I am fine with the overall crop and i like the colors in the image .
    I think you use that clarity slider on most of your images ...... as personal feeling i might back off on it as it seem to add ( if used) a bit too much crunch to the images .
    If you use it it i might use it at lower % just on the action , and not that much on the habitat . I might be wrong with this .... just a personal view for sure .

    Well still a great action shot , i would also like to see in real life and take pictures

    TFS Andreas
    Thanks Andreas

    Appreciate the PP support, I use Clarity in ACR globally set @ 10, are you saying even that is too much. My opinion is it adds just a little extra punch, yes very much aware not to over do it.


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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Marc my opinion about the clarity slider is bit mixed , if used carefully and locally it might be a good choice from time to time , specially when the image is somehow flat ......
    As i am not using it at all because of DPP as my raw converter, i use the clarity of ACR from time to time as a filter in PS .... sometimes at 50 or more , but very locally and never plain on the pixel layer , always through a mask !!!!!! And always painted in through a mask again !!! So in the end i have total control where this effect takes place .
    By using this clarity through the mask you do not have the gritty effect .
    If you adjust the tones / contrast in PS after you used the clarity in your raw conversion.... you amplify the grittiness with every tonal change !!!

    Well this are just my thoughts .

    Cheers Andreas

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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Andreas Liedmann View Post
    Marc my opinion about the clarity slider is bit mixed , if used carefully and locally it might be a good choice from time to time , specially when the image is somehow flat ......
    As i am not using it at all because of DPP as my raw converter, i use the clarity of ACR from time to time as a filter in PS .... sometimes at 50 or more , but very locally and never plain on the pixel layer , always through a mask !!!!!! And always painted in through a mask again !!! So in the end i have total control where this effect takes place .
    By using this clarity through the mask you do not have the gritty effect .
    If you adjust the tones / contrast in PS after you used the clarity in your raw conversion.... you amplify the grittiness with every tonal change !!!

    Well this are just my thoughts .

    Cheers Andreas
    Make sense Andreas thank you, so like USM, using clarity through filter in PS should be done as a final step would be best I imagine?


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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Marc you got it ...... well keep in mind , this is just my personal view , others may think different .

    But if you think "my way" might work for you , just try it both ways and compare , one version with clarity during conversion other version with clarity at the end just to give a bit of kick . For sure the same values used in both image s.

    USM well i use USM from time to time and if i use USM use only HiRaLoAm and again at the end of the process and always use the filter through a lumo mask , by loading the desired selection and run the filter through the selection !!!! ??? Not run the filter and then applying a mask .... two different things . Hope you understand technically what i mean ..... well and who is interested too.

    Re USM / sharpening ( classical for sharpness ) , i tend to use two pass sharpening ( capture and output ) . I do not sharpen the actual TIF in PS , unless i do it very locally for i.e. eyes/ faces . I rather use the local contrast enhancement with USM or High Pass depending on my needs . I just sharpen the low res output file in a very complex way .But i let a script do this for me , and i finally use the opacity of the sharpen group and a mask to control what becomes sharpened and what not .

    As there are many ways to skin a cat , do not take this as reference , just as one way to handle the things . I think it is always good to create 2/3 versions of the same thing and decide what works best for you .

    Lesson stops here , LOL. Cheers Andreas

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

    I dare say this is one of the most exciting images you have shared on BPN, as far as I am concerned:) Packed with action and lots of drama, so much body language from the protagonists and I just cannot stop looking, typing a few words and then scrolling up to view again, reading the story... Awesome stuff!

    Techs are great, I am happy with the colours and the framing/composition works well for me. Superb capture Marc!

    Regarding Story Sequence Forum, sadly most members feel it is just too much work, processing more than one image at a time. I must admit I am very disappointed with the lack of participation and feeling kind of lonely there:) The last thread is obviously mine

    Hope you share more of your recent sightings, I am absolutely delighted with this frame, looking forward to more

    Kind regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    A fabulous moment of natural history here, mate!
    Good to have an uncluttered view towards them - other side of a waterhole perhaps?
    Was this at LH?
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Thanks Morkel

    Quote Originally Posted by Morkel Erasmus View Post
    other side of a waterhole perhaps?
    Was this at LH?
    Correct, other side of the waterhole fortunately and @ LH concession border.


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    Hi Marc -- Absolutely stunning , that fearful look on the face of the wild dog is priceless.
    I like d the settings and the crop works well for me . Thank you very much for sharing this excellent frame .

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