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Thread: Bearded seal

  1. #1
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Default Bearded seal

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    As we shadowed one of the many Polar bears we encountered, this inquisitive Bearded seal decided to check us out. Taken towards the later part of the day from a zodiac. The slight turquoise colour is just from the light hitting the water, nothing else.

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

    Steve
    Subject: Bearded Seal (Erignathus barbatus)
    Location: Svalbard
    Camera: Canon 1DX
    Lens: 500f/4 MKII + 1.4MKIII HH
    Exposure: 1/1600s at f/5.6 ISO250
    Original format: Landscape, very slight crop from the top and on the sides
    Processed: LRCC & PS CC2015
    Last edited by Steve Kaluski; 11-25-2015 at 03:28 PM.

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    A terrific shot Steve, love the eye, the whiskers and that turquoise tint to the water. Lovely detail and sharpness. TFS.

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    Lifetime Member Andre Pretorius's Avatar
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    Hi Steve

    When I opened this image, the moustache reminded me at once of our Regiment Sergeant-Major during Officer's course!!!

    Stunning detail, as expected.
    Water very smooth, reflection adds to mood.
    The turquoise water must have been a reflection from adjacent ice?

    Love those deep pools of black in nostrils and eyes...

    DOF and comp works.

    What metering mode did you use here?
    Regards

    Andre.

    www.gappimages.com

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Hello Steve i know this one ... stunning frame from the pure technical aspect .
    The look back to you and the bow is somehow priceless , like the hint of color in the bow !!!!!!!
    You did really well with this annoying HL when it comes to Seal Photography in the water !!!!!
    Love the overall tone range and soft colors .
    But i am not too fuzzed about the really deep blacks , at this size the detail is blocked , it is there after closer inspection , will look very different on a print i guess , so if this was mine i would go for less density in the blacks .
    Lovely fine detail and stunning sharpness , extremely well done here Steve .

    TFS Andreas

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Thanks folks.

    What metering mode did you use here?
    Evaluated and I NEVER change, for me, it works. You asked me about Nikon, have you changed, shot and have you looked at the results? Pleased ?

    at this size the detail is blocked ,
    Andreas here is a screen grab of the Tiff before exporting, perhaps the compression hasn't helped in the blacks, but as you can see, all is good. Print yes, but you will see on a larger dot basis it's not ideal!!! I was also at +0.67 EV just for the record.

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Hi Steve if you are ok with it fine , i still think as i said in the low res sRGB file the blacks do look to dense for my taste . Could be for sure the compression , if i look at the image at 400 % the areas do not look that bad .

    But the histogram i PS tells another story ... here you go ... how does that come .
    Even if you have + 2 ev and then you push afterwards the blacks you end up with choked blacks !!! ? right !!??

    As i said it is just a minor thing for me , as i.e. Andre does like the deep blacks .

    Cheers Andreas

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Goes to show, compression adds then if you compare the two histograms. No big deal and as I said, you will see just ho far blacks get pushed .

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Steve - Great pov and love those whiskers. The turquoise bow wave really adds to the image. I think I would prefer just a tiny sliver more on the lhs. Great look too. Interesting about the histograms.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    Super Moderator Daniel Cadieux's Avatar
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    I love the texture of the fur with just the perfect amount of sheen on it, wow. Those nostrils are really wide open to pick up your scent eh! The turquoise is really special...quite a bonus - it really plays well with the reddish fleshy area around the eye. If anything I'd prefer a tiny bit more room at left to give a thicker space between the edge of the bow wake and the frame, but nothing major.

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Sadly right on the limit at the foot, so any increase left or right will increase above, however here is more to the LHS. Thanks again.

    Cheers
    Steve

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Steve - might not add that much. How about along these lines?

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    I think just clipping the bow wave isn't ideal, it's one or the other I feel, but perhaps too close and or personal tastes, thanks.

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    Hi Steve,i'm new and learning,I will post an introduction very shortly,this is my first post man i'm hopeless.


    I was just lingering here looking at your and the other members images,I had to try and comment. Steve I love the almost mono tone contrast between the rest of the image and the turquoise,it's to die for . The eye contact nostril flare Daniel mentioned. Your last post as a crop my preferred. tje sharpness of the fella against the oof background ahh mate it's cracking Beyond that I can't really speak as a photographer,only from my heart the image moves me It's stopped me dead and I had to say thanks for sharing . Steve I've watched here a while trying to learn,be inspired,sort of daunting in some ways the knowledge and skillset here,but inspiring none the less.This is one of my favourite images I have yet seen

    just wonderful Steve thanks so much mate what a joy!!
    Take care

    Stu

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Stuart, firstly a huge warm welcome and I'm very pleased to see you have moved from 'lurker' to 'member' albeit limited, I trust we here on BPN can move you to a full member in time.

    I would like to stress, we have all been at the start of this journey and can full appreciate how daunting it may be in the digital age, however, we don't bite and just remember, if you have a question ask it, irrespective on how silly it may be, as you can bet there is someone else out there wanting to ask the same question. Also, when you post, if there is a specific question(s) you have in relation to the image please ask, in that way you hopefully will get a more dedicated answers. Don't worry if it's not 'exotic' often it's a real pleasure to view more 'local' wildlife like Keith's Harvest mouse.

    Please when you have time post an intro, would be good to read, but in the meantime if you have any questions please feel free to ask away.

    Finally, many thanks indeed for the kind words too and look forward to your participation here on BPN. Interaction on threads is a great way to learn and build on new friends too. BTW where are you based?

    Cheers
    Steve

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    Super Moderator Daniel Cadieux's Avatar
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    Both reposts work for me. Oh and Stuart, welcome to BPN

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    Quote Originally Posted by Steve Kaluski View Post
    Hi Stuart, firstly a huge warm welcome and I'm very pleased to see you have moved from 'lurker' to 'member' albeit limited, I trust we here on BPN can move you to a full member in time.

    I would like to stress, we have all been at the start of this journey and can full appreciate how daunting it may be in the digital age, however, we don't bite and just remember, if you have a question ask it, irrespective on how silly it may be, as you can bet there is someone else out there wanting to ask the same question. Also, when you post, if there is a specific question(s) you have in relation to the image please ask, in that way you hopefully will get a more dedicated answers. Don't worry if it's not 'exotic' often it's a real pleasure to view more 'local' wildlife like Keith's Harvest mouse.

    Please when you have time post an intro, would be good to read, but in the meantime if you have any questions please feel free to ask away.

    Finally, many thanks indeed for the kind words too and look forward to your participation here on BPN. Interaction on threads is a great way to learn and build on new friends too. BTW where are you based?

    Cheers
    Steve
    Hi Daniel than's for the warmth you good sir are another inspiration,mind the recent pic someone took of you in the water was slightly disconcerting,ahh i'm joking mate,but not about the inspiring bit.

    Steve,just lovely your reply,the warmth you gus show throughout this forum is wonderful,but you wildlife guys have always been a bit special. My wildlife will all be local Steve we can't really travel much. But although not exotic the UK does still have some wonders,capturing some of that is a goal for me.
    Steve I won't derail much further,but as above and more specifically we live in England UK,in the heart of the country ie the midlands between two little villages. Based at the foot of the Cotswolds but in the Vale of Evesham. We are incredibly lucky so have a little hovel out in the country,at least a little bit. It's only simple Steve,but only having 3 neighbours is just wonderful.

    Speak soon Steve life is incredibly busy for me,but i'd really like to spend some time learning from you good folks ha and hopefully make someone smile. I'm very very serious about trying to be better with my pictures,but have a serious problem with my sense of humour

    take care

    Stu

  17. #17
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Stu, as I said, we are ALL here to help and as you can see, both cameras bodies are used, Canon & Nikon so if you have questions then fire them of in the respectful Forums or just drop any of us a line.

    Gabriela, Morkel & Marc shoot Nikon, Rachel, Andreas & myself Canon so all bases covered. I'm a bit all over the place between now & the end of December, but will chime in when I can. BTW you live in a very nice part of the UK, so I'm sure there are many options available, but the best thing is just jump in and post away.

    Finally, If you can workout how to send PM's then they may help too, especially if it's something specific, or urgent.

    Cheers for now.

    Steve

  18. Thanks Stuart Philpott thanked for this post
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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Hello Steve,

    Very late here but you already know how I feel about your " silver " bearded seal:)

    Just a few thoughts, first of all I like the OP a lot because it is "in your face", love to rest my eyes on the subject and those generous whiskers adorned with water droplets.

    Superb detail, colours as well as sharpness, lovely "velvety feel" to the subject's fur.

    The alert expression in the seal's eyes is one of the most attractive elements in the frame IMO, it certainly dictates an emotional reaction from the viewer.

    Love everything about this, super cool image... a true gem, Steve

    Warmest regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
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    For me there is little difference between the shots, I am really blown away by the image quality wow that's a cracker. When I see images like this I have to ask do we need 50mp - would the image be so much better?? I am beginning to wonder just how much better the image quality can be, technology marches on but I sometimes wonder!

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    Hi Steve -- Excellent IQ and lovely turquoise in the wave . superb details and nice discussion on this thread . TFS !

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