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Image question: why didn't get flat on the ground for this one to put the animal completely against the red dune? a
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Hi Artie, I really like the rich, warm, saturated colours here, very different to what we normally see. Nice placement within frame (as expected), but the soft, OOF backdrop is a cracking BKG to isolate and show this subject at it's best within a natural environment. The 'layering' of the ground in terms of 'focus' creates a nice depth also.
I think you were fortunate to have the space on the sides for the rotation, but yes, why was the original on a slant, running downhill left to right? Are you allowed to drive off the road, having not been there, just curious.
Interesting how much you like the 5DS R, as the Press release/Workshops (?) of the 1DX MKII just being launched here, certainly does make the MKII a real Game changer IMHO, just patiently waiting sadly for delivery
.
TFS
Steve
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Hi Steve,
Thanks. I did not put the 1.4X TC on so that I could get lots of sand dune... Why did I screw up leveling the image? I was too excited. (The 5DS R has an in-camera level.) You cannot drive off road there but you can walk off road and that is what we did. This animal was quite accepting even though I walked to sun angle. Right now I am using two 5DS R bodies. My 1DX II will be here in 2 days. I will use it primarily for flight, action, and high ISO. The image files will not compare to 5DS R files as far as IQ. See tomorrow's blog post for yet another example of the insanely detailed 5DS R images...
a
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Originally Posted by
Andre Pretorius
Hi a
IHMO there are too much reds and yellows- happens in this scenario late in desert with sweet late light- (look at belly of Gemsbok/Oryx- supposed to be white)
Levels, Curves and D&B layers, bit more of of MT contrast,l leveling of image...WDYT ?(still no eyes...)
Andre
Thanks for the repost Andre. You did a better job leveling the image than I did. Your color work is certainly much more neutral, but you have, however, ruined the mood of the image and the spectacular early morning light (which I actually did tone down a bit). Why do I say that ? I was there :) a
ps: the original post to me says, "spectacular light early on a clear morning." The repost says, "11am on an overcast morning..." a
BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.
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Cheers Artie, thanks for the background.
OMG 2 days eek!
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Hi Artie -- This is the kind of lighting i miss when shooting tiger images in India . The colours makes the scene so beautiful had the Gemsbok not been there it would have still qualified as a lovely landscape shot
. But again the Gemsbok is perfectly placed in the frame and I just enjoyed viewing this beautiful image .
TFS !
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Originally Posted by
Rachel Hollander
Hi Artie - I like the light and tones. Having been there I may have an advantage but am going to guess that the ground between you and the gemsbok is that there may have been some ridges between you and it which would have obscured the lower legs if you were lower to the ground. Placement in frame works for me. It does feel perhaps a little bright but that may be how it was. I quickly dropped the exp just on the gemsbok by a third of stop and it retained the warmth of the dunes but just seemed a little more pleasing to me. WDYT? I hope you will post more from your trip.
TFS,
Rachel
Thanks Rache. Bingo on the o-o-f foreground ridge. Repost looks great but not a whole lot different from the OP. But I am in my car working :)
a
BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.
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Good to see the first fruits from your trip, Artie!
Love those rich Namib red tones here, especially accented by the early light. Ain't no light like African light, eh? 
I like the placement and layering as is - but might rotate CCW just a tad? Rachel's toned down gemsbok works for me.
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Hiya artie,
artie I love this,the thoughts on the reposts have been very informative for me. I really like the colours artie, I find them stunning !! I have no knowledge of Africa or it's light ,but they don't seem unnatural to me personally,I love the contrast in colour between the gemsbok and the pinkish toned dunes. I'm struggling to really "See" the difference between your and Rachel's reposts,if I am utterly honest.
artie ok, I know now about the ridge being your reason for framing slightly higher,but I had mused that this might have been a tactic on your part to actually add depth to the image by showing more of the flatter ground before the dune rises,obviously I'm wrong,but I thought I'd throw this out there anyway,the question was thought provoking,cheers for that
Comp works for me,the whole image does,it evokes warmth (although it might not have been at this time of day,I simply don't know), just beautiful
cheers for letting us see this
take care
Stu
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Originally Posted by
Morkel Erasmus
Good to see the first fruits from your trip, Artie!
Love those rich Namib red tones here, especially accented by the early light. Ain't no light like African light, eh?

I like the placement and layering as is - but might rotate CCW just a tad? Rachel's toned down gemsbok works for me.
Thanks Mork-man. I struggled with leveling this one... a
BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.
BIRDS AS ART Online Store: we will not sell you junk. 35 years of long lens experience. Please e-mail with gear questions.
Check out the new SONY e-Guide and videos that I did with Patrick Sparkman here. Ten percent discount for BPN members,
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Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator
Dear Artie,
Never been to Namibia but now I want to go there
I love the framing here and composition, also pose from the subject. But most of all I like the golden light with its red tinge, which is truly what makes the image for me. BG is stunning. IQ is superb.
Took a few days to ponder over this image so please forgive me for commenting so late. Wondered about your question regarding perspective and I think there might be not one, but a few reasons why you chose this particular POV. One that comes to mind is, you wanted more of a 3D effect to this, as opposed to a rather "flat", or "2D" subject-against-dune feel. You probably have a number of frames taken at this sighting as you like to experiment:)
Thank you so much for sharing, I enjoyed viewing as well as reading the comments from everyone above. A memorable frame of a "moment in time" and so beautifully captured.
Warmest regards,
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If I had gotten flat on the ground, the out of focus ridge in the foreground, just above the bottom frame-edge, would have blocked the animal's feet... You can learn a lot more about this: "A Common Weakness in Perceptual Vision Skills and Understanding Perspective Choices as They Relate to Photography. And Suggestions On How to Improve" in the blog post here. a
BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.
BIRDS AS ART Online Store: we will not sell you junk. 35 years of long lens experience. Please e-mail with gear questions.
Check out the new SONY e-Guide and videos that I did with Patrick Sparkman here. Ten percent discount for BPN members,
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Hi Artie -- Thanks for sharing this blog post and I am certainly one of those who needs to learn the art of visualizing , here is a link to one of my recent post on BPN which makes it quite obvious what you tried to convey in your Blog Post .
http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...ead.php/135093
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Originally Posted by
haseeb badar
Hi Artie -- Thanks for sharing this blog post and I am certainly one of those who needs to learn the art of visualizing , here is a link to one of my recent post on BPN which makes it quite obvious what you tried to convey in your Blog Post .
http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...ead.php/135093
Hi Hasseb, Thanks for the link. I commented there. a
BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.
BIRDS AS ART Online Store: we will not sell you junk. 35 years of long lens experience. Please e-mail with gear questions.
Check out the new SONY e-Guide and videos that I did with Patrick Sparkman here. Ten percent discount for BPN members,
E-mail me at samandmayasgrandpa@att.net.
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Beautiful image ...........
What a light you have in the frame, the BG and FG compliments to the subject very well ...... Loved it totally
TFS...
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