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Thread: Brothers in Arms

  1. #1
    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Default Brothers in Arms

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    Hello Everyone,

    Here's an image taken in the Kruger Park in September 2015. I was busy cleaning up my files the other night and found this frame, chose to process because I liked the expression on the subjects' faces as they were checking us out. The light rather challenging, softly touching the Buffaloes from the side, almost enough but not quite... it was just before 7 am. I have a number of frames from this instance at various camera settings, this happens to have the lowest SS value but the most impact, plenty too choose from yet this one grabbed me most. Does it work for you?

    Nikon D4
    Nikon 500 F4
    ISO 1250
    F5.6
    1/800s ( as the subjects were perfectly still, I think I managed to get away with this)

    LR and PSCC, a small crop, exposure adj., levels and curves, B/D, sharpening for web. There's a slight green tinge on the horns/boss due to algae from the water.

    Critique appreciated, thank you so much for your kind comments on my previous image.

    Warmest regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Gabriela honestly don't see how a faster SS could improve this,think your description of the expressions make a point,like the almost sleepy look of the one on the left looks like it is difficult to keep it's eyes open ,like the almost gnarled texture of the horns on the right one with an almost sulky face to go with it.Enjoy viewing this.

    Keith.

  3. #3
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Gabriela, I think perhaps you could have gone to 1600 just for a tad more SS, but as presented, no deal breaker. Again, another image all about the light and this works again, very well. Interesting the DoF, as the RH Buf's side is not as sharp which is right, but the LH Buf's face is sharp which looks more stepped back? Love the curious expression of the LH Buf, with is head our stretch, almost craning to see what's going on.

    Personally I might evict the small stick lower right.

    TFS
    Steve

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    A pleasure to view, Gabriela. Magnificent animals, love the faces. Thank you for sharing.
    Joe Przybyla

    "Sometimes I do get to places just as God is ready to have somebody click the shutter"... Ansel Adams

    www.amazinglight.smugmug.com

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Gabriela - Love the early morning light. Yes, the expressions are great, almost as if to say "are they back already. I can't believe we need to start work so early and pose for them." Only thing I wonder is if the shadows are a bit too then (opened up too much).

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
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    Very nice indeed I like the composition and the lighting. I also like the DOF it makes the buffaloes stand out nicely from the background.

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Thank you all so much for taking time to view and comment:)

    Steve, the only reason why the ISO and consequently SS are relatively low is, I was busy shooting other Buffs in better light when I noticed those two with the corner of my eye. I wanted to grab just one shot quickly before they moved, and they did move, so the next frames were not so interesting with their heads slightly turned away.

    I just knew your sharp eye would pick up the "inconsistency" in terms of DOF/sharpness so I could not wait for your comment! I also hoped you might come to conclusion it works somehow? Thought about this long and hard and decided to go ahead with what I had in mind because I did not like the Buff on the LHS being too soft in comparison with the other. I had to correct the lack of DOF, so I did another round of sharpening on his head and horns, not too much though, just enough to make it "pop" a little.

    Regarding stick - I will make it vanish, I must have looked so long at the buffs that I did not see it anymore

    For you and Rachel and everyone interested, here's what the image looked like before PP work. Rachel, I do not think I had too deep shadows there, the light was quite sweet and soft.

    Warmest regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Cool poses, angle and light here Gabriela.
    I think you lost some of the punch and warmth of the OP in your repost. I'd perhaps just use the OP and add some LCE to the subjects (or tonal contrast in Nik).
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Hi Gabriela -- How crucial an expression could be for an image , and this is the thing working here perfectly , nice soft light to add to the scene . Rest everything looks fine to me . TFS !

  10. #10
    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    I will look into it Morkel, will see what I can do, many thanks to you and Haseeb:)

    Have a super Sunday,
    Gabriela Plesea

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