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Thread: Two Awesome Beasts

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Default Two Awesome Beasts

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    Hello Friends,

    Tonight I would like to share a frame depicting two species very close to my heart. A B/W conversion is also available on request:) You might ask why I did not change position to avoid the bushes in the FG, the answer is I couldn't - our vehicle was parked near the waterhole and a number of rhino were present, did not want to disturb them and especially with the mighty lion approaching. Time was 5:36pm and the light - although golden - was fading fast. Eventually the three of us - Andre, Carl and myself - put our cameras down and just took in the scene.

    Not sure you'll all like this and I don't blame you - it is far from perfect. I do welcome your critique and comments, impressions and suggestions - thank you so much for viewing.

    Nikon D4
    Nikon 500 F4
    ISO 3200
    F5
    1/1250s
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Gabriela - A very nice image from a sighting standpoint and having both the lion and rhino. However, the shrubs in the fg are a bit too dominant for my taste. Still nice light and movement. I would also prefer a little more room on each side.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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

    I completely agree with you, those shrubs are totally undesirable! At the time I took this frame I even said to Carl and Andre, " ...don't you wish you had a garden trimmer sometimes?"

    No room on the LHS or RHS I am afraid, this is FF, save for a tad on the top and bottom. Will keep it though, just for memory sake, too special to bin, but grateful you took the time to view and comment my friend, I appreciate it

    Warmest regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Hi Gabriela,
    hmm those bushes: I seem to spend most of my time lying down in a field trying to work around foreground vegetation but not get too high and spook my subject,I feel for you mate !! But I utterly concur this is too good to bin. Gabby it's wonderful how the light catches your primary subject and the rhino is almost "lurking" in the BG. It's a lovely contrast and wonderfully framed well done you. Sure, I concur with Rachel on the edges and would like a bit more really,but I have to admit that I'd be thrilled to have captured both with out cutting anything off anyone .

    Stunning light, both subjects facing inwards with room to move, movement captured in frame ,once again lovely Gabriela
    Thanks for sharing always a joy to see what you have captured

    take care

    Stu

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Thank you so much Stu, very kind comments and I appreciate your time to view. I would normally delete an image with such a busy, uneven and bothersome FG, what saved it from going to the bin was the presence of those two creatures together, quite unusual and I wanted to share. Given the number of poaching incidents lately, I fear we won't get to see rhino in a couple of years' time, let alone one with horn - they are being dehorned in order to save those still around.

    Kind regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    A wonderful image

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    2 of them on one pic, great work !!!!!

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    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
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    I really love this image I find it compelling. Good light on a lion is totally irresistable and the rhino in the background provides such an evocative scenario.
    To be perfectly frank the bushes in the foreground don't bother me all that much, though I agree it would look better without.
    Now then don't laugh out loud but I have recently been playing with Nik filters - I am a few years behind you guys in this forum but I think it shows that someone with better skills and experience than I might be able to subdue the bushes more effectively. What do you think - better left as it was or maybe try a few adjustments??

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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Hi Gaby, lovely strolling pose from the lion with the swept back mane. Yes to late warm light, and I actually feel the FG shrub adds to the image, as it 'splits' the Lion and Rhino perfectly. I do agree for a bit more space on either side though.

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    Gabriela I think that the fact you got both these magnificent animals together makes up for any other bits that you don't like,bit different I know but do think the bit of foliage in front of the Lion and the little bush actually add something to the image giving it a very natural look.Love the colour and the natural light on the Lion.

    Keith.

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    Lifetime Member Mike Poole's Avatar
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    Definitely a shot thats 50% superb and 50% frustrating. The lion is nigh on perfect in that golden light and the proud walking pose. The rhino fits into the scene perfectly as well not dominating but adding lots of interest. However, it has to fall into the 'nearly' camp for me because of the vegetation in the front. Probably not a lit you could do about it, so maybe a bit harsh, but it reduces the image from a wall hanger to a very good recording of a scene for me.

    Mike

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    I like it Gabriela. The bushes give me the feeling that I am on foot, crouching behind shrubs to take in this splendid scene in great light without the animals spotting me.
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Dear Friends, I took great pleasure reading your comments tonight!

    Mike, you put it so well - I agree with you on the 50/50, superb scene at the time and later frustrating a bit, in the end I left things as they were.

    Jon, perhaps the bushes are too prominent (too tall in the frame) to be "faded", I fear they become more obvious but still curious what the other members say? Really kind of you to help and I am so grateful for your interest and participation
    Stu - appreciate your thoughts, I am afraid no more space on either sides, my friend
    And Morkel - you know well what I saw in this scene, many thanks Boetie, appreciate it
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Superb striding pose and lighting here Gabriela

    The FG bushes do detract somewhat, yet at the same time give a lovely 3 dimensional depth to the image.

    Was this taken before your brilliant recent Rhino mum & baby image?

    TFS


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    Hi Gabriela -- This is indeed a lovely frame , precious I should say . Yes agree that the FG is dominating but the content is much more powerful to outweigh the FG . The lovely light is taking this up a notch .

    TFS !

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Thank you Marc and Haseeb,

    Marc, not sure whether it was before or after, I will have to check. There were quite a few rhino around and I took a great number of images that afternoon. I might squeeze in a few more posts here from this sighting, in the future:)

    Have a wonderful week-end,
    Gabriela Plesea

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