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Thread: Decent Exposure ( Lion versus Wildebeest)

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Default Decent Exposure ( Lion versus Wildebeest)

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    Hello Friends,

    Thought I'd make the first attempt to share a Theme image for this month. So here's something I posted some time ago in colour, not sure you will remember this frame.

    The scene was captured in the Kalahari in 2014. This male lion was heading towards a waterhole. He completely ignored those wildebeests who kept their distance while watching him carefully and trying to read his intentions.

    Nikon D3S
    Nikon 300mm F2.8
    ISO 1000
    F5.6
    1/2500s

    I initially posted the first version of this image on Facebook and asked my photographer friend Peter Delaney for his opinion, he was so kind to suggest I darken the wildebeests a tad to balance the image, which I did. Kindly let me know if this work for you - comments and critique appreciated, be it of a technical nature or otherwise.
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Gabriela - A very nice wide view and scene. I like the conversion and it does have a high key feel to it. Great eye contact and placement of the lion in frame. Good job on paying attention to the bg and getting the whole tall tree on the right in frame.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Gabriela, overall I like the whole composition and framing, however the conversion I feel is a tad too contrasty, personally i would like to see more tonality through the image rather than the 'hi key' approach, plus if you have added it, then the 'grain' look I feel adds very little. Good call on Peter's re to darken the WB.

    TFS
    Steve

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    Hi Gabriela -- Very nice scene , yes and i definitely agree with Steve's observation that it is quite contrasty . But you have framed the image very well, it certainly has a mood to it , which i liked a lot . Overall it is very nicely done .

    TFS !

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Thank you Rachel, Steve and Haseeb!

    Rachel, I must admit I have not done many B/W conversions. This high key effect is something I am still trying to grasp and therefore I am extremely happy to experiment and receive feedback. I plan to share those experiments this month, be it good or bad... Please everyone, fire with all ammunition and help me get this right

    Too contrasty I agree, just could not help it Steve. When working with colour frames I always try make my subjects stand out, I might have to change the way I think and it is not all that easy The grain is due to over-processing I guess, too many layers and I changed my mind too many times. I need some help when you find the time, I am not in a hurry but would appreciate a couple of pointers:)

    Haseeb, the mood is there I know, but something told me this wasn't quite right, so I have been working on a B/W conversion of another frame taken at the same sighting and will share tonight - not High Key as such, but do let me know if it works better and if so - why?

    Let us play
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    I need some help when you find the time, I am not in a hurry but would appreciate a couple of pointers:)
    Not too sure what more/pointers I can add Gabriela. I just think t just needs just a little refinement which might be only to turn off some layers perhaps??? I'm heading up to Wol tomorrow, but most of the week will be editing ONLY so if you want drop me a line.

    BTW The other 1DX is going shortly .

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Steve!!! So glad you are back and ecstatic to read your comments! I guess I should turn off some layers, LOL. But you know me by now, I would rather start afresh:)

    Will drop you more than a line... Regarding 1DX: can this thing shoot grey socks? We are off to Bots with Andreas in September so I need to make sure!

    I miss Wol, Andre asks that you say hello to your feathered friend from him, I just need to know of Wol's whereabouts...So keep us informed please

    Warmest regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Gabriela, how are you kiddo? This might seem a bit zany,but bare with me,this high key image is somewhat mysterious to me but I see a correlation ,with a pencil drawing .When I was younger I had an art teacher,who was not only an amazing talent but also an incredibly **** good guy. I have my art "O" level because that guy was willing to give us his breaks at dinner time to be schooled. He would say over and over to us: maximum effect minimum pencil. We are thirty plus years on now (his name is Welsh I can't spell it for you) but his words and philosphy (spelling) will always stay with me.

    Mono tone ...B&W images rely on that depth of tone your friend Peter hit that nail on the head for me,sure I'd use a softer pencil and press harder to convey depth/darks and balance.

    Rachel picked up on the RH tree with regards to framing Gabby,I feel I wouldn't have seen that ,thanks for the education both, wonderful framing mate

    Gabby the position of the subjects is wonderful,I love the way herbivores watch predators and can all but sense they are not to be a target ,your image conveys this.Gabby I can't talk processing to you I'm not completely up to speed on hi key, sadly.BUT, I love the dust Gabby, it is maybe the strongest element in your image for me...personally. It's not that the subjects aren't executed or placed well in frame it's that dust blowing left that tells me even in black and white why these animals are together. It's the simplest of elements that conveys so much to me as the viewer

    Maybe this is a bit left field of what many might ponder when viewing this scene or rather your capture which I really like, but I guess that's critique: one's own honest thoughts

    Take care mate,i've really enjoyed viewing this and pondering ,i've been back a few times,before now in an effort to evaluate and frankly just for a good old stare .

    Stu

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

    I enjoyed reading your comments and observations and thought you were quite right about the correlation with the pencil drawing. I also liked the idea of "maximum effect, minimum pencil". I am trying to find my way in terms of B/W and High-Key conversions, here I felt the scene was quite powerful in itself, so for me the most difficult part was was to convey the strength and dominance of this lion versus the defiant wildebeest - but without the aid of colour.

    There is something powerful and noble about this male lion, he is to me a creature of vast strength and I wanted to portray him as such, therefore I paid lots of attention to him during PP work. In the process I probably ignored the rest. Having shared this image on my FB page, I mentioned the name of a dear photographer friend (Peter Delaney) with lots of experience with B/W conversions - he quickly came to my aid with a suggestion I am grateful for: the frame needed some balance which could easily be achieved by enhancing, or darkening the wildebeests. I think it worked:)

    Not my best processed image but still a powerful scene and I am glad it made you ponder - thank you for taking the time to look and for kind comments, I truly appreciate it

    Warmest regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Gabriela it's really been knocked up a notch for me with the darkening of the beests.
    I like the contrasty high-key approach here, each to their own I think as this is very much a taste thing? Great story-telling here.
    Morkel Erasmus

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

    Very kind words, much appreciated.

    I am afraid the idea of darkening the WB belongs to Mr. Delaney, but I am learning...

    Nite Morkel, have a good week!
    Gabriela Plesea

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