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Thread: Pangolin Through the Grass

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Default Pangolin Through the Grass

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    Another image from Tswalu in South Africa. Taken while lying down. I know some won't like the oof grasses but I liked the way they sort of framed the pangolin and with the head clear I was happy.

    Canon 5D3
    100-400 @ 400mm
    1/1500
    f5.6
    ISO 800
    HH while lying down, cropped for comp, levels, curves, color adjustments, sharpened in PSCC.

    C&C welcome and appreciated. Thanks,

    Rachel

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    A really good shot of a wonderful animal, Rachel.

    I agree with you about the OOF grasses and it helps that the animal itself is pin sharp. It is a shame that its head is not slightly more in profile but, hey, that's wildlife for you.

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Rachel, personally I think I prefer the previous images where you see more of the subject, but any sighting/capture of a Pangolin is cool.

    Just a thought, but as all the other grass is OOF you can easily do the same on the LHS to balance things, but give even more 'focus' on the emerging subject. Loosing the FG stem & leaf I feel helps and really is not having any detrimental effect to the original capture. Just a thought. SS look good on this one.

    TFS
    Steve

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Thanks Mike and Steve, Steve - funny, I had originally thought along the same lines as you on the left but then decided because that clump was at the same distance and in the focal plane that it would look off. As you know, fg stem and leaf stay for me.

    I did play with a b&w, going for a bit more artsy with even less definition of the grasses and purposely going quite bright on everything then pulling the pangolin back a little. Done in Nik Silver Efex. WDYT?

    Thanks again,
    Rachel

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    In B/W you have more scope because it's one 'colour' and so some elements in colour that are possible distracting can be 'hidden' within the medium. It's your call in the direction and presentation/style because you are the creator/artist not us and so the presentation is how you feel best portrays the image capture.

    As you know, fg stem and leaf stay for me.
    If you are 'dogging & burning' to control brights & darks, changing exposure in parts and using Luminosity layers to bring some 'depth' you are then altering the original capture from the initial time of hitting that button, so I still think the odd leaf or stem can be evicted without and real detriment to the image.

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Thanks Steve. We just have to agree to disagree about cloning. For me, when normally processing my images I try to get them as close to how I remember the scene looking at the time of capture. This includes leaving anything that was there in place and not flipping the image. Of course, if I am presenting a more "artsy" interpretation then I am more liberal in my processing ethics.

    Cheers,
    Rachel

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    Rachel, like this image of an unusual subject... OOF don't bother me I use them all the time in my comps. Can be effective in focusing attention on your subject... Well done.

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Hi Rachel even if conditions has not been perfect ......... to see and even more photograph a Pangolin is special and so COOL .I could easily live with some shortcomings
    Lovely color / tone combo and the low POV does fit so well .... almost running through a tunnel of grass !!!!
    Well done in capturing this frame !!
    You have all the detail and the sharpness looks good to me .
    A bit more DOF would have been better ... but not changeable afterwards so no big deal .

    Color version is the way to go ... B/W has no impact for me .... personally , just my 2 cents

    Very nice ...TFS Andreas

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Thanks Dale and Andreas

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    What a thing to witness and photograph ! There must be millions of wildlife enthusiasts that have never even seen one of these (myself included)... To nail a sharp detailed image of one is the stuff of dreams !!! As for the oof yellow/white grass and the red sand........they are so so so typical of photographing a short animal in that part of Africa that imo they scream authenticity when looking at this image. They are also almost impossible to avoid in a situation like this

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    Defiantly the colour version for me Rachel,fascinating animal making it's way through the grasses ,personally the bits of grass are not a problem for me in fact I prefer it.

    Keith.

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    Hi Rachel -- Indeed thankful to you for sharing the pangolin images , I just loved this image with all the OOF elements coming into play. As Andreas mentioned , too me it also appears like it is emerging from a tunnel. Yes cloning has helped Steve's RP look better but than it is all abt ones ethics and preferences. Overall i really enjoyed viewing this image , pls do share more of the subject if you can .

    TFS !

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    I quite like this...The secretive life of the Pangolin coming through in the gap of the grass.
    Lovely colors, they look spot on and the details are great.

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Thanks Basil, Keith, Haseeb and Dumay. I'm glad you all like this one.

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    Rachel you know I love this OOF mushy FG business - use it a lot. It was very effective here, especially given the tones of the OP as opposed to the monochrome version.
    Cool shot of a cool sighting!
    Morkel Erasmus

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