Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: The Next Generation

  1. #1
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    NYC
    Posts
    14,320
    Threads
    929
    Thank You Posts

    Default The Next Generation

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    This is one of three brothers who are the next generation of the impressive Kalahari lions born at Tswalu. As part of their conservation management, it was expected that these males would be darted before reaching sexual maturity and traded with another game reserve or national park to bring genetic diversity to the lions in both areas. The female lions presently at Tswalu are all related to these males so they want to ensure no in-breeding.

    Canon 5D3
    300 II plus 2x III
    1/1500
    f8
    ISO 1600
    Monopod from safari vehicle, ff, levels, curves, selective sharpening in PSCC.

    C&C welcome and appreciated. Thanks,

    Rachel

  2. #2
    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Dortmund / Germany
    Posts
    10,906
    Threads
    1,196
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Rachel .... the next generation does not look for sure as impressive as the last one you posted .If he is lucky he might make it to that stage .
    Nice tight head shot with well controlled side lighting , light seem that it was already somehow harsh .Lovely colors and good that you have created the very detailed eyes , good job done !!!!
    I do find the sharpening a fraction too strong , a tiny bit .I might try to reduce the sharpening by using a inverted red channel ( not at full strength ) on the final sharpening layer .
    The BG is not ideal in my eyes , to busy and the overall contrast is too strong , if you treat BG and subject differently you will have a better separation between both , just my 2 cents

    Nice one Rachel ... TFS Andreas

  3. Thanks Rachel Hollander thanked for this post
  4. #3
    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Somewhere else in the World
    Posts
    4,797
    Threads
    708
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Andreas has touched on some good points, and apart from the sharpening being on threshold level, you've done quite well granted conditions weren't optimal Rachel.

    Good to here that Tswalu care about genetic diversity and wish a similar policy implemented in Ngorongoro.

    TFS


  5. Thanks Rachel Hollander thanked for this post
  6. #4
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Somewhere in the world
    Posts
    20,551
    Threads
    1,285
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Rachel, I would look at a 10x8 so there is less on the LHS, thus giving more to the subject. The other issues have been covered in the above.

    TFS
    Steve

  7. Thanks Rachel Hollander thanked for this post
  8. #5
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    NYC
    Posts
    14,320
    Threads
    929
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Thanks guys, much appreciated.

  9. #6
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    14,858
    Threads
    1,235
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Some good points covered already, Rachel. Could it go a touch darker overall?
    I notice some blood on the mane. It's got a bit of a reddish tone but knowing the effect of red Kalahari sand and dust I am fine with that.
    Not much you can do with the BG in this one, I would suggest an inverted clarity brush in LR/ACR, easiest using the radial tool.
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


  10. Thanks Rachel Hollander thanked for this post
  11. #7
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Nagpur, India
    Posts
    3,837
    Threads
    245
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Rachel -- I love the big cat closeups and liked this one also . But I also with the above suggestions especially by Andreas , sharpening looks a bit strong to me also and not an ideal BG . You are always spot on with the whites though .

    TFS !

  12. Thanks Rachel Hollander thanked for this post
  13. #8
    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Cheshire UK
    Posts
    17,017
    Threads
    2,604
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    The lion looks great to me Rachel, lovely tones and clean whites. I would consider negative clarity or Viveza to destrutcture/desaturate and lower contrast on the background.

  14. Thanks Rachel Hollander thanked for this post
  15. #9
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    NYC
    Posts
    14,320
    Threads
    929
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Thanks Morkel, Haseeb and Jon, much appreciated.

  16. #10
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Location
    canada
    Posts
    27
    Threads
    7
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    beaitiful cat, love the sharpness and 1/3 positioning but find the highlights of the branches distracting as they are on the same tonal range as some areas on the lion. perhaps a graduated highlight reduction in lightroom?, a shallower fstop might have been nicer and thown the background out more, not sure what you can open up to with this lens/2x combo

  17. Thanks Rachel Hollander thanked for this post

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Web Analytics