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Thread: Aardvark

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Default Aardvark

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    It has been a while since I posted an image from my aardvark sighting at Tswalu. So here's one. Taken as we followed the aardvark on foot just before sunset.

    Canon 5D3
    100-400 II @ 400mm
    1/350
    f5.6
    ISO 1600
    HH on foot, cropped for comp, levels, curves, color adjustments including dropping the yellows, sharpened in PSCC.

    C&C welcome and appreciated. Thanks,

    Rachel

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    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
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    I bet that was quite an experience on foot. Well caught - good focus, I like the in habitat presentation.
    I appreciate this was late in the day and the light was not your best friend- and you have lowered the yellows but I wondered if the image was a little on the yellow side? Maybe lowering the luminance on the yellows would help with highlights as well as the yellow. I think I would crop about 2cm from the base.
    Last edited by Jonathan Ashton; 12-23-2016 at 09:35 AM.

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    Rachel agree with Jon maybe a little bit off the bottom,I think you have done very well with this looking at the light you were dealing with.Strange looking animal i would love to see.

    Keith.

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Hi Rachel oh i love these creatures we do not get very often to see .
    You have been very lucky to see and photograph them .Lovely golden light and the fact that you show parts of the habitat adds to the image . Love the red sand of that area .Comp works well but would also loose some of the bottom .
    Very nice image . TFS Andreas

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    Hi Rachel -- Always a pleasure to see these creatures , i too liked the way you have included the habitat . Yellow's not a problem with me , I liked it in this scene but agree on cropping out a bit from the bottom of the frame .

    TFS !

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Excellent encounter and good you had the head almost clear, but ensured the eye was free of debris.

    Agree with Jon on the Yellows, but to me it has the appearance of a Lumini mask adj (or Exp/Highlights darkening adj) to try and also correct the highlights in the LH grass, thus boosting the colour in its intensity. I might be tempted to loose about an inch of the FG, just where the green starts???

    TFS
    Steve

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Thanks all. I'll take a look at the suggested crop. No lumo mask or exp/hl. I think I did burn the HLs in the grass on the left with the burn tool just so they wouldn't draw the eye from the aardvark.

    I forgot to say that apparently this aardvark had some disease or condition affecting its fur and skin. It is most evident in the ears which would normally be covered by fur.

    Thanks again,
    Rachel

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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    It's very special just to see an Aardvark, let alone one in such sweet light as this.

    Personally wouldn't touch anything on this apart from a little less off the bottom.

    All the best for this festive season Rachel


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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Thanks Marc and a very happy holiday season to you as well.

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

    Merry Christmas to you, I hope you had a wonderful day:)
    I am delighted with this frame. Having taken images in similar strong, golden light in the Kalahari, I remember my subjects looking reddish in colour, more or less like your Aardvark here. IMO the colours are as close to reality as can be.

    The composition is pleasing, although I am inclined to agree with the above - a little less at the bottom would benefit the frame.

    How cute this little fellow is, love to see him sniffling around for food in daylight! That glistening dark eye is just gorgeous. Very special sighting and your patience paid off, as well as the long walk:)

    I will be back to see more, if you have. Planning to spend some time on BPN and catch up with all I have missed, taking advantage of a few public holidays after New Year's Eve.

    Thank you for sharing, Rachel - as always, a pleasure to view.

    Warmest regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    As said - just seeing this animal is in many ways a once in a lifetime treat.....getting a quality image of one is just WOW WOW WOW !!!!

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Thanks Gabriela and Basil. Happy Holidays!

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Great experience, sighting and a proper image to put in the portfolio.
    I agree with Marc, only shave a little off the bottom and save it!
    Morkel Erasmus

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