Backlit Big Bear

[Rachel Hollander]

I thought I would get in one more backlit bear before January's theme comes to a close. This is one of the sows. Again, how much detail to include is a matter of personal taste. Here I went with a little less than my last backlit post but not a dark silhouette.

Canon 5D3
100-400 II @ 400mm
1/4000 (again to underexpose and emphasize the rim light)
f5.6
ISO 800
HH, small crop from top and rhs for comp, levels, curves, sharpened in PSCC.

C&C welcome and appreciated. Thanks,

Rachel

P.S. Don't forget to get your images for February's theme ready - images of multiple animals of the same species.

[haseeb badar]

HI Rachel -- This is indeed spectacular , i loved the rim lighting and the size of the Bear . I would have liked some more space at the foot and at the same time coming down from the top. Would liked some more sharpening , but still works as presented . TFS !

[Mike Poole]

I think this one has potential, but the tones look un-natural to me. I think the bear could do with darkening and the golden rim accentuating even more, as i don't think there is enough detail available in the face for it to be so light.

As you say, all personal taste on a shot like this, I just think theres a better version waiting to come out

Mike

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks Haseeb and Mike. Mike - this was a much lighter toned bear (even lighter than Jon's recent posting). Haseeb - I'll look at the sharpening.

Thanks again,
Rachel

[Glenn Pure]

Rachel, I think this one has a lot of potential but not quite working for me at the moment. I love the pose, framing and simple background and foreground which create a great composition and the backlighting is excellent and a great fit to the theme. The issue for me is that overall the image looks a bit flat. I'm sure that by playing around with the tonal rendering on the bear, background and rim light, this could be lifted significantly but I don't have specific recommendations. I'd sit with it and try a few different changes to brightness, contrast, midtone contrast, curves of those three components to see what came of it - but recognising that you may have already done this and happy to sit where this image is now. Your call. RE sharpness, it looks fine on my screen but would be interested to know if others see an issue as I may be missing something.

[John Mack]

The back lighting really shows of the light color of the fur. The bear really stands out against the dark green background.

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

I love the gradation in the BG and the bear's obvious movement. This works fine for me.
Maybe trim off the top, just under the signature. That would remove the funny OOF bits in the ULC. But it is not a deal breaker.

TFS

[Steve Kaluski]

I think my thoughts are still the same on these backlit Bears Rachel, this for me just looks muddy in terms of colour. I also feels it's too tight at the foot, moving the whole frame down would have been better.

TFS
Steve