Young Waterbuck Male ( Kruger National Park)

[Gabriela Plesea]

Dear Friends,

My companion and I were hoping to encounter a variety of antelopes during our trip to Kruger Park but unfortunately we saw no sable, no tsessebe and no roan...We did come across a number of waterbuck and pleased to say they were a little more cooperative than usual, so here is one of them.
Image taken late afternoon around 17:30.Tried to avoid the dark vegetation in the BG (behind the subject's head) but as soon as we moved the subject moved too

This is almost FF, cropped a tiny bit from the LHS and bottom.

Techs as follows:

Nikon D4
Nikon 300F2.8
ISO 1600
F3.5
1/3 EV
1/1600s

Many thanks for viewing and comments on my previous images. Critique welcome, as well as RP's

Hope you have a wonderful week ahead,

Kind regards,

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Gabriela, interesting to see the same facing viewing, but not sadly commenting...

Overall nicely framed and I can appreciate the frustration when you move and the subject moves at the same time too, then stops. I like the overall warm/golden tones and the subject placement looking at you. Interesting, why f/3.5???? I do feel the shallow DoF has limited you rendering the thick coarse fur, but perhaps a little more sharpening, hard to say against seeing the raw. personally I think you can get a little more separation within LR tools and ging a fraction warmer with Vibrance/HLS here.

Looking forward to seeing more from the trip. I trust Passepartout took his camera too, tell him to post something, Ill lookout for it.

TFS
Steve

[Gabriela Plesea]

Hello Steve!

Happy to hear from you, thank you so much for finding the time to look and give me some advice.

F3.5, err...took a quick first shot before subject moved, have others at 6.3 I think, but by that time subject moved one ear and looks awkward (only one ear visible).

Will try apply a tad more sharpening here, and I have another version where I added some warmth especially around the waterbuck's belly and chest enhancing that 'glow' - wasn't sure if it was too much though. Let me have another look and see what I can do!

Shall speak to Carl, of course he had his camera with but don't think he had a chance to look at his images yet. Not sure he managed to process much from our May trip either

Will drop you a mail tonight, at work now and on my laptop, cannot quite concentrate with all the buzz around me LOL.

Warmest regards,

[Jonathan Ashton]

I like it, the buck appears to be quite a tan colour, as I recall most I had seen were darker. I quite like the separation of subject and surroundings though the coast does appear a little short on detail.

[Gabriela Plesea]

Thank you so much Jon!

Waterbuck colour varies from grey to brown. Saw a few youngsters this time as well, but mostly hiding behind the mothers. They occur in great numbers in my area and in St Lucia Wetlands Park I once saw a herd of about thirty. They are dependant on water.
Busy with an RP, let us see if I can make some subtle changes

[Gabriela Plesea]

Here is an RP

[Jonathan Ashton]

I like the repost - very eye catching. Pleasing colours and the detail is better in the coat.

[Steve Kaluski]

Now there you go Gabriela, well done.

[Gabriela Plesea]

Thank you so much dear Steve and Jon

[John Mack]

Nice view of this little waterbuck. I like the nice golden rim light on the buck. Nice to see an open setting. Framing is spot on.

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Gabriela ... gorgeous light , some sort of rim light and I do love the warmth .
Typical WB pose that you have captured nicely .
RP does look better

TFS Andreas

[Gabriela Plesea]

Thank you so much Andreas, glad you like it