Results 1 to 20 of 20

Thread: Gentle Giant Statue

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

    Default Gentle Giant Statue

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Created this image in the quieter northern sector of Kruger in December.

    Just liked the pose and the colour contrast of this old bull who had been dusting/mudding himself and was standing in gloomy overcast/drizzling weather against the lush greens of a wilderness that had not seen that much rain in a long time.

    All comments most welcome as always...

    Techs:
    Nikon D300s with Nikkor 200-400mm f4 VR @ 200mm
    f4.0 @ 1/1250 SS @ ISO-400
    Exp +0.3
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


  2. #2
    Ken Watkins
    Guest

    Default

    A very nice looking elephant, the colourd are a bit too strong for my taste, but the principle problem I have is with the tree above his head.

  3. #3
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    14,858
    Threads
    1,235
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    thanks Ken. no saturation applied here. colours really were that vivid. I know the tree will bother some, but the bushveld is not the Kalahari so you have to deal with trees all around you :) I actually feel the tree gives it a 3D feel.
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


  4. #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

    I think the colour tone of the elephant is probably about right, however, I might suggest a slight tweak in curves just to lighten him a bit, plus a hint in selective colour, as there is still detail in there that adds to this 'Big old unit' and, the image. Is he too central, well I like these guys on their own as depicted, you just get the whole feeling of them, plus the trunk is 'doing something' which is a nice touch. Agree with Morkel, there will be some that find the tree distracting, others, like me, do not and this is an image of a great beast, in habitat/environment setting, so for me, the tree stays in. A good 'stock' shot for me.

    Steve :)
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

  5. #5
    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

    Agree with all that Steve has touched on, just love the colour on this old guy, good use of the overcast conditions Morkel, really enhancing nicely.
    TFS


  6. #6
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Cody, WY
    Posts
    2,491
    Threads
    428
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Man, I too saw some huge bulls in the Northern Kruger. I Like the placement of the bull here, it works for this image. The sky would have been troublesome but you dealt with it fine. You make me want to come back, its been a few years since I've been to SA....

  7. #7
    Robert Amoruso
    Guest

    Default

    The headon view is quite powerful. Though I would have preferred not to have the tree in the BG, you can clone out that OOF plant in the FG.

  8. #8
    Alfred Forns
    Guest

    Default

    I'm fine with the tree and think it adds to the image, would tone down the green saturation, understand it was probably like that but does look strong !!

    Did well with the settings and got lots of detail on the elephant !!!

  9. #9
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    California
    Posts
    459
    Threads
    54
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Beautifully done, Morkel ! I would take that tree in the BG anyday than have bland/empty sky behind him, it's the habitat !! You chose a nice frame with the ears fanned out, nice colors and sharpness too !

    Well done !

  10. #10
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    14,858
    Threads
    1,235
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    thanks for the kind feedback Kiran, Al, Robert, Dale, Steve & Marc...

    I will certainly keep the tree, but here is a repost with the front bush done away with and the saturation on green and yellow channels dropped substantially. I am trying to refrain from cloning too much these days, so this is just an indulgement - I'll stick to the original for now :)
    Last edited by Morkel Erasmus; 03-10-2010 at 03:33 PM.
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


  11. #11
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Posts
    1,000
    Threads
    84
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Superb image Morkel. Love the colors here and head on view.

  12. #12
    Callie de Wet
    Guest

    Default

    Hi Morkel, the 1st thing that caught my eye was the skin detail. You nailed and PP this very well. A lot of the comments are subjective IMO, I have seen Kruger greener that what you depict here. The overcast nails the colours also a bit truer than in the normal harsh light one encounter there. Mooi Man!

  13. #13
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    14,858
    Threads
    1,235
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    thank you Danny & Callie...
    :)
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


  14. #14
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Mountain West
    Posts
    670
    Threads
    122
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Morkel... a strong, powerful image in my opinion, and I love the head-on capture. I like the environment shown, including the tree, etc. Nice image!

  15. #15
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    14,858
    Threads
    1,235
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    thanks John...
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


  16. #16
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Merseyside, UK
    Posts
    857
    Threads
    132
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Repost does it Morkel. What a great character you found.

    Well done.

    Austin

  17. #17
    Danny J Brown
    Guest

    Default

    Fantastic shot, Morkel. Also, I think the tree looks great in the background.

  18. #18
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    14,858
    Threads
    1,235
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    thanks Danny & Austin!
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


  19. #19
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Bangalore
    Posts
    105
    Threads
    34
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    WOW what a huge guy , the speciman itself makes this image a winner for me . TFS

  20. #20
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    14,858
    Threads
    1,235
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    appreciate it, Vinay!
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


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