Black rhino profile

[Hilary Hann]

Taken back in 2005 at Sweetwaters (part of Ol Pejeta), Laikipia, Kenya. This male black rhino was rescued from Amboseli NP and sent to Ol Pejeta where he was involved in a fight with another male rhino and almost killed. He lived out his days separated from the other rhinos in a 100 acre fenced area with other wild animals but no other rhinos. He had been emasculated and was unable to protect himself from the territorial males. Visitors (some members here maybe visited him?) were able to walk through the bush with a guide to see him and although a wild rhino, he became quite habituated. The walk could take 10 mins or half an hour depending on where he was browsing and the guides had a special way of talking to him so that he knew friends were approaching. Still, a black rhino is a black rhino and it is always best to be cautious. Needless to say, getting close to him, feeding him some croton bush and scratching behind his ears, which he like a lot, was a blissful experience. Sadly he has since died.
Taken with my disastrous 75-300mm lens (90% of images taken with it were slightly soft, not having a laptop with me made it impossible to pick this up :( ).
Canon 20D; 75-300 @ 75mm; f5.6; 1/200; ISO 400
Overcast day, some rain. Should I clone out the out of focus leaves on the rhs?

[Steve Kaluski]

Irrespective of using your 'disastrous' lens, you have captured a nice side profile of this great guy showing some great characteristics. I like detail and and set against the BG shows of the features well. As you say, the image isn't pin sharp and I might be tempted to drop the Cyan in Colour balance and some Saturation, as there are some colour casts within the image. Personally I feel there is too much dead space behind the head, as the real feature is 'the head' and those magnificent horns, therefore perhaps an alternative crop ie portrait might work better? If you have any more room above great, this would avoid any 'cloning' of the leaves to the rhs.

TFS
Steve :)

[Hilary Hann]

Thanks Steve and interesting points. I'm not at my computer so can't check space but know I cropped a little off the LHS but this would be nearly full frame.

Vertical is a nice perspective but you do lose that strong shoulder so I guess I could go either way. I could go square (sorry, only teasing! :) ).

[Harshad Barve]

I liked the profile of this guy , excellent details and agreed about color cast
TFS

[Alfred Forns]

Compelling part is the head so I like the tighter shot !! ... good color balance also !!

A keeper in my book Hilary !! Can't imagine being that close to a wild black rhino !!!

[Hilary Hann]

Thanks Harshad and Al. This was one special rhino.

[Steve Canuel]

I agree with a tighter crop on the head but I'd keep more of your original aspect (just behind the far ear, below the chin, and above the horn). For me, it would show the linear shape of the head while showcasing those horns.

[Hilary Hann]

Thanks for the suggestion Steve. I'll experiment with a couple of different crops and see which appeals most.