Lone Bull

[Hilary Hann]

When we saw this elephant early one morning I saw my first opportunity to photograph with black and white in mind. Although I had the sort of image in my mind that I wanted to create, I don't think I quite have it here, but it is a start and I have a number of frames to work on with this boy. Not sure if I've made it as warm as I wanted.
One interesting observation with this bull is the amount of wear on his left tusk which he uses as his primary tool. C&C welcome.
5Dmk2; 24-105 @ 60mm; ISO400; f9; 1/250. Nik silver for the b&w conversion, slight sepia filter in PS.

[Grant Atkinson]

Hi Hilary, well you picked a good specimen with nice tusks, the hills drawing into the distance give depth. Like the elephants pose, relaxed, also the texture of his skin, and the shadown beneath his ear flap. Just a thought, but do you have any where the elephant and the main cloud bank are not so close together and maybe some more space on top and lhs?
cheers
Grant

[Hilary Hann]

Thanks Grant, yes I have a variety of shots from different angles so will go back and re select. I have more space around this one as well so can do a different crop.

[Harshad Barve]

You know how much I love B & W images but this works for me , BTW I am loving tight frame here
TFS

[Grant Atkinson]

hi Hilary, it will be interesting to see the different viewpoints on the crop as they come in...don't be in a rush to repost yet
It is one each for tight crop versus wider so far
cheers
Grant

[DanWalters]

Really like the tone and the clouds in the background.

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Hilary, conversion to B/W was a good choice and although am viewing on the MacBook, the colour looks good, but will take another look next week when I am back home. Personally I would like to see more of a head turn towards you and also go for a wider POV.

Would be good to get Peter D's thoughts, considering how many 'big old units' he has photographed. Do I detect a hint of Nick Brant coming through?

BTW did you leave it as an sRGB file rather than a Greyscale?

TFS
Steve

[Chris Korman]

I really like the texture on the animal, to me this is what I feel the scene is about, perhaps a tighter cropping, though I might change my mind about that especially since the shadow will start to be encroached on.

[Morkel Erasmus]

this is classy Hilary...excellent POV, texture, tonal range and depth...has a very "ancient" feel to it, as if it is a relic of the first photos taken in the Africa people like Hemingway described...

[Brendan Dozier]

Nice image and comp, Hilary. Love the B&W with sepia, and the texture is wondeful.

[Hilary Hann]

You know how much I love B & W images

I thought I'd sneak it in before you returned from Tanzania!!

Personally I would like to see more of a head turn towards you and also go for a wider POV.

Do I detect a hint of Nick Brant coming through?

BTW did you leave it as an sRGB file rather than a Greyscale?

Agree on head position, not sure what other head angles I have. Nick who???
Yes, left as sRGB.

... though I might change my mind about that especially since the shadow will start to be encroached on.

I was quite conscious of the shadow and didn't want to clip it, but take your point.

Thanks Dan, Morkel and Brendan, appreciate the comments.

[Sid Garige]

Very nice image Hilary. Like the b&W color tones.

[Dumay de Boulle]

This is fantastic...The conversion and textures are amazing here Hillary

[Hilary Hann]

Thanks Sid and Dumay,

[Rachel Hollander]

Hilary - really like the conversion and feel of this, although my first impression was the same as Grant's. I wished for a bit more separation from the clouds and a little more room above. I like the shadow as well.

TFS,
Rachel

[peter delaney]

Hi Hiary

Lovely tusker, have to agree with Grants first observation, you really needed separation and maybe a different angle if it was possible to get the clouds to cover all of image. As the image feels unbalanced.

regarding conversion think the sepia works well , but u seem to have burnt the LHS more than RHS.. so again adds to to unbalance feel.

I also think flipping the image might make for a stronger comp... just my 2 cents...
must have been awesome experience to have been so close to this big tusker

looking forward to more
peter

[Hilary Hann]

Thanks Rachel and Peter.