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Thread: Grumpy Cape Buff

  1. #1
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Default Grumpy Cape Buff

    Haven't seen a lot of these posted. Taken in the Timbavati Game Reserve, South Africa. The light was already somewhat harsh.

    Canon 50D
    100-400 @ 285mm
    1/250
    f5.6
    ISO 200
    HH from safari vehicle. slight crop to move buff off center, slight surface blur applied to bg

    C&C welcome and appreciated.

    Thanks,
    Rachel

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    Great pose...Im sure you have heard the saying "Buffalo look at you like you owe them money"...Thats what this reminds me of. Light is harsh but well handled!

  3. #3
    Robert Amoruso
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    Rachel,

    I agree with the Grumpy moniker and like Dumay's description of him.

    Full light on the face makes the high-contrast forgiving. One thing you can try is a reverse s-curve to lower the contrast some. I like the bright BG.

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    Fascinating. He looks like he's got stories to tell. I keep staring at the horns, there is alot of interesting detail that is getting a bit lost by the brightness. I would experiment with the processing and see if it's possible to bring it out more.

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    That fellow has some character. Did you blur just around the horns? That dark patch attracts attention. Thanks for sharing.

    Cheers,
    Sabyasachi

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    BPN Viewer Pieter de Waal's Avatar
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    Nice head shot with that typical Buff expression. Love the detail on the nose and ears. Good suggestions made re the light conditions.

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    some good suggestions above

    Dumay - love your description, spot on

    Rachel, where exactly did you blur? It looks quite naturally done, hence my asking
    Morkel Erasmus

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  8. #8
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Thanks everyone for the kind comments. Here's a repost applying a slight reverse S curves adjustment. Please let me know what you think. I'm never sure if it is enough.

    Sabyasachi - I think the dark area behind the horns may be part of another buffalo directly behind him but I'm not sure.

    Morkel - Most of the blur was in camera but it was still a bit of a busy bg so I selected the buff, inverted the selection and then applied a slight surface blur. Glad you think it still looks natural.

    Thanks again,
    Rachel

  9. #9
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Certainly one mean beast this Rachel and weighing in at over two tons these lone bulls can be incredibly aggressive and hostile.

    Personally I prefer the OP, although viewing on the laptop, I think it looks almost spot on with detail and colour, but might review when I am back next week. Personally getting the OOF BG right in camera is the way to go, additional blurring I feel can look false and also makes you lazy a hint of NR I think would do the trick on the OP IMHO. Ever thought of going B/W on this or even a Duo tone?

    Well done, how are you doing with CS5?

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

  10. #10
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Thanks Steve. Having fun experimenting with CS5 and getting the basics down.

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