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Thread: The highlands

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    Default The highlands

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    During a recent trip to The Aberdares we visited the high alpine country where the grasses all grow in little tussocks making interesting graphic designs. Although it was midday, when this elephant walked into a clearing I thought it would make an interesting environmental image. However, in processing the contrast and strong light really lent itself (in my eye) to an almost tone drop out image but with the elephant not silhouetted I couldn't take it the whole way.
    So bottom line is this, I think I'm walking on shaky ground and don't know whether it works or not so will not be surprised at the comments, which ever way they go.

    The point of view is across a valley with the elephant on the side of a hill.
    7D; 100-400; ISO400; 1/400; f10

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Hilary, well it is good to experiment/try something new as we all need to occasionally test the water or look at things in a different way, manner or technique. I wonder if this may fall into a similar image where, what you see may not come through in the final image? I can understand why you thought the grasses could be quite a good backdrop, but for me it isn't really working as I don't find them that 'graphic' and I just wonder if they need to be a lot more contrasty, almost hard looking without any tone, just B/W, if that makes sense, just to give it another dimension. I am quite happy where the position of the elephant is, but it is walking away, albeit on a slight incline, but would like to see more detail/depth within it.

    So, does it work, sadly not for me Hilary, however I hope Peter D & Morkel add their thoughts too, with others, as they quite often see more within a B/W image.

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

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    Hi Steve, I think more contrast may work but as I said in my op, not really sure but willing to look at options. I'll try bumping it up and reposting. Thanks for the feedback.

    Perhaps I'll try toning it, but it may be the composition itself.

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    I like the textures and the idea...The grass is really different. Maybe if the elephant was at a different angle(more towards you maybe) to strenghthen it...Also maybe color would work better in this instance (Im not sure). Or maybe if the light was from a different angle...I can almost see what you are trying to create...Just my toughts
    Last edited by Dumay de Boulle; 05-27-2011 at 10:14 AM.

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    Hi Hilary

    I will be honest ... as I have often lamented to Morkel ... peolpe assume if an image does not work in colour or if the light is harsh then it will work in black and white...

    You need a tonal range as you are capturing a scene in tones of grey from white to black. Texture,form and shadows are equally important ... and as with any successful image you need a strong composition..

    with this image as you stated ...light is too harsh so because of that there is no detail in grasses and elephant.
    For me the composition is not strong , the crop, placement of elephant ,the angle/line the elephant is taking...

    the scene does not speak to me or move me in any way...

    This is just one persons opinion others may differ , you may like it.. and feel its worth pursuing.. I commend you for that..

    hope you do not think I am being too harsh.. I just say it as I see it..

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    Thanks guys, no I don't think you're being harsh Peter at all. I remember when I saw the grass that I thought what an interesting picture it could make but I agree with the critiques I have here. I suppose there was a part of me that thought that someone may have a bright idea on how to make it work better but the angle of the elephant is only one thing that doesn't really work the more I look at it.

    I think experience will let me assess my own images better myself but for now I find I need other eyes to see what I'm blinded to in my own images.

    Appreciate the comments.

    Btw Peter I agree totally with your comment re b&w but just want to say that I took this with the intention of it always being b&w, but it just didn't work ... this time.

  7. #7
    Ofer Levy
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    Hi Hilary,
    Just downloaded Silver Efex Pro 2 by Nik Software and made this version which I think works quite nicely..
    What do you think?

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    a bit late to the party Hilary but agree with Peter and Steve on this one...(I do mostly agree with Peter's views on "why and when" B&W images should be made, but I also often veer from that and experiment anyway because I'm just like that ).

    I think Ofer's repost has a bit more "merit" than your initial conversion, simply because in this case it feels more like an "ancient" photo that a photographer in the 1920s would have taken of an elephant walking by on a distant grassy hill, wanting to capture it in the only way they could...making sense?
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    Thanks Ofer for taking the trouble to repost. I had thought about the antique Nik filter but I tend to only use that setting occasionally because it appears so obvious what processing has been used. Not that I haven't used it many times, I just use it for specific projects. But all the same, it looked quite nice and if I supplied a half decent comp to work with it would have been a ripper.

    Morkel, Peter is a bit of a guru for sure. Thanks for commenting.

    I think one of the interesting things I'm trying to learn is to self analyse my images as well as I feel I can analyse others. Presenting fewer images is a start but making stricter guidelines to what I post. Having said that, sometimes it is worth posting something because you just don't know and other opinions really are needed. Thank you everyone.

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    Great learning thread this is
    TFS

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