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Thread: Elephant Abstract

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Default Elephant Abstract

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    Something to add to the B&W discussion which was kicked off by Peter's rhino post this week.

    Let's have some honest discussion...
    1. Compositionally - does this work for you, or not? why?
    2. Conversion - good choice, bad choice? why?

    I will post the colour version as a subsequent post in the thread.

    We were spending time with a lone elephant bull in late afternoon light, in a clearing. I tried various shots to make the most of the scene.
    Full frame as shot except very slight crop from bottom, Madikwe Game Reserve, May 2010.
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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Colour version...
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  3. #3
    Ofer Levy
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    The B&W works better IMO. However, the crop doesn't work for me. Maybe a vertical with the whole trunk would be more effective.

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Morkel, to answer your main question, does it work, sadly not for me in two ways.

    Firstly the crop & secondly the dark bottom third, I find it jars too much with the rest of the content. If you were able to keep the same BG throughout I feel it might have given you a better backdrop to isolate the main part of the image.

    I find the 'toned' image just a little dark, but do like the richness of the image and think I know where you are going on this. The colour version certainly illustrates well the texture of both skin & tusk.

    Just a thought, but a tight pano vertical crop may also add another option.

    Not sure if this helps?
    Steve
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    Hi Morkel

    I think you me well enough by now that I will always give my honest opinion...
    I am afraid the image does not work for me either......

    TBH photographing of elephant body parts are really difficult to get right, its been done a lot , we have all tried our hand at it at some stage... so getting an unique perspective is very difficult..

    So first thing for me I have seen this perspective a lot, secondly the BKG needs to be uniform in both texture and tonal range so as not to detract from subject...the horizontal composition does not work maybe 1:1 or vertical
    the grass botttom RHS needs culling..

    the conversion is very subjective and my own personal view would be to lighten the trunk (red) and have a completely dark BKG , therefore the emphasis would be on the trunk/tusk...

    And I will reiterate what I have said before , just because it does not work in colour does not mean it will work in B&W...
    because we see B&W image in shades of grey , tonality,form ,texture are more prominent than when we shoot in colour...

    I would recommend for those who are really serious about b&W and have never shot B&W film or developed it a darkroom,if ever the opportunity presents itself..please consider it .. it really is an amazing and enriching experience, watching a latent image come alive before your eyes is magical..
    Last edited by peter delaney; 06-23-2011 at 05:31 AM. Reason: typo

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    Quote Originally Posted by peter delaney View Post
    Hi Morkel

    I think you me well enough by now that I will always give my honest opinion...
    I am afraid the image does not work for me either......

    TBH photographing of elephant body parts are really difficult to get right, its been done a lot , we have all tried our hand at it at some stage... so getting an unique perspective is very difficult..

    So first thing for me I have seen this perspective a lot, secondly the BKG needs to be uniform in both texture and tonal range so as not to detract from subject...the horizontal composition does not work maybe 1:1 or vertical
    the grass botttom RHS needs culling..

    the conversion is very subjective and my own personal view would be to lighten the trunk (red) and have a completely dark BKG , therefore the emphasis would be on the trunk/tusk...

    And I will reiterate what I have said before , just because it does not work in colour does not mean it will work in B&W...
    because we see B&W image in shades of grey , tonality,form ,texture are more prominent than when we shoot in colour...

    I would recommend for those who are really serious about b&W and have never shot B&W film or developed it a darkroom,if ever the opportunity presents itself..please consider it .. it really is an amazing and enriching experience, watching a latent image come alive before your eyes is magical..
    After such great explanation , I have to agree with Peter
    TFS

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    I am with the rest here Morkel, the shadow don't work for me unfortunately. TFS

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    Lifetime Member Marina Scarr's Avatar
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    I looked at this image and formed an opiion before reading the above critiques. My first impression was the crop didn't work for me but also the dark band at the bottom. It was interesting and educational to read Peter's critique. I do very much like all the texture in the trunk, the tusk and the hair. Agree the picture is overall too dark.
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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Thanks for the great feedback and discussion everyone.
    I liked the textures in both the colour and B&W versions, but wasn't too sure what bugged me about the composition. Your thoughts helped me to clarify that.

    Peter - always want your honest feedback! :)

    Steve - thanks for the mail, like what you did!
    Morkel Erasmus

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    I actually like the colour version, better colors, light and textures...I would try the portrait crop

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Morkel - for me the dark band at the bottom has a negative effect on both images and is just too strong for this comp to overcome.

    Thanks for promoting discussion,

    Rachel

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