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Thread: Sally Lightfoot

  1. #1
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Default Sally Lightfoot

    Another image I revisited. Taken on my trip to the Galapagos in 2009 on Fernandina Island.

    Canon XT (after the 50D motherboard had a short circuit)
    100-400 @ 400mm
    1/400
    f7.1
    ISO 400
    HH, cropped from lhs and top for comp, s/h, contrast boost, selective sharpening and NR in CS5.

    C&C welcome and appreciated. Thanks,

    Rachel

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Rachel, just love these guys, they are so colourful and set against the dark volcanic rock are absolutely stunning. It is amazing to see them all come out as the tide turns and they begin to filter, feed.

    Like the Iguanas, I personally found that to get any real depth you needed to be at around f/11, or at times f/22, as the DOF tails of quite quickly, not ideal with the sea lapping around your knees. Not knowing the camera sadly to me the IQ isn't quite there, as it does look quite noisy/grainy overall. Although these guys are very brightly coloured I have found Rachel that again, dropping the Red & Yellow in Saturation can bring more detail through, but still retaining the colour as the saturation chokes the detail.

    Saying all that I like the comp and the bent arm as it feeds. Great memories.

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

  3. #3
    Brendan Dozier
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    Amazing looking creatures, love the pose, bright coloring, and up-close low angle. Steve makes some good suggestions, but nicely done, Rachel.

    You seem to have gone on quite a few photo trips and safaris and wanted to get your opinion about the quality of the photo tours out there, especially in Africa. What things should one look for in a good instructional tour, and what should you avoid? Realize there are a lot of variables, but just looking to get a general idea. Thanks.

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    Rachel...like the low angle and up close approach. But the reds are blown out and image quality may have suffered if this is a large crop

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    You seem to have gone on quite a few photo trips and safaris and wanted to get your opinion about the quality of the photo tours out there, especially in Africa. What things should one look for in a good instructional tour, and what should you avoid? Realize there are a lot of variables, but just looking to get a general idea. Thanks.
    Brendan although going off topic here, sorry Rachel:
    - what do you want to achieve & in what areas do you want to improve in?
    - this could dictate in your choice of location
    - ultimately budget
    - traveling distance, this can shorten your time
    - etc, etc, etc

    Suggest you perhaps post this in General, where you can hopefully get more feedback and make your choices. Happy to chip in if required later.

    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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    I love the DOF (works well with the head in focus and legs fading away) and the colors are incredible. Love the contrast between the subject and BG. I really like this

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    I quite like this Rachel...agree with Steve on the IQ not being up there with your best but it still looks good to my eye, agree on the saturation too - would bring out a tad more detail if selectively reduced.

    A place I would love to visit one day - please post more!
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Thanks for all the comments and suggestions, much appreciated. This wasn't a huge crop, I think we've just come so far since the XT that we're used to much better IQ.

    Here's a repost in which I decreased the saturation of the reds (-10) and the yellows (-8). I also ran another round of NR on the bg only. Please let me know if this addresses some of the issues.

    Brendan - no problem going off topic but Steve's right that you'll probably get more helpful info if you post in the General forum. My trips have been a combination of photography oriented tours and regular tours/trips, although my Africa trips to date have not been specifically photography tours or workshops. I have found that the amount of instruction varies widely on workshops/tours so it is important to ask whether it is an instructional tour or more about getting you to the right place at the right time. If instructional, ask about the amount, level and type of instruction offered (in the field, pp, etc). Lots of the pros on here lead tours and others live in Africa including people who are guides (Grant with Wilderness Safaris comes to mind) or manage lodges (Dumay Boulle and Ken Dyball), so there's a wealth of resources on here, not to mention the many members who regularly travel to Africa.

    Thanks,

    Rachel

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    It's getting there Rachel, but I think it is just down to the original file sadly.

    Looking at it again, the blacks are quite strong, if you go to Levels and move the middle slider to the left say 1.12 (optional, your call) and apply this to the crab only, it does also help I think. Another round of select USM also wouldn't hurt I think.

    Check your email rather than another repost.

    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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    I liked the creature and image
    TFS

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