Canon 40D
Lens: Canon 100-400
1/80
f/5.6
ISO 400
Taken early morning in Kruger Park near Punda Maria. Look forward to comments.
Canon 40D
Lens: Canon 100-400
1/80
f/5.6
ISO 400
Taken early morning in Kruger Park near Punda Maria. Look forward to comments.
Hi Pieter, a very impressive beast, an impressive image. The blade of grass in the mouth is a nice touch.
The fist key point is that it is quite blue, so you may wish to check you monitor and perhaps calibrate it if you haven't done so for a while. If you are using a laptop this link may also help you to.
http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...Strip-Tutorial
There is sharpness, but I might have suggested more DOF as the nose isn't quite sharp, but you were struggling for shutter speed so that was out of the question, but a good capture at 1/80sec.
I would suggest revisiting the file, here I have used Colour balance, Levels and some Selective colour via the Adjustment palette. Hope this helps, however would also suggest converting to B/W as it might be more powerful as an image in that medium and get around any colour issues you may have.
TFS
Steve
Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.
Good points by Steve above. Nice comp.
TFS,
Rachel
Hi Pieter, welcome here!
Nice beast, buffs don't always make 'beautiful' photos but they sure can give off an imposing stare/presence. I love the far northern region of Kruger, so good location!
I agree on the strong colour cast. On the laptop monitor I am viewing right now it appears to have a lot of magenta as well, even Steve's repost, but will have to view again at home to be sure.
Nicely framed though I would have liked the right ear (our LHS) to not be as close to the edge of the frame.
Steve; Rachel and Morkel
Your comments are much appreciated. I do seem to have a problem with the colour and it is quite possible that my laptop needs re-calibration which I will attend to ASAP.
Steve - following your suggestion to convert the image to B/W, I've done just that and it has worked well - thank you.
Regards
Pieter
Please to know Pieter, however I guess I was the first, as I am sure, if I hadn't someone else would have.
Look forward to the repost and good luck. Look forward to more postings soon.
Steve
Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.
Steve - here is the re-post in BW as per your suggestion. I did a straight conversion with no other adjustments.
Thank you
Pieter
Hi Pieter, how do you feel about the image now?
Personally I think you could go a bit more 'contrasty' to give it depth & punch, however B/W can be even more subjective than colour. Peter Delanay or Morkel are better perhaps to advise you on the direction here, but I would try and push a bit more. If you are using PS go to Image > Adjustment > Photo filters and have a play after going back to B/W and trying what effects the different slider have on the image, great fun and a learning curve too, like sepia at 25%.
Steve
Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.
Really appreciate your input, Steve. The higher contrast certainly improves the BW image and I have also played around with the Colour Balance and Photo Filter as you suggested. I have learnt quite a bit here
Many thanks
Pieter
Hi Pieter, I am very please to hear that, as it is a key factor on the Forum. Obviously using OP's to try an illustrate a point is difficult at times due to the fact that the file contains very little info to work with, but if it points you in the right direction, offers food for thought, or added more helping you along the way, then excellent. Sometimes it is easier to post along with some basic advice as it gives you hopefully a point of reference.I have learnt quite a bit here
cheers
Steve
Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.
Pieter, Steve did well to add some 'pop' to your B&W conversion.
Just to revert to earlier points...here's how I worked on the original colour version:
Saturation:
Took Magenta, Blue and Cyan channels down significantly
Pushed yellows and reds a bit up
Selective Color:
+5 blacks in BLACK and NEUTRAL channels.
What do you think?
Given my colour version might be a bit too 'bland' but wanted to show how much blue/cyan there actually was in the buffalo - it needs to be black right?
And here's my B&W take. Converted in Nik Silver Efex 2, played a bit with contrast and structure and then added a selenium toning.
Hi Morkel
Been out today and have just got back.
I wish that I could show this Buffalo what he should really look like![]()
But seriously, though, thank you very much for your input and assistance it is much appreciated. As I said to Steve - I am learning all the way.
We are going back to Punda/Shingwedzi next month and may come across the same herd again at Klopperfontein.
Pieter
Actually, it's telling your camera how it should record what the buffalo is actually looking like to the calibrated neutral person's eye.
Lucky you - due to the birth of our firstborn earlier this year I have not had a chance to visit Kruger or the Kgalagadi recently. Would love to head to Punda again!![]()