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Thread: Regal

  1. #1
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Default Regal

    Taken in the Timbavati Game Reserve, South Africa in August 2009.

    Canon 50D
    100-400 @ 235mm
    1/250
    f5.6
    ISO 400
    HH from safari vehicle, selective s/h in the nose and mouth area, levels adjustment and sharpened in CS5.

    C&C welcome and appreciated. Thanks,

    Rachel

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    Lifetime Member Jay Gould's Avatar
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    Very Regal!!

    If it were mine I would remove the black long twig and off-shoots coming out of his chin. Staring into his eyes my right eye is drawn to the black line.
    Cheers, Jay

    My Digital Art - "Nature Interpreted" - can now be view at http://www.luvntravlnphotography.com

    "Nature Interpreted" - Photography begins with your mind and eyes, and ends with an image representing your vision and your reality of the captured scene; photography exceeds the camera sensor's limitations. Capturing and Processing landscapes and seascapes allows me to express my vision and reality of Nature.

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    Great image, ditto Jay on the twigs. Do you by any chance have more room on top to fit in all the mane? if not it might be an idea to crop in a little from the bottom to focus more on the face

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Thanks Jay and Brendon for the comments, much appreciated. Unfortunately no more room above.

    Thanks again,
    Rachel

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Rachel, certainly looks an old Gentleman.

    Would suggest;
    - Pull back a bit of Contrast in brightness/Contrast
    - Brightness 4%
    - Clone out black twig ie as per Jay's comment

    You will know what I mean.

    Let me know how you do.

    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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    BPN Viewer Steve Canuel's Avatar
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    Good title for this one Rachel. I'd also remove those darker twigs but I like this one a little dark (as posted) and how it shows off the rich colors.

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    Wonderful details in the face and the mane, and rich colors! I am always a little envious of those of you with lion images like this . I have been to Africa but have not had the priviledge of lions near the safari vehicle.

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Thanks Steve, Steve and Nancy for the comments and suggestions. Here's a repost with the twigs cloned out and Steve K's suggested changes. Please let me know what you think.

    Nancy - Have you gone to places where off-road is permitted for the Big 5 (sometimes Big 7 -adding wild dog and cheetah to the list)? It makes all the difference for getting close-ups but it does have to be done responsibly.

    Thanks again,

    Rachel
    Last edited by Rachel Hollander; 07-15-2011 at 04:57 PM. Reason: wrong attachment

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    Lifetime Member Jay Gould's Avatar
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    Hi Rachael, what method did you use to remove the twig? It seems like some of the grass detail has been lost where the twig was located?
    Cheers, Jay

    My Digital Art - "Nature Interpreted" - can now be view at http://www.luvntravlnphotography.com

    "Nature Interpreted" - Photography begins with your mind and eyes, and ends with an image representing your vision and your reality of the captured scene; photography exceeds the camera sensor's limitations. Capturing and Processing landscapes and seascapes allows me to express my vision and reality of Nature.

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Jay - I cloned them out and it may be that I took a little too much out. There were more horizontal twigs that seemed to be floating after the others were removed and it may have had the effect of removing detail.

    Thanks,
    Rachel

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    Lifetime Member Jay Gould's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Rachel Hollander View Post
    Jay - I cloned them out and it may be that I took a little too much out. There were more horizontal twigs that seemed to be floating after the others were removed and it may have had the effect of removing detail.

    Thanks,
    Rachel

    Rachael, instead of using the Clone Tool, try the Band Aid tool brush (J) very small and set for Content Aware. Just draw a line over the twigs slights wider than the twig and they will disappear!

    I did this quickly; I also removed the grass in the mane and the dark spot in the URHS (this is done by using the Lasso (L), then Shift F5 to open the Fill, again use Content Aware - hope you don't mind.
    Cheers, Jay

    My Digital Art - "Nature Interpreted" - can now be view at http://www.luvntravlnphotography.com

    "Nature Interpreted" - Photography begins with your mind and eyes, and ends with an image representing your vision and your reality of the captured scene; photography exceeds the camera sensor's limitations. Capturing and Processing landscapes and seascapes allows me to express my vision and reality of Nature.

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Thanks Jay, I never mind a repost and a good lesson too. But the sort of cross-hatch of twigs that remains I now find distracting so I removed them. It's funny the twigs bothered me a bit too but not as much as these that sort of appear to be floating.:eek:

    Thanks again,
    Rachel

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    Lifetime Member Jay Gould's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Rachel Hollander View Post
    Thanks Jay, I never mind a repost and a good lesson too. But the sort of cross-hatch of twigs that remains I now find distracting so I removed them. It's funny the twigs bothered me a bit too but not as much as these that sort of appear to be floating.:eek:

    Thanks again,
    Rachel

    Cool!! Just remove one line at a time with Band Aid tool until you are happy.
    Cheers, Jay

    My Digital Art - "Nature Interpreted" - can now be view at http://www.luvntravlnphotography.com

    "Nature Interpreted" - Photography begins with your mind and eyes, and ends with an image representing your vision and your reality of the captured scene; photography exceeds the camera sensor's limitations. Capturing and Processing landscapes and seascapes allows me to express my vision and reality of Nature.

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    "Nancy - Have you gone to places where off-road is permitted for the Big 5 (sometimes Big 7 -adding wild dog and cheetah to the list)? It makes all the difference for getting close-ups but it does have to be done responsibly."

    No, but next time I will inquire before I sign up. Would also love wild dog! I will check out the Timbavati Game Reserve. Thanks for the advice.

    What about selectively reducing the color/brightness in the BKGD and maybe try a bit of blur to reduce that swirly floating twig look?

  15. #15
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Nancy - I'll take a look at some blur though I don't mind the grass, it is what was there afterall, but I understand the bokeh could be better.

    I saw wild dog in the Sabi Sands but I understand sightings are generally more frequent in places in Botswana (though I didn't see any on my trip there). Grant Atkinson would be a good person to ask for info, he guides in Botswana and the wild dogs are one of his favorite subjects.

    Thanks,
    Rachel

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Late here Rachel...nice portrait with some good amendments made thus far. To my eyes it still looks a touch 'flat' and also not as sharp as I would expect it to be...might only need one round of slight sharpening here.

    Here is one more repost - I used your last repost for reference.
    Just added a slight moost in midtone levels, and a 10% warming filter. Then sharpened the entire head 2 rounds (Smart Sharpen, 125%, 0.2px) and then once more just for the face.

    WDYT?
    Last edited by Morkel Erasmus; 07-17-2011 at 12:56 PM.
    Morkel Erasmus

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  17. #17
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Thanks Morkel, it looks good.

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