Playful Elephant

[Morkel Erasmus]

I enjoyed watching this young African Elephant "play with its food" in the Kruger National Park recently. It had its trunk curled around the branch of a Mopani tree. We were quite close to this breeding herd (which can usually have aggressive matriarchs) at last light, so I framed tight with the 500mm and was happy with this perspective.

B&W just enhanced the textures, form of the trunk and the mood here - especially placing the emphasis on thAT tender eye.

Again, the image quality I am getting from the D3s is sublime...this was shot at ISO-6400 with very little grain.

Techs:
Nikon D3s with Nikkor 500mm f4 VR-II
f4.0 @ 1/1000 SS @ ISO-6400
Conversion done in Nik Silver Efex

[Harshad Barve]

Do you find any problems ( in terms of IQ or Noise ) if you under expose D3s at higher ISOs

This is awesome compo , loved the B & W too
TFS

[Morkel Erasmus]

Do you find any problems ( in terms of IQ or Noise ) if you under expose D3s at higher ISOs

I haven't worked on a photo where I did underexpose at high ISO...I've learnt from working with the 7D to always try and overexpose by +0.3 on high ISO, but on D3s I find +0.3 is often too much, so I mostly shoot on EV=0 and it works out fine.

loved the B & W too

So miracles do happen

[Harshad Barve]

I haven't worked on a photo where I did underexpose at high ISO...I've learnt from working with the 7D to always try and overexpose by +0.3 on high ISO, but on D3s I find +0.3 is often too much, so I mostly shoot on EV=0 and it works out fine.



So miracles do happen

Ya they do happen
You are very correct. On High ISO's D3/D3s delivers best IQ at 0 EV

[Brendon Cremer]

Great image and nice conversion.

[Robert Amoruso]

Nikon needs less exposure adjustment then Canon.

Nicely presented. I tried a Linear Contrast preset in PSCS5 Curves Adjustment and liked the affect Morkel.

[Rachel Hollander]

Morkel - I like the tight comp and the conversion. Well done. Glad you are enjoying the new camera.

TFS,
Rachel

[ramesh anantharaman]

The cute fellow has been Depicted really well here. Just love the contrasts here in B & W.

[Lorant Voros]

Very nice; love the composition and the B&W. All the lines nicely lead to the eye. Great work, Morkel.

Lorant

[Pieter de Waal]

I also like the tight crop and point of view. B&W works well and the leafy branch is a nice touch.

[Morkel Erasmus]

Thank you very much for all the kind feedback everyone!

Robert - indeed your tweak adds a subtle bit of punch without overdoing it...thanks!

[Marc Mol]

Echo the above comments here and love the expression in that eye on this youngster Morkel.
TFS

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Mork, excellent detail and texture captured on the ellie, with a lovely clear eye too. I do like your conversion. I have so many ellies from my recent trip, not sure sure where to start with them.

[Morkel Erasmus]

Thank you for viewing and commenting, Marc and Stu...