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Thread: Lioness rimlight

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    Default Lioness rimlight

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    I was the first to leave camp and headed north. At Kwang pan I came across these two lionesses who were enjoying the first rays of morning sunlight. I tried to get them against a black background, this was the best I could do and the dust from the lioness on the right just adds atmosphere to the image. Any comments and solutions most welcome.
    Camera details:
    Canon EOS 1Ds MkII
    EF 500mm f4 LUIS
    Aperture: f4
    Shutter speed: 1/4000
    ISO: 400
    Exp reduction: -2
    Processing in ACR and CS5

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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Really like the idea here Mark, I'd try and increase the exposure just a little to gain some more definition, especially for the one on the right.
    The dust is adding to the scene nicely.
    TFS

    PS. Eden Park is a big hoodoo to get over, having not won there since '86 I believe!


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    BPN Viewer Tom Graham's Avatar
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    For me, simply not enough image/subject "information" to make it work.
    It would work nicely as part of a series showing the sunrise. Or as lead-in to a video scene.
    Tom
    Last edited by Tom Graham; 10-13-2011 at 04:36 PM. Reason: added 2nd sentence

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    Mark,

    Great concept but I have to agree with Marc. Try increasing the exposure a bit for more definiton.
    Unique image.

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    I'll go against the flow. This works for me big time, love the almost there animals which makes me imagine the scene rather than see it. If the file holds up I would even consider cropping to the left hand lioness in the dust only. Not being sure how it would work and where your original canvas is, I have just done a rough re-crop with some extra canvas (hope you don't mind, I don't often do reposts). But whichever way you go, this is a beautiful and evocative image which is the sort of thing I'd hang on my wall.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Sid Garige View Post
    Mark,

    Great concept but I have to agree with Marc. Try increasing the exposure a bit for more definiton.
    Unique image.
    Plus one here but image with excellent potential , here is my try , Give it go again from RAW , you will get far better results
    TFS

    PS , After 5 visits to Africa , I am still searching for such image

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  13. #7
    Ken Watkins
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    Mark,

    Rimlight shots are notoriously difficult that is why you see so few good ones, this is too dark for me try some drastic processing you maybe surprised? the quality of this is very poor as a result of working on the low resolution JPEg, you will be able to achieve much more using the RAW file, I would have preferred to make the blacks a little more distinctive

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    Mark, I think the fact that you have 3 re-posts means you are onto something so I'd be thinking of having another look at your original file(s) and play with different processing techniques as the image has lots of viewer appeal.

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    Hi Mark

    This is what I was commenting about in a previous post.... something different/unique... I like the composition and exposure as is... you will loose the mood by increasing exposure .. cant tell if the sharpness is there or not...

    you are definitely on to something here ... just needs a few tweaks ...lighten the light areas and darken the dark area s is what I would recommend .. will increase contrast/mood and sharpness..

    well done on trying something different..

    peter

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    I really like it as it is too. Mysterious and interesting, especially as it was not immediately obvious to me what the lioness on the left was doing and whether there was a rock there too or something. The others are food for thought too (for me at least) but original is still best. My only small nit would be that the lion on the right is a little isolated from the "action" on the left. Thanks for the inspiration on this one.

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    Hi All,
    Thank you for all the input. Sorry for the delay. I originally did this image similar to how Ken has done in his image. I like the lighter version and also like the darker one. I have completed a repost with the darker areas a little bit lighter and possibly the blacks a bit darker. I will complete a second repost as soon as possible. Any further comments are most welcome. I have noticed however that the web does this image no justice and the print version is so much better in definition and sharpness. A canvas print is in the middle between the two with regards to how I saw the image.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Paul Taylor View Post
    I really like it as it is too. Mysterious and interesting, especially as it was not immediately obvious to me what the lioness on the left was doing and whether there was a rock there too or something. The others are food for thought too (for me at least) but original is still best. My only small nit would be that the lion on the right is a little isolated from the "action" on the left. Thanks for the inspiration on this one.
    Ooops..forget the nit - I just noticed I was looking at only 90% of the picture. Duh!

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Mark, well it's the OP for me, as it has more depth/mood and reflects better what you are trying to do IMHO. Just compare the 'dust' on the LHS lion in both posts, you can see the RP has no detail in that area and overall looks thin. Shooting stuff like this, detail will not be in huge amounts as it's the message, look & feel you are trying to convey and the 'rim light' will dictate the contours & shape which is what you want I feel.

    If you have the time, I would suggest working up a version with Peter's thoughts.

    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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    Hi Steve and Peter,
    This is a repost with the image contrast increased. The highlights are lighter and the darks are darker, probably the best of the three, I feel.
    Thanks for the help and for taking the time to post,
    Mark.


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  26. #15
    Ken Watkins
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    Mark,

    Your last repost looks good to me as you have managed to hold back on lightening the blacks far better than I could with the low resolution JPEG.

    It is certainly a vast improvement over the OP.

    Personally I might still like to see a little more intensity in the highlights but of course it is all a matter of taste.

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    Love the mood and moment here Mark! I like your last repost, and quite like Hilary's crop on it as the static lioness isn't that important in the overall story here for me.
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Mark - nice reworking of the image. I too like your last repost best and agree that Hilary's suggested crop is a nice alternative to have.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    Hi Hilary, Rachel and Morkel,
    Thanks for the help and the convincing. Here is a repost with a vertical crop of the lioness on the left. This lioness chased me afterwards and she was flicking her tail so fast she nearly took off.

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    BPN Viewer Steve Canuel's Avatar
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    Last post for me Mark. Too much space between the two lionesses in the OP. This one's about the glowing dust and shadowed outline. The lioness on the right has too little of both.

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Yep, that last repost is kickin'
    Morkel Erasmus

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  37. #21
    Ofer Levy
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    I love your work Mark!! Here is my take on this fantastic image!!!

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    Nice work Ofer, but I have to say the vertical crop of the lioness posted in pane 18 is the one for me. Love it.

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    Ofer Levy
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    Quote Originally Posted by Hilary Hann View Post
    Nice work Ofer, but I have to say the vertical crop of the lioness posted in pane 18 is the one for me. Love it.
    Thank Hilary!
    I love the composition of the OP and also feel the lion on the right in a big part of the story so getting rid of it is not an option for me...

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    Quote Originally Posted by Ofer Levy View Post
    Thank Hilary!
    I love the composition of the OP and also feel the lion on the right in a big part of the story so getting rid of it is not an option for me...
    Whilst I don't disagree with you I look at the OP as being 2 images, the comp presented and the secondary vertical one. 2 for the price of 1 … value for money. I would be happy with both compositions, but if I had only seen the vertical with the one lion I wouldn't have been looking for the second lion, conversely with the 2 lions, I can easily see the composition with only the one lion.

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    Ken Watkins
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    Ofer,

    Marvelous repost, this is just what I had in mind, and for me the exclusion of the second lioness is a complete no no

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    Thanks Ken, Ofer and Hilary,
    Your input and Ofer, your repost, is gratefully appreciated.
    With many thanks,
    Mark.
    PS: My understanding of the forum is that it is a critique forum and an image like this has served to see how valuable the forum can be.

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