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Thread: Born to Kill

  1. #1
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    Default Born to Kill

    I'm by no means new (much longer than my membership) but let me reintroduce myself as I think the last photo I posted was in 2008 (taken in 2008 anyway)! I got a little bit serious (just a bit) about photography in 2006 and I shoot with Sony and Minolta gear (I'm stubborn!). I am an occasionally serious amateur but I love it and anything you say to make me better at it will be much appreciated, even if it breaks my heart for a few minutes.

    Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Laikipia, Kenya Around 8,.30 am on 3 October 2011.

    Limiting factors:
    Misty morning (low light and perhaps background?); bouncy hyenas bounding in and out of grass taller then they were; no way to get lower (I was quite low but they are very short); nerves (who knows when I'll get to see eight (!) hyena pups playing around a den in decent light again). If I'd noticed the shutter speed was down to 1/640 I might have changed to f/5 (but I think I got away with it!).

    Excuses
    None except lack of ability and imagination. I was using a basic consumer-level camera by choice because I like this particular one. Lens is a Minolta G designed for pros, so although it's not latest generation, it's very good (if only Sony made something as good at that length). Of course it has its own characteristics, though.

    PP
    Local sharpening and contrast adjustments on the hyena pups. A little NR on the background from the front pup's fore-knee up (just to zap any noise - the background looked like this out of camera); due to the mist it came out as quite a low contrast shot. WB is set at around 4700. A little crop above, below and left. Nothing really.

    Not sure about.... enough contrast even though there's quite a bit added; the background; the colours (I'm almost never sure about that)

    Sony A580 f/6.3 1/640 ISO 800

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  2. #2
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Paul, cute interaction and a nice behavioral image. I think if you add any more contrast it might affect the detail, especially with the ISO, it might appear a little crunchy. I think based on the kit & techs you have achieved an excellent image, you have to feel sorry for the one in front, that must hurt. I did consider a slightly tighter crop, but feel as present it works well, plus the raised legs also gives a nice 'fleeing' feel to.

    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 Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Welcome 'back', Paul
    I love the moment you captured here, and the DOF works well too. I agree with Steve - leave contrast as is. I was considering a crop from the bottom but decided I like it as posted...
    Let's see some more...
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Hey Paul, glad you got some more of those cubs … nice bit of interactive action and I think you have the sharpness and background just right. Like Morkel, my first thought was to crop from the bottom and I'm still uncertain whether that would improve it or not. But like it as it is anyway. The determined look on the lead cub is priceless, looks just like a couple of children in the school yard.

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    Nice interaction well captured Paul. L

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    nice behavioral image
    TFS

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    Lifetime Member Marina Scarr's Avatar
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    Nice to have you back. This is a very cute image. Love the interaction between these two babies! Looks good as presented.
    Marina Scarr
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  8. #8
    Ken Watkins
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    Hi Paul,

    I recently enjoyed the privilege of seeing some really young Hyena pups and they are as perfectly illustrated here as full of fun and naughtiness as any other youngsters.

    I am not familiar with your camera but it looks like it works very well indeed (given Sony's superb technology why should it not). The, what I see to be male cub at the front (although you never can tell with Hyenas) seems to be getting the sort of treat ment he can expect for the rest of his life.

    The detail is very good given the black fur and the action is superb, I would leave it as is.

    A superb moment, well captured.

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    BPN Viewer Steve Canuel's Avatar
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    Nice as posted, you timed it right to capture the action. You could get a little more detail/contrast out of the BG by darkening and bumping the contrast but then you'd lose some of the misty morning feel of the morning that you described.

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    Lovely light and lovely moment captured...Welcome back

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    Thank you all for your comments, which are much appreciated. The crop idea is interesting - I can see it both ways too.

    I am not familiar with your camera but it looks like it works very well indeed (given Sony's superb technology why should it not). The, what I see to be male cub at the front (although you never can tell with Hyenas) seems to be getting the sort of treat ment he can expect for the rest of his life.
    Yes, indeed, why not? I only mentioned it because the camera is a $500 one and feels like a toy - I thought people might wonder or jump to a conclusion that something was "due to the camera". Actually its performance is very good (better than my full frame A900 for action at high ISO) and, as I said, any faults are me.

    Saw a couple of your pictures - the two with mother is a beauty! Despite the clear hint, I am also reluctant to identify gender. Actually it was interesting that none of the 8 hyena pups was either obviously dominant or submissive. I expected they would be - they say the "queen's" offspring have higher status and of course the boys are bottom of the pile - but it was a real free for all. The only sign of the heirarchy was when the four tiny pups the age of the two in the picture gang-mugged the poor clan male... he didn't even growl at them until they nipped his privates (presumably searching for milk?) and even then he just slinked off, protecting his sensitive parts with his tail. I'll have to post that picture for you; I'm sure you'll like it.

  12. #12
    Ken Watkins
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    Paul,

    Thanks for the additional information, 8 pups that must be quite a sighting, look forward to seeing some more

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Paul - agree with the above - good action, well captured with a cuteness factor.

    TFS and welcome back,
    Rachel

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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Well exposed on their dark coats, and both in perfect focus. Good to see a bit of playfulness from the pup at the back.

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    Thank you Rachel and Stuart.

    And Steve, I forgot to thank you for the tip about contrast and higher ISOs. I really didn't know that and it may save a lot of wasted time to keep it in mind. Thanks!

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