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Thread: Red Deer

  1. #1
    BPN Viewer Phillip Tomkinson's Avatar
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    Default Red Deer

    Taken last week on a day out it's a 300 mile round trip for me and a 4am start but it's worth it.

    Phil.

    D700 200-400vr + 1.4 tc @ 460mm 1/160th @ f5.6 iso 800




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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Phillip I am loving this one! Gorgeous image!
    I love the steamy breath, the morning light, colour, details and overall mood here.
    Is that a gate in the BG to the left of the stag? I would consider burning it into the BG a bit more...
    Also - was it standing level? The feet position makes me wonder if it can take a slight CW rotation.

    I do hope you post some more...
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Phil,

    THIS IS OUTSANDING!!!! Love the light, the pose, the breath. I agree with Morkel's comments. Well done! Competition winner!

    Roger

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Phil - I agree, great light, head position and pose. The breath just takes this to another level.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    Phil, you absolutely nailed this one!!! I agree with Morkel on the gate/fence. Just as you said, some days the early mornings and late nights seem to be a drag but when it comes together it makes it all worthwhile.

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    BPN Viewer Steve Canuel's Avatar
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    Nice shot. I really like the soft, foggy look on the ground and the illuminated antler tips and breath. The body looks too small for that massive neck and head (observation not complaint). Images like this make the trips worth while, don't they.

  7. #7
    Ken Watkins
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    Philip,

    Well it was certainly worth the early start. What a marvelous image, it is "breathtaking"

    The outline of the gate does not bother me much, I wonder when animals will ever pose on flat ground

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    Quote Originally Posted by Roger Clark View Post
    Phil,

    THIS IS OUTSTANDING!!!! Love the light, the pose, the breath. I agree with Morkel's comments. Well done! Competition winner!

    Roger
    Plus one here
    TFS

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    BPN Member dankearl's Avatar
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    Stunning, agree with all the rave comments on this.
    I am also amazed at the sharpness at just 1/160!
    An award winner.
    Dan Kearl

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hey Phil, great to see you posting and with a cracker of an image.

    The stance/pose is a classic, set it some nice light and a lovely and natural environment. I can see where Morkel is coming from re a rotation, but the there ground is very undulating, hence the position of the legs, so personal I think it's OK.
    My only question Phil is, have you slightly lightened the breath and is that a gate in the BKG?

    Look forward to more.

    TFS
    Steve

    PS I'm surprised you came this far south, isn't Bradgate better for you, saying that, I bumped into Danny G at the Wildlife awards, I know he & Edwin were doing deer.
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    BPN Viewer Phillip Tomkinson's Avatar
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    Hi all thank you for all the great comments,as for the gate it's a farm gate I could clone it out but I not so keen on cloning bits out, I do have one that I have cloned the gate out so I will post it. Steve all that has been done to the image is a small s curve and the W/B reset to cloudy and the brightness dropped 1 stop.

    Phil.

    I have PP this one with a bit more contrast and a stronger s curve



  12. #12
    Ken Watkins
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    Phillip,

    Your second post is a "blinder" as well, OK the position of the head is perhaps not as good but the breath is better.

    If you had posted this first, I think you would have got similar responses, apart from the gate,and thankfully this is on more level ground

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    BPN Viewer Phillip Tomkinson's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Steve Kaluski View Post
    Hey Phil, great to see you posting and with a cracker of an image.

    The stance/pose is a classic, set it some nice light and a lovely and natural environment. I can see where Morkel is coming from re a rotation, but the there ground is very undulating, hence the position of the legs, so personal I think it's OK.
    My only question Phil is, have you slightly lightened the breath and is that a gate in the BKG?

    Look forward to more.

    TFS
    Steve

    PS I'm surprised you came this far south, isn't Bradgate better for you, saying that, I bumped into Danny G at the Wildlife awards, I know he & Edwin were doing deer.
    Hi Steve it's not to bad a drive to Bradgate I did see Danny but Edwin had gone back home, I find Bradgate better for deer images than places closer to home hear in the north west. I like Scotland too but the deer are harder to find, you are better off with a few days in Scotland when doing deer.

    I will be off to the west cost of Scotland for the barnacle geese soon I am just hoping for a bit of snow, we have started to get big numbers of pink footed geese coming in.

    Phil.


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    BPN Viewer Phillip Tomkinson's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ken Watkins View Post
    Phillip,

    Your second post is a "blinder" as well, OK the position of the head is perhaps not as good but the breath is better.

    If you had posted this first, I think you would have got similar responses, apart from the gate,and thankfully this is on more level ground
    Hi Ken thank you I do find the ground / grass a bit bright but it was only a quick job on the PP so I may have a go at doing a better job of it later.

    Phil.


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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Steve Kaluski View Post
    I can see where Morkel is coming from re a rotation, but the there ground is very undulating, hence the position of the legs, so personal I think it's OK.
    Looking at it again, Steve, I noticed the back is forming a straight line, so it must have been divots on the ground...

    By the way, Phillip, second post is awesome too. I wasn't suggesting cloning out the gate as I also prefer not to clone. I suggested using the burn tool to make it blend in better. It's not a big nit, though...would love for the image to be mine.

    Quote Originally Posted by Ken Watkins View Post
    I wonder when animals will ever pose on flat ground...and thankfully this is on more level ground
    Ken, I'm sure this doesn't have to be explained...but sometimes it's more about how it's presented...in other words, we as photographers can recall a scene being 'level', but maybe we didn't apply perfect levelling technique with the camera (especially when hand-holding) and managed to skew the framing very slightly. Sometimes it's the lie of the land. And sometimes it's about what is perceived to be the horizon in the frame the photographer managed to capture and present. The viewer is not there with the photographer to make a cognitive assertion about the lie of the land, he/she can only interpret what's being presented.

    My first impression was that it could possibly be slightly tilted. And my first impression is allowed to differ from your first impression. Anyhow I have revisited the image and agree that it's level.
    Last edited by Morkel Erasmus; 10-27-2011 at 06:03 AM.
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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Hi Phil, I though you had gone to Richmond based on the mileage, numbers can be deceiving.

    Looking at the OP you could afford to teak the Colour balance a fraction I feel, more noticeable in the repost, as the yellow comes through quite strongly, but personal choice. Also, if you have a mind to, in the RAW I would again, adjust the breath a fraction, as I feel there seems to be more depth & detail there and certainly would strengthen the image. I also cut back on the contrast.

    If you are heading up to Scotland and near the Cairngorms there is a good location, but can be hint & miss, plus it's a narrow road only for one vehicle, but have got some good shots, especially with the snow. Early morning/dawn for the geese would be great, especially if there is low lying mist too, great atmosphere, but they can be very skittish and easily spooked I have found.

    If you want to know the location PM me.

    BTW Just my take based on what I suggested, although the breath is something you need to do with the original file.

    All the best & good luck.

    cheers
    Steve
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

  17. #17
    Ken Watkins
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    Quote Originally Posted by Morkel Erasmus View Post
    Anyhow I have revisited the image and agree that it's level.
    Morkel,

    Thanks for that

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    Killer image. love that fog on the ground and intense bugling action.

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