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Thread: Mr Warthog

  1. #1
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Default Mr Warthog

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    Over the past few weeks these guys got my interest, however it tended to be fight or flight on approach. On this occasion Mr Warthog stood his ground outside his hotel, the base of a termite mound and just lay there as the sun began to set. Cropped in camera I just really liked the thought of a 'head on' and cutting the face in half in the hope it would exaggerate the features. The detail, contouring and lines in the hi res file are really quite defining. There is a faction more on the width and above, however I think adding a fraction more above to the crop would be better, although breaking the 3:2 ration.

    Straight conversion in B/W via PS rather than NIK it it gives a better feel & can be controlled more. Wonder if it needs a bit more contrast or Duo/Tri tone?

    Steve

    Subject: Warthog (Southern) lying outside his home (Phacochoerus africanus sundevallii)
    Location: Botswana
    Camera: Canon MKIV
    Lens: 500f/4 - HH (under vehicle)
    Exposure: 1/125s at f/5.6 ISO800 0 stop compensation
    Time of day: 7.29pm
    Crop: Slight crop (original capture verical)
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

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    Great conversion and detail Steve! Love the low shooting angle!

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    DanWalters
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    Like the creative crop and the great detail in the warthog.

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    Really like the conversion, wonderful detail which works well. Not convinced on the crop. It is neither one thing or another so I would experiment further with cropping. For me, what is really important and striking is the eye. The oof tusk doesn't add imo so I would be prepared to lose that (ignoring howls of protest!) but given the view you have shown here I'm not sure that there is a stronger alternative with the existing file. This is one occasion where I think the whole face staring you down would have worked big time, or zooming right into the eye area. However, I know that there are plenty of people who prefer 'whole' animal portraits and I'm not one of those, just would love to see more of this wonderful face. Enjoy seeing everyone's efforts to push envelopes and try new angles of interest.

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Steve - Nice conversion but I agree with Hilary, my first thought was that the oof tusk did not work for me. Not sure if there is an alternate crop that would work but the eye and ear are great.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Guys, I totally agree, Hilary has raised some very valid points and think her summing up is pretty spot on.

    Obviously other angles were taken into consideration too, perhaps along the more safer POV's, but occasionally (especially with digital) you can take the odd chance, if it works or not, there is nothing to lose, why play safe all the time?

    One another note, and something I meant to add in the OP, safety is key and no one should ever take chances. The situation was easily contained and controlled.

    Cheers for now.
    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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    I like the idea here and the IQ is mind blowing as usual...I feel it has a bit too much empty space on the right hand side (Not sure on what to suggest as a crop though) but other wise its a good idea...Maybe if you wouldn't mind going back a week or so in the posted threads and taking a look at my Buffalo image I tried something like this and I would appreciate your thoughts.

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Will do Dumay, my pleasure.

    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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    Steve, the conversion is excellent with plenty of character and fine detail. Not bothered by the OOF tusk, and the OOTB crop with the head cut in half is somewhat intriguing, though I might take a sliver off the right side.
    Last edited by James Shadle; 11-23-2011 at 01:09 PM.

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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Tack sharp Steve, with excellent detail. Cool low angle, and Im fine with the space on the right. Conversion works well too. Well thoughtout.

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    Co-Founder James Shadle's Avatar
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    Name:  StevesHog.jpg
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    Just food for thought.
    First well exposed and tack sharp!! The perspective is over the top good.

    My first re-post crop is offering a composition with less room on the right of the frame. I also used the burn tool to darken an OOF foreground element.
    The second drop is an "if your going to get close - get close crop"

    I'm not saying they are better than Steve's original post.

    I do feel a sharp tusk and snout would make this a stronger image. Have you ever heard of a technique called "sliding" or "rolling" the zone of focus?
    If you haven't it's OK, I coined the terms.

    It is a technique to move the zone of focus forward or back when increasing the depth of field is impractical.

  12. #12
    Robert Amoruso
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    Quote Originally Posted by James Shadle View Post
    I do feel a sharp tusk and snout would make this a stronger image. Have you ever heard of a technique called "sliding" or "rolling" the zone of focus?
    If you haven't it's OK, I coined the terms.

    It is a technique to move the zone of focus forward or back when increasing the depth of field is impractical.
    James,

    I would assume you would make multiple exposures with different points of focus and stack them in PS for blending. I do this for alligators among other subjects.

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi James, I really like the RHS version with a very much tighter crop, which I now feel really brings to life the 'warty' characteristics, look & feel of this animal. The choice in the OP was to allow room for any text to be applied, however the repost certainly offers more scope to play with.

    If Roberts assumption is correct I guess you would need to be using a tripod to lock everything down to ensure a rock steady platform to work from. The technique I think is also something that is used widely when shooting dragonflies too.

    Appreciate the input.

    cheers
    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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    Co-Founder James Shadle's Avatar
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    Nope, that's "stacking". I would need to do something in PS and I'm too ADD for that.
    Let me find a post I made with details, I'll post it here.

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Perfect.
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

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    I like James tight perspective. I had tried something earlier myself but it wasn't effective so didn't add it to the table whereas James' crop is quite appealing.

    Steve, just a query on your comment re leaving room for text. How do you balance the need for a strong initial comp with allowing for the needs of possible end users? Can one put two versions side by side in stock? I'm sure quite a few people here shoot for stock and need to allow for text so may be interested (I don't shoot for stock)

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Firstly Hilary I think James's crop suggestion have highlighted how a fresh pair of eyes can change something, giving/offering a more dramatic/dynamic approach to the image and how something like cropping can quickly change the look & feel and move it up a gear.

    I'm not sure if this answers your question, but perhaps this might also be good to open it up in another part of the Forum for further discussion and get a wider POV?

    I guess my original background and past career comes into play, so if I have a good clean or diffused BKG I will shoot in various formats ie portrait, landscape, tight, wide allowing for areas/space to take copy, headlines etc. On this one I just thought, head on, split/cut straight down (so if it is a DPS, image on the RHS the trim edge of the image could go into the gutter (or centre) of the magazine), "might be interesting?", lightish BKG to take type, worth a punt, time is not always on your side when making such decisions, as the moment can easily go, as you now. I also try to crop where possible in camera, still leaving a certain amount of room all round, as the format is so similar to magazines, so if you shoot a portrait image you have a fairly good idea what might go where, although you never have control of the end result once the image leaves your paws. If it's a interesting image, then leaving perhaps more room above the subject to take a masthead (title). If it is a busy, or has a too distracting BKG you know the image would probably become a filler somewhere sadly.

    As I say, if you want to discuss more then lets open another thread or drop me a line.

    cheers
    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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    Thanks Steve, I'm sure that will help others who produce stock images and wonder how best to approach the subject.

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    Have to agree with James , liked this very much
    TFS

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