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Thread: It's Stalking You

  1. #1
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    Default It's Stalking You

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    Laying as flat as my stomach would allow :) This Cheetah cub came to investigate me

    Taken in the Okavango.

    1D mark IV
    500F4
    1/400 @F5
    ISO 400
    Last edited by Russell Johnson; 12-16-2011 at 07:36 AM.

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    Top shot Russell, really like this a whole lot. The colour of the eyes, eye contact, perspective and dreamy surroundings and background are brilliant. Depending on your thoughts, I might try darken the top right corner of the shot a bit. I will be interested to see other views on the crop as well, personally I might take a little off the bottom just to make the cut of the virtual legs appear more purposeful. Right now the crop feels just a bit in between for me, as if the feet might be cut off if I could see them even though the foreground blur hides them but I will see what others think, and relook at the image in a while. Your best cheetah shot that I have seen by far. Brilliant work....
    cheers
    Grant

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  4. #3
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Russell, great use of DOF here and I love the way the head just appears through the lovely diffused 'mush'.

    I can see where Grant is coming from and it can work, worth exploring if you have the time, plus, although I like as posted you could also just straightening up the horizontal line of the eyes, it's just a fraction.

    You are posting some excellent work and a joy to view.

    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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  6. #4
    Ken Watkins
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    Russel,

    This is very nice, presumably the same Cheetah as your last one.

    I am not worried about the crop as I should not think it has eliminated any or very little of the invisible legs.

    The light patch does not bother me either as I am drawn to nothing but the eyes, which are without dobt on of the finest sets I have ever seen.

    I do however feel that a touch more contrast and a little bit of extra warmth might improve?

    What do you think?

    I have just noticed 17 views and now 2 comments, nowt as strange as folk

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    Ken Watkins
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    Quote Originally Posted by Steve Kaluski View Post
    although I like as posted you could also just straightening up the horizontal line of the eyes, it's just a fraction.
    I have yet to see a walking Cheetah hold its head perfectly level, the key is the higher one is on the same side as the leading leg

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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Love the low perspective and great eye contact here Russell.
    Not too worried about the virtual crop nor the eye line being level as I think that's taking things too extreme, especially in nature photography IMO.
    Agree on the contrast/sat boost, but perhaps just a tad less than Ken's RP.
    One thing I have to ask is the aperture and resulting BG, as it appears to have been taken with a buttery f/2 prime lens, not an f/5, just wondering if any PP was used on this?
    If not, then even more kudos for superb techs.
    TFS


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    Something between OP & RP , but terrific POV & image
    TFS

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    Lifetime Member gail bisson's Avatar
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    Amazing shot because of POV. I agree re: a bit more contrast and would take a bit off the bottom. Where was Momma and were you in a vehicle or on the ground?
    Gail

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    Thanks all for your feedback, I am now pulling my hair out trying to fine tune the adjustments. C'est la vie.

    In response to some the of your comments;

    - I will probably keep the crop as is, the cub is quite small and their invisible legs are there in my mind. Perhaps because I have seen the few frames before
    - Head angle, I quite like the slight tilt

    - For Marc - the image is as shot in terms of the buttery look. If you look at the image below, the tree is a bush in the distance and the OOF grass in the foreground was quite high due a small rise.

    - For those that have asked about shooting angle etc, below is a behind the scenes image from the shot - Mum is in the background without a care in the world.

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    Great perspective to shoot Russell , would love to do this sometime with Tigers

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    Ken Watkins
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    Russell,

    Now that's a rare sighting

    Strange behaviour by the cubs, but I presume as mum was not disturbed neither were they.

    What a marvelous opportunity that you have made the most of, I agree that you should leave the image as was with just a few tweaks, needed for perfection.

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  19. #12
    Todd Frost
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    Outstanding image Russell and with the behind the scenes image you have what I would call a photographers dream. Love the pov and dof. I too like the crop and head slightly tilted. Slight adjustments as mentioned takes this over the top. Well done. TFS

    Todd

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    A fabulous perspective, Russel - sure has rendered a "creamy and buttery" look...and love those eyes!
    I am fine with the crop and leveling as presented. The ideal look for me is also between your OP and Ken's RP
    Morkel Erasmus

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    very VERY interesting shot, love it !!!

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    BPN Viewer Steve Canuel's Avatar
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    Intense! Those eyes really grab your attention. Wouldn't change a thing.

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    Lifetime Member ramesh anantharaman's Avatar
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    Just Mind blowing. Love the perspective and the Dof. The repost does wonders.... And Harshad, cheetahs and Tigers arent the same!!!!!!
    Protect the cause of our own existence

  28. #17
    Mario Moreno
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    I think it's a superb image as is ..... The eye contact is amazing and don't think there is much that can be done about the light patch in the top right corner and as Ken says you are immediately drawn to those eyes. The blurred foreground is the cherry on top in my opinion. GREAT WORK !!

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