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Thread: Exit Stage Left 2

  1. #1
    Ken Watkins
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    Default Exit Stage Left 2

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    The green season is not usually the vest time to see Elephants as there is water everywhere and they do not normally come to waterholes and rivers. This certainly proved to be the case in Kwando where we saw very few indeed.

    This one was escaping after frightening us off

    Taken in Kwando concession, Northern Botswana, 1st January 2012

    EOS 1D MkIII

    70-200mm at 142mm

    F5, ISO400, 1/800

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    Ken,

    Nice action image in difficult light. Normally this would be what I consider about the worst sun angle: behind and above the subject (phase angle about 120 degrees), and the sun illuminating the rear. So the face and most of the body is in shade. But there was enough scattered light to fill in the shadows to make this work quite well. Did you have to lift the shadows much? The shadowed areas do look a bit yellow, but I'm fine with that, as that was the light. But an overall shift of the entire image away from yellow might work too, as the green vegetation may be a bit yellow too.

    Roger

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    Ken,
    Very nice job considering the light direction. Very nice pose and raised trunk adds a lot IMO.
    Thanks
    Sid

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    BPN Viewer Tom Graham's Avatar
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    No, no, no, sorry.
    She is exiting stage right.
    Tom
    (yeah you know me, picky, picky, picky).

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Ken - nice action and comp. The cloud of dust adds to the image as well.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    Quote Originally Posted by Sid Garige View Post
    Ken,
    Very nice job considering the light direction. Very nice pose and raised trunk adds a lot IMO.
    Thanks
    Sid
    Plus one here
    TFS

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    Quote Originally Posted by Roger Clark View Post

    Nice action image in difficult light.

    Roger

    Can't agree more but I would try and tone down the bright patches and even tone down the patch of grass in front of the dust cloud a tad. Great action though.

    Jamie

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    Quote Originally Posted by Jamie_Douglas View Post
    Can't agree more but I would try and tone down the bright patches and even tone down the patch of grass in front of the dust cloud a tad. Great action though.

    Jamie
    Jamie,
    Good points. I made my comments based on viewing on a higher dynamic range calibrated monitor. Now I'm seeing it on my lousy laptop, and for it to look good here, it needs a lot of work. The bright areas really need toning down.

    Roger

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    BPN Viewer Steve Canuel's Avatar
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    Like the pose with extended trunk and subtle turn of the head. Also like the dust coming off the back.

  10. #10
    Ken Watkins
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    Thanks everbody for your comments and critiques.

    Firstly the greens this has been a constant problem with my images from my recent trip, it really is exceedingly green in the rainy season, in this case I think the light direction is emphasing it even more. Reducing the greens just makes it look artificial.

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    Ken, Yes, the sun angle means some light is transmitting through the vegetation making it more green. That is good in my opinion. I just is a little too yellow probably due to processing. And the yellow is not bad. The grass in front of the elephant and the bright sky above needs to be toned down. Attached is a try at fixing these issues.

    Roger
    Last edited by Roger Clark; 02-29-2012 at 09:36 AM.

  12. #12
    Ken Watkins
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    Roger,

    Thanks for your repost, it is a bit difficult to compare both together but I can see the difference in the sky, what did you use?

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    Quote Originally Posted by Ken Watkins View Post
    Roger,

    Thanks for your repost, it is a bit difficult to compare both together but I can see the difference in the sky, what did you use?
    Hi Ken,

    I did 3 things.
    1) select the bright areas, refine edge with feather about 40, then used curves to bring down the brightness.
    2) color balance: -3 on cyan/red, +3 on yellow/blue for both midtones and highlights
    3) select face, feather and increase brightness a touch.

    Roger

  14. #14
    Ken Watkins
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    Roger,

    Thanks for that it seems to me to be quite complicated but I will give it a try.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Roger Clark View Post
    Hi Ken,

    I did 3 things.
    1) select the bright areas, refine edge with feather about 40, then used curves to bring down the brightness.
    2) color balance: -3 on cyan/red, +3 on yellow/blue for both midtones and highlights
    3) select face, feather and increase brightness a touch.

    Roger
    Repost improves the bright spots and still keeps the lush rainy season feel of the original.

    Ken, I am sure you can play about with the bright spots and find a balance. TFS.

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    BPN Viewer Tom Graham's Avatar
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    Like Roger's repost, especially how it "dulls" down the green highlights that are bit overpowering in original.
    Tom

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