Bugling Elk
Dec 10, 2019 20:56:32 #
I took this back in Sept of 2017 and since then have gained a lot more understanding of how to process photos, so I figured I would take this set and see what I can do to make them better.
1st pic is the original jpg, then the edits I played with. What do you think of the edits? And how would you edit this photo?
Everyone is welcome to download the original to edit and post so we can see how you would present it.
Nikon D5300, Tamron 150-600 -- 1/250, f.3, 600mm iso 500, shot at about 5:30 pm with the setting sun casting a yellowish glow.
1st pic is the original jpg, then the edits I played with. What do you think of the edits? And how would you edit this photo?
Everyone is welcome to download the original to edit and post so we can see how you would present it.
Nikon D5300, Tamron 150-600 -- 1/250, f.3, 600mm iso 500, shot at about 5:30 pm with the setting sun casting a yellowish glow.
Dec 10, 2019 23:04:19 #
CindyHouk wrote:
I took this back in Sept of 2017 and since then ha... (show quote)
Edit #2 has a PRESENCE to it because you made it B&W, and cropped, dramatically filling the space.
But, there is no real answer to your question beyond personal prejudices. For a good photo, the photographer herself has to decide what the pic is about. Otherwise, she is similar to a beginning musician soullessly playing music.
As examples, here are two takes on your pic (good catch, btw, with just right depth of field to focus on the elk while downplaying the fore-and backgrounds). One is emphasizing the elk’s grazing and hostile look it’s giving the intruder. For that, I cropped, used Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) in Photoshop to open up the exposure (Auto), but not to Auto the Color, which washed things out too much. Instead, did select Color/Auto, but moved the Blue/Yellow slider to bring back the warmer color I expected to be in the grasses and the animal. I sharpened (still in ACR) by using the Option (MAC) key with the Masking slider, so that Mr. Elk and some of the grasses around this legs were the only things sharpened, then ran the Amount slider all the way.
So, that took care of the “standard” processing. However, who cares? As I wrote, the grazing and stink eye were important to me, so I did a lot of dodging and burning to bring out the eye and the grasses in his mouth. Finally, I used Filter/Unsharp Mask at Amount 200% and 0.8 Radius.
Another thing that struck me as a reason for the photo was its bulk, as you expressed in your second edit. For that I did some selecting, dodging and burning, and the Curves filter. No sharpening was necessary for this impression.
So, I hope you find the key to your interest in this photo, and work to bring that out, using contrasts and emphases. Good luck!
Dec 10, 2019 23:19:12 #
Dec 10, 2019 23:48:00 #
I liked the yellowish cast of the late afternoon sun, and in fact, enhanced it a bit, so I preferred the color version of #1 over #2. I like to include the environment around a subject, so kept more of the surroundings as in #1. I cropped a bit on the right, and cloned out the lower right and lower left distractions and removed the bits of straw from the elk's mouth. Color seemed the way to go here over b&w to capture the play of browns and tans throughout. I liked the shallow DOF.
Dec 11, 2019 00:34:30 #
Cindy, you are developing your own style and you are the one to please. I like your edits, but the original was a good shot to start with.
Dec 11, 2019 09:18:53 #
I like the B&W Cindy, but it is cropped a little closely. It is such a strong image, I had to give it a try. I removed a few distractions and added a white vignette. I started with the crop I wanted and removed the dark areas in the bottom of the cropped image.
Dec 11, 2019 09:19:02 #
Dec 11, 2019 09:35:38 #
artBob wrote:
Edit #2 has a PRESENCE to it because you made it B... (show quote)
Hey Bob....it's always fun to see and learn what others do in post. I am always learning and this post will give me more idea's and things to learn,. Not only on processing but composition as well, to see how you crop it. I appreciate you taking the time and explaining what you did!
Dec 11, 2019 09:36:14 #
Dec 11, 2019 09:40:44 #
MichaelEBM wrote:
I liked the yellowish cast of the late afternoon sun, and in fact, enhanced it a bit, so I preferred the color version of #1 over #2. I like to include the environment around a subject, so kept more of the surroundings as in #1. I cropped a bit on the right, and cloned out the lower right and lower left distractions and removed the bits of straw from the elk's mouth. Color seemed the way to go here over b&w to capture the play of browns and tans throughout. I liked the shallow DOF.
Nice edit...the photo of him I have on my wall is with the yellowish cast as well, thanks for playing with it.
Dec 11, 2019 09:41:40 #
UTMike wrote:
Cindy, you are developing your own style and you are the one to please. I like your edits, but the original was a good shot to start with.
Thanks Mike...I am always learning and figured this would be a good one to see how people would crop and edit it!
Dec 11, 2019 09:42:49 #
SpyderJan wrote:
I like the B&W Cindy, but it is cropped a little closely. It is such a strong image, I had to give it a try. I removed a few distractions and added a white vignette. I started with the crop I wanted and removed the dark areas in the bottom of the cropped image.
Thanks...and your right...I cropped him in a little to much and almost took off the top tine of his antlers...didn't notice that till you said something. I really like this one.
Dec 11, 2019 09:43:45 #
jederick wrote:
A huge brute well captured and presented, Cindy!! 
Thanks and Yes he is....it was amazing to be able to watch him in the rut!
Dec 11, 2019 12:43:52 #
Like some others here, I like including enough real estate to place an animal in its environment. I removed some distracting elements from the lower edge of the image, as well as some grass from the bull's teeth, and a small piece of velvet dangling from one of its antlers. I like sepia as a way to portray wild animals. I lightened up the dark highlights around the horns, face and chest to bring out more of the detail. I then introduced a sketch-like texture, but greatly reduced the opacity so that it's more of a hint than a feature.
Dec 11, 2019 12:49:37 #
Great edit Bob. Isn't it nice to have such great shot to work with.
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