The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
Botswana
This was a test of patience. When we pulled off the road for lunch, we saw these rhinos, and 2 others, in the distance, as well as an approaching storm. We ate our lunch, rested a bit and planned the rest of the day, and noticed that both the storm and the pair of rhinos were slowly approaching. We waited almost an hour as they meandered toward us, eventually ending up less than 50 feet from the truck. At the same time, the sky was about to open.
It rained so hard, we were unable to see well enough to drive, and we ended up mired in mud later, temporarily. We were extremely fortunate to have a couple severe storms and amazing skies during this last trip.
Specific Feedback
This image was originally quite dark - salvaged again by Pure Raw. I lightened up the rhinos a good bit - is it still too dark? I wanted to convey the foreboding of the ominous dark clouds
Technical Details
Nikon D850
80-400 @ 100mm
Exposure Time: 1/200 sec
F Number: f/18
ISO Speed Ratings: ISO 2200
Exposure Program: Aperture priority
Metering Mode: Spot
Exposure Bias: 0.33 EV
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Hi Sandy,
WHAT an experience. And VERY well rendered here. I get such a feeling of presence of these animals - their expression of, âoh yeah, just another day in the savannaâ, with the wild storm on approach behind them. When I saw the title, and the closeness of those huge beasts, my first thought was, which storm is approaching here - rhino or sky? Itâs both! My eye keeps bouncing back and forth between the two. I really like the positioning of the two with each other and in the avenue of green. I canât think of a thing that could improve it - this is Nat Geo style!
Sandy, this has an amazing 3D look to it. Excellent DOF, excellent focus on the rhinos. You couldnât have gotten any better head on look from both of them. It looks like you were about to experience a âcrashâ of both the rhinos and the storm. The lighting is perfectly foreboding, not too dark at all. I really like the elements of the grass, and the short trees and scrub in this as well. It doesnât get much better than this one. I think this could be a contest winner somewhere.
Great setting and wonderful image here, awesome positioning of Rhinos in the frame !
Although itâs a stunning frame, a wider frame could have further improved it, as I want some more room in the foreground and want to see more clouds too.
Great capture Sandy. I can almost hear them snuffling and shuffling as they approach. This is definitely a contest entry in my opinion.
The slight change in perspective in the revision to provide a larger canvas is welcome, but I prefer the dark moodiness of the original, for the rhinos and the foreground. The darkness speaks more to me of the impending storm.
Well done!
I do prefer the wider crop - there is still a real sense of foreboding in it, thereâs more space on the left for the lead beast and I love the detailed cloud looming over the whole scene.
Sandy: the wider crop is a winner although both are excellent. In particular I like how youâve lightened the grasses and added more clarity to the clowds in the re-do. Wall hanger!!
what a great shot, I donât think its to dark at all. I hope you donât mind I downloaded it and made a few changes to show you. I used photoshop camera raw. I maksed the forground and removed the subjects, and then I increased the contrast and uped the saturation. I then increased the shadows a few and finished by added some vignette think it makes the image pop a little more. you did a nice job capturing them and getting that storm in the background. hope you kept your cameras dry hahaha
@paulanderson
Hi, Paul - while I appreciate your ideas about re-working my image, your result is not at all like the image I saw and tried to re-create. The grasses in Africa in summer are not bright green, but much more brown and subdued. Your rhinos are much lighter than they are in reality, and your whole bright scene does not reflect the ominous oncoming storm . My wider crop, as suggested by the Moderator, shows much more of the black sky.
Thanks, thoughâŚ
Sandy I am late provably the last but I want to say you how mych I love this photo. My personal opinion: I like the wider version as to the larger sky but prefer your original image for the remaining part for the closer look to the beautiful pachyderms. Splendid.
No Giuseppe, you are not the last one.
I might come in late, but donât want to miss the opportunity to show my respect. Wonderful image, everything else has been said already.
The lighting is perfectly foreboding, not too dark at all. I really like the elements of the grass, and the short trees and scrub in this as well. It doesnât get much better than this one. I think this could be a contest winner somewhere.
