Approaching Storm + Wider Crop

Wider Crop:

original:

Critique Style Requested: Standard

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


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2 Likes

Hi Sandy,
WHAT an experience. And VERY well rendered here. I get such a feeling of presence of these animals - their expression of, ‘oh yeah, just another day in the savanna’, 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? It’s 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 can’t 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 couldn’t have gotten any better head on look from both of them. It looks like you were about to experience a “crash” of both the rhinos and the storm. :smirk: 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 doesn’t 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 it’s 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.

Cheers :heavy_heart_exclamation:

I love the mood here. Glad you stuck with it.

To me, the selective pop on the rhinos is a bit strong, as it makes it look like they’re in front of a green screen.

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, there’s 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 you’ve lightened the grasses and added more clarity to the clowds in the re-do. Wall hanger!!