Elephant File Amboseli, Kenya

Critique Style Requested: Initial Reaction

Please share your immediate response to the image before reading the photographer’s intent (obscured text below) or other comments. The photographer seeks a genuinely unbiased first impression.

Questions to guide your feedback

Does the image reflect the behavior patterns of elephants in their natural environment

Other Information

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Image Description

Spent 4 days following elephant herds to understand better the behavior of these social animals

Technical Details

Sony Rx10 iii camera, f 5.6, ISO 400, 1/1600 sec processed in Nik Silver Effex Pro and Photoshop

Specific Feedback

Have I adequately captured the mood


Critique Template

Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.

  • Vision and Purpose:
  • Conceptual:
  • Emotional Impact and Mood:
  • Composition:
  • Balance and Visual Weight:
  • Depth and Dimension:
  • Color:
  • Lighting:
  • Processing:
  • Technical:

This is a great line-up of a natal group, concluding with the vigilant old matriarch.
The moody sky adds a lot, although a bit more contrast there might add interest.
If you’re open to some work, you could remove a “slice” out of the white area on the horizon to bring the clouds down lower, and then make a more pano-like crop.
Excellent image!

Good suggestion thanks. Paul

Hi again Paul,

Another cracking image from Amnboseli National Park – looks like it was a productive trip. I think I prefer the other image aesthetically, but this one tells a clearer story. Normally you’re after uniform spacing, but in this case the larger gap before the impressively sized rearguard draws the eye and tells a great story – exactly what you want whilst attending a trip focussing on elephant behaviour.

For me there’s not much else to be done with this image and I’d leave it as is.

I love the elephant formation but elephants are looking bit distorted (somewhat taller).
The effect of sepia is bit strong here.

A few things I appreciate about this image, Paul:

First, I like your choice of sepia. It really enhances the “dustiness” of the scene. I also like that subtle cloud texture seeping from the top, as it’s really necessary to frame the elephants.

I do think the line is a bit messy due mainly to the horizon line running through them… however, the trailing animal, which is much bolder against the background, helps bring it together.

Thank you, I really appreciate your critique. It was challenging photographing while our vehicle and the elephants were moving. Paul

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