During my most recent Brazil tour, we had quite a few sightings of the South American tapir. It was blazing hot in the Amazon (close to 100F each day), so they were cooling themselves in the river at times. We found this one hidden under some vines and branches by the bank. I instantly wondered how the play of light and shadow would look in monochrome.
It’s already been a while since I worked on this, so I’m a bit muddled remembering the process, but I believe I toned down a few of the highlights (those ear tips were even brighter) and may have burned background roots on the shore a bit darker.
I like the snoot on this guy. Using shadows as a way for enhancing composition is certainly an under utilized technique. The shadows provide an interesting pattern on the face of the tapir. I wish that there was more room on the LH side and bottom as the tapir’s eye is dead center in the frame. Other than that, a fantastic look at one of these secretive animals…Jim
Jim, really interesting observation about the eye. I think I was focusing more on the geometry of the head shape, so the eye wasn’t as crucial to me at first glance. Now that I’m focusing more attention on it, I don’t necessarily mind it at the center of the shape… to me it doesn’t feel like this portrait is influencing any sort of directional viewing horizontally that might make me wish the eye were balanced differently (e.g., one of the “thirds”). I can see how the sharp lines of the eyelid really draw attention compared to the softer shadows surrounding it, but overall I’m comfortable with this being a center-oriented composition.
Very interesting play of light and shadows here, I also like the intensity of eye !
I’ve no problems with center-oriented composition but find it a bit too tight.