What changed: I played around with the framing as was suggested. I couldn’t add much vertical space as I was limited by the opening of the sunken hide. I tried a square version, desaturated the trees and tried to tweak the sky on the horizon a bit. Thoughts?
Added after receiving feedback from the community.
The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
We were enjoying a buried hide at a waterhole in Chyulu Hills in Kenya that gave a ground level view when this giraffe sauntered in for a drink. After lowering into position he enjoyed a nice long drink. He would look up now and then to check his surroundings but he was very comfortable and relaxed.
Specific Feedback
I would appreciate any thoughts on framing, lighting and color. It was hard to give him a lot more room as he was very close. I appreciate all your wisdom and expertise in how I could make this photo better or how I could take a better photo in the first place. Thanks.
Hi Timothy,
Nice image. I can write my impressions rather than technical aspect. It brings me a laugh and a smile seeing the big guy trying to drink water and putting some of it out.
This is one of those images, Timothy, that jumps right at you and demands a closer look. Love it. I wouldn’t mind a bit more room on the sides, but I understand your constraints. Excellent capture.
HI Timothy, what a great pose and action captured. As stated, a little more room may have been nice but I am really enjoying this head on in your face view with the spray of water as an added bonus. Well done.
Great shot Timothy, those “sunken hides” really do offer a unique perspective. As with all wildlife shooting you are constrained by your environment and your access to the animals. You have done well here, Giraffes do look slightly odd when drinking and you have shown this to maximum effect. The strong colours add to the overall effect. The birds are a nice bonus.
Ryan, thanks for your comments. The sunken hides can be a little restrictive but they are so much fun. It’s like a reality show except it actually is real. Amazing the interactions.
I like @JRajput 's idea of adding more canvas vertically, but I feel there could be another version cropped in a little further. I am not a fan of square crops, but it may work…and, worth a play.
Would you consider desaturating the greens in the background?
Would you consider lifting shadows on the animals eyes?
Would you consider playing with the colour of the sky toward the horizon?
One has to admire the giraffe’s total lack of self-consciousness: legs arranged in a manner that suggests a Savanna-based game of Twister gone badly wrong, water escaping from its chin with the mournful dignity of a Normandy summer. You’ve caught the whole glorious debacle at precisely the right moment, the kind of timing that takes either extraordinary skill or the patience of someone who has absolutely nowhere better to be. Giraffe drinking: a masterclass in perseverance over elegance.
As for the grin that outlasted the critique, well. That is arguably the highest possible score a photograph can receive, and no amount of fussing over midtones will top it.
Here’s my revised version. I tried adding some space vertically but was limited by the opening of the hide. Thanks so much for the suggestion, I enjoyed working on the image.
