A Safari Scene

[cousinmacho]

Hi,

I was going to post this in 'Wildlife' but I feel that this forum is more appropriate. I'm a new user so please tell me if I've made a mistake and I'll be happy to delete the thread (assuming I can!).

Taken on a recent safari in Kenya - I'm actually pretty happy with the shot but something about it is bugging me.

I think it's the colours - I didn't actually do too much to this in post-processing, as the colours were quite vibrant anyway. But have I overdone it, do you think?

Also, it's unfortunate that the elephants are in shadow, but I couldn't really find a way to brighten them without compromising the rest of the photo.

Would appreciate your thoughts.

EXIF:

Camera Nikon D50 + 18-200mm VR w/polarising filter
Exposure 0.013 sec (1/80)
Aperture f/8.0
Focal Length 34 mm
ISO Speed 200


Elephants at the Watering Hole by cousinmacho, on Flickr

[gturner]

that sand can be that colour, it is just unfortunate that you got the wrong side of the ellies (more silhouette than detail.)

Is that the full image or did you crop it, it looks a little tight.

[milosh]

I think this is a very nice photo overall. The elephants are a bit too dark, but that is a dynamic range issue. You can try to fix that in post-processing. The only thing that is bothering me in this shot is the difference in the sky. The upper right corner is much darker than the left one. Brightening up that corner would probably do the trick. Nice photo!

[cousinmacho]

Thanks guys, those are really helpful comments.

gturner: This is the full image. Can see what you mean about it being quite tight, though if memory serves, going any wider would've meant that the roof posts of the van we were riding in would have been in the photo.

milosh: Thanks. I did try to brighten up the elephants, but it wasn't quite working. I think that's more a case of me being lazy and needing to learn how to use masks properly! I hadn't actually noticed the difference in the sky, but now you mention it I see exactly what you mean!

[milosh]

Try this, open the photo in Photoshop, click the new layer button in the layers palette. This will create a new empty layer above your background layer. Set that new empty layer to Soft light blend mode.
Now, zoom in to 100%, take a white brush, set brush opacity to maybe 30%, and carefully paint over the elephants. As you paint, you'll see them getting brighter. If you want more of it, just paint them one more time. To clarify: you're painting with white brush on an empty layer set to Soft light blend mode. It way easier than using adjustment layers and masks.

[cousinmacho]

Great, I'll give it a try!

I normally use a 50% grey layer set to 'Overlay' and do a similar thing, but I'll give your method a go. I probably just need to be more patient when I'm lightening the various parts of the photo.

[kenichiukiya]

IMHO, I don't mind the difference of colour in the sky as it shows me where the sun is shining from. And yes if you brighten the elephants a bit this photo will be great!! Also the little bunch of bush in the foreground may be distracting for some people (but not me =P)

Nice shot overall!