Wild or Domestic? - FM Forums

Moderated by: guardian

Visit the FM Store · Image Upload · Buy & Sell
FM Forum Rules
Rules: One new topic per day

FM Forums | Nature & Wildlife | Join Image Upload
end

surf monkey
Offline
Image Upload: On

p.1 #1 · Wild or Domestic?

Lions at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. Morning, backlit.
I don't really think that these animals are wild or natural, but I wouldn't want to be inside with them.

Comments & critiques welcome.
I think that #1 may have been overprocessed. This was inspired by Steven Rood's animal portraits.

#1 taken with a Canon 20D and Canon 300f4is, no filter, 1/1,000 sec, f4
#2 taken with a Canon 40D and Canon 300f4is, no filter, 1/500 sec, f4
#3 taken with a Canon 40D and Canon 300f4is, no filter, 1/400 sec, f4

2008 © surf monkey

Exif information
Model	Canon EOS 20D
Date	2008:08:05 22:53:21
Original date	2006:10:31 15:32:11
Exposure time	1/1000 sec
Focal length	300mm
Focal number	f/4.0
ISO speed	200 ISO
Exposure compensation	-0.3

Exif information
Model	Canon EOS 40D
Date	2008:08:05 22:53:32
Original date	2008:01:26 09:31:28
Exposure time	1/500 sec
Focal length	300mm
Focal number	f/4.0
ISO speed	200 ISO
Exposure compensation	+0.3

Exif information
Model	Canon EOS 40D
Date	2008:08:05 22:50:17
Original date	2008:01:26 09:42:00
Exposure time	1/400 sec
Focal length	300mm
Focal number	f/4.0
ISO speed	200 ISO
Exposure compensation	+0.3

Aug 06, 2008 at 05:55 AM

Lil Judd
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #2 · Wild or Domestic?

I love # 2 & 3, but something feel "off" with # 1 - - something about the mane, his face is stunning, but - - I don't know how to put it. Something just feels "off"

But you caught some beautiful moments.

Lil

Aug 06, 2008 at 05:58 AM

surf monkey
Offline
Image Upload: On

p.1 #3 · Wild or Domestic?

Lil Judd, I know what you mean.
I think it's the high contrast of the light hairs of the mane right of the face.
That's just the way the contrast came out after converting to b&w in Photoshop.
I think I'll try to reduce the contrast on the light parts.
The overall feel needs to be softened a bit.

Thanks for the input.

Aug 06, 2008 at 06:08 AM

Lil Judd
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #4 · Wild or Domestic?

I have any idea for you.

I love the face, it's the mane that just came out - - - "off"....

Maybe some selective blur of the mane would help - - worth trying....

# 2 is just wonderful - - no one would know that's a "zoo" setting...

Lil

Aug 06, 2008 at 06:20 AM

mabidally
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #5 · Wild or Domestic?

No1 is a beautiful conversion, perhaps pixellating a bit.

Aug 06, 2008 at 08:41 AM

anthony whitmo
Offline
Image Upload: On

p.1 #6 · Wild or Domestic?

Super job
Great images
Well done

Ant

Aug 06, 2008 at 02:32 PM

Brenton Biggs
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #7 · Wild or Domestic?

These are great! I do too really enjoy the first image

Aug 06, 2008 at 02:44 PM

milmoejoe
Offline
Buy and Sell: On

p.1 #8 · Wild or Domestic?

#1 is definitely a lifetime keeper shot, congrats! Blow it up on some canvas and enjoy it!

Aug 06, 2008 at 02:52 PM

90 5.0
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #9 · Wild or Domestic?

I absolutely love #1, If I had taken that it would be blown up and hanging on my wall in the entryway in my house!!

Aug 06, 2008 at 02:56 PM

Paul Walden
Offline
Image Upload: On

p.1 #10 · Wild or Domestic?

#1 and #2 are tops! Don't have any real issues with the mane - looks a bit lithographic, I think.

All lions in 1 and 2 seem to be thoughtful; to me, they have very emotional facial expressions. The big male is clearly letting his mind wander, and get a load of the body language of the female. I think you managed to capture personalities here. Good work!

Cheers,
Paul

Aug 06, 2008 at 03:34 PM

surf monkey
Offline
Image Upload: On

p.1 #11 · Wild or Domestic?

Two new versions for #1.
Slight blur to the mane. Reduced contrast. I didn't want to do too much.
B is slightly darker than C.

At this small scale and on my monitor, I'm not sure which one I like more.
I guess that I'll have to print it and put it on a wall to really find out.
Any votes for your favorite?

Thanks, everyone for the input.

2008 © surf monkey

Aug 06, 2008 at 03:34 PM

Karl Witt
Offline
Image Upload: On

p.1 #12 · Wild or Domestic?

I'm sticking with #1 and I think it is just grrrrrrrrrreat! I love the mood that it evokes as well as the tonal qualities. If there were just a wee bit more eye contact it would be spectacular. I also like #2 just fine and would love to see #3 the same way. A very nice way of presentation IMO

Karl

Aug 06, 2008 at 04:26 PM

shelleyc
Offline
Image Upload: On

p.1 #13 · Wild or Domestic?

I like each and every one of these ... all of them are just great. I actually love all of these... couldn't pick a favorite. Great job.

Aug 06, 2008 at 04:39 PM

Genes Home
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #14 · Wild or Domestic?

Like the first one..............large and on canvas if you can afford it.

one of the best B&W of anything I have seen in a long time.

Definately one to be proud of, regardless of where it was taken.

REALLY great work.

Aug 06, 2008 at 04:49 PM

Tim Kuhn
Online
Image Upload: On

p.1 #15 · Wild or Domestic?

Number 1 is number 1. Very well done.

Tim

Aug 06, 2008 at 09:41 PM

Alistair Watson
Offline
Image Upload: On

p.1 #16 · Wild or Domestic?

I really like # 2 and 3, particularly 3, it makes me smile!

# 1 reminds me of that Dragan (sp?) filter look, maybe there is just too much mane! Great portrait though.

Aug 06, 2008 at 09:45 PM

RT v Genugten
Offline
Image Upload: On

p.1 #17 · Wild or Domestic?

Number 1 is number 1, to say it in Tim's words,
But this accounts also for number 2 and number 3!

Excellent work!

nb, I don't think there is something like a domestic lion, these animals are wild and stay wild, never forget that! (well, my cat might be a domestic lion, come to think of it

)

RT.

Aug 06, 2008 at 09:54 PM

Raindrop_333
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #18 · Wild or Domestic?

All 3 are gorgeous, but I'm really drawn to the first one most

So dramatic.

Jenna

Aug 06, 2008 at 10:28 PM

PaulCal
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #19 · Wild or Domestic?

#2 does it for me. Very nice

Did you shoot in B&W or just PS it that way?

Paul

Aug 06, 2008 at 10:54 PM

surf monkey
Offline
Image Upload: On

p.1 #20 · Wild or Domestic?

Paul,

Thanks for the nice comments.

I shoot everything in RAW with a small JPEG.
I use the RAW (color) file for anything I want to adjust. I use the JPEGs mostly for emailing and web.
All my post work is done in Photoshop CS3.
I've recently changed my b&w conversion process by using the excellent black & white adjustment layer. It's a huge time saver over my older methods. Then I apply the sepia with a hue/saturation adjustment.
I'm not a photographer by trade, I'm a graphic designer - so I use the standard design tools.

Aug 06, 2008 at 11:32 PM

surf monkey
Offline
Image Upload: On

p.1 #21 · Wild or Domestic?

Hey Lil Judd,

Do you prefer the original or the new variations of #1?
Just wondering since you have the same "issue" with the mane that I do.
I think I might have to print it large to see if one is better than the others.

Thanks again for the input.

Aug 06, 2008 at 11:37 PM

surf monkey
Offline
Image Upload: On

p.1 #22 · Wild or Domestic?

Aug 08, 2008 at 01:12 AM

Doug Bentlage
Offline
Image Upload: On

p.1 #23 · Wild or Domestic?

Definitely like your final version best, beautiful shot! Large canvas sounds good!

Doug

Aug 08, 2008 at 01:18 AM


FM Forums \| Nature & Wildlife \| Join Image Upload end