Over his Domain (+ repost)

Gallery: WildlifePosted May 5, 2009556 views14 comments

Hello all,

While it's not really conventional having an animal looking away from the viewer, I think it can work quite well in the 'animalscape' type shots. This was one of the first black rhino to be reintroduced into Nakuru ntl park, and when we found him early on this beautiful misty morning I had to try and incorporate more of his surroundings into the shot. I think it works quite well, but I'd love to hear your opinion! (The processing might be a bit off as I did this on my uncalibrated laptop monitor, so let me know if you think brightness/contrast is an issue. I wanted it to be fairly dark and moody - maybe I overdid it?)

Techs: 280mm, 1/400s, f10, iso 320

Billy

p.s. He has had his horn sawn off... one of the more drastic anti-poaching methods of the kenya wildlife service in the 1980s!

Comments

14 comments

Comment posted by Jorne de Bruin on May 5, 2009 at 10:27 AM

Hi Billy,

very cool, I like the fact that he is looking away from the camera a lot here actually, It's like you are looking with him instead of at him, well done!! Further I really like the misty transition of the trees to the hills in the background, it provides for some great depth. I do have to remarks though, I would be tempted to crop a sliver off the sky at the top and yes I do think the colour is somewhat off, it's just a little too red I think, not by much (it is morning light), but enough to be noticed.

Cheers!

Jorne

Registered on June 26, 2008, 178 Posts, 2136 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Marcellini on May 5, 2009 at 10:31 AM

The one animal that eluded us. We saw maybe 15 whites in the park but the black just wouldn't show their faces. I had heard about the horns but our guide said they no longer do it. I like this a lot and agree with the recommendations of Jorne. The layers and depths are really nice.

Registered on November 27, 2007, 250 Posts, 2468 Comments

Comment posted by Billy Fairburn on May 5, 2009 at 10:58 AM

Thanks guys, somethings gone a bit funny with my monitor recently - I guess I changed something by mistake! I'll try a repost later.

Paul, I know how you feel! Most of the time these are deep in the forest - we were lucky to get this guy out in the open. Theres been talk of translocating some of the white rhinos back out now, there are so many of them! Things have changed a lot since they needed to saw off horns

Registered on March 3, 2007, 123 Posts, 717 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on May 5, 2009 at 11:22 AM

I love this one Billy, it has a great sense of depth. A very moody image. I do not mind that it is looking away from the viewer at all and, like Jorne, feel that is one of the strong points in this image. I also like the colorscheme, but do agree it looks a tad too dark and redish (FG only)

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on May 5, 2009 at 12:43 PM

Hey Billy,

I very much like this shot as presented. It looks like the rhino is appreciating the view as much as you (or we) were/are. I don't think your processing is off by much here - I like the contrast and light on the rhino and if the image were mine the first (and likely only) thing I would do would be to back off on the saturation of the foreground a little (probably around 10% only). I'm fine with the crop as is - the sky (and amount of it) doesn't bother me at all (tho' this is, of course, a matter of personal preference).

Cheers...thanks for sharing this very appealing shot...

Brad

Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on May 5, 2009 at 1:06 PM

Boy, this makes me want to explore that territory he is overlooking. I like this shot. It suggests many wondrous possibilities. Maybe a bit dark on my monitor but no big deal.

Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments

Comment posted by Billy Fairburn on May 5, 2009 at 1:48 PM

Thanks for all the comments - I've toned down the red and cropped a bit off the top (although I think I prefer the original crop...) Is this a bit better?

Registered on March 3, 2007, 123 Posts, 717 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on May 5, 2009 at 1:58 PM

Colorwise certainly more realistic IMO Billy. But I would stick to the original crop.

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on May 5, 2009 at 2:11 PM

hey Billy,

My comments mirror Vincent's: colour is better but I prefer the original crop.

Cheers...

Brad

Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on May 12, 2009 at 12:21 AM

This week we had three very captivating ‘animalscapes’ in the gallery that were all candidates for this week’s pick. These are all winners in their own right, and honestly I love each and every one of them, but alas I had to pick one… Maybe I am a bit biased as an Africa photographer, but so be it.

This is a truly beautiful photo, one that breaths the atmosphere of the African plains. As Billy said himself, this is a good example that an image whereby the subject is unconventionally looking away from the viewer can work very well indeed.
Congrats Billy, your creative approach, eager to learn attitude and increasing skill have brought you close to the EP a few times but this week is yours!

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by Rosemarie Arbur on May 12, 2009 at 2:17 AM

The pose is classic; great photo!

Registered on March 19, 2008, 189 Posts, 1644 Comments

Comment posted by Billy Fairburn on May 12, 2009 at 5:32 PM

Wow, Brad and Vincent, thankyou both so much! It's humbling to be picked out of so many great shots, and good to know my images are starting to improve!

Thanks

Registered on March 3, 2007, 123 Posts, 717 Comments

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on May 14, 2009 at 4:16 AM

billy, i like this - the layers are perfect as is the comp with him looking away. i'd be inclined to brighten slightly (make it slightly more believable) but the colour, IMO, is spot on. i know those nakuru colours!

Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments

Comment posted by Darren Colello on July 31, 2009 at 3:11 PM

This is an amazing perspective. Very well captured. This is an inspiring image of an endangered species and a wild ecosystem. I really like it.

Registered on July 27, 2009, 175 Posts, 1100 Comments