Eye for Detail

Gallery: WildlifePosted November 15, 2011218 views13 comments

This is an attempt to create an interesting abstract of an elephant eye. I am not too sure if I succeeded though, you tell me.

I tried B&W, but preferred the color one with the eye popping out much better with that contrasting bright color.

Close-up of an eye of an African Elephant cow (Loxodonta africana)
Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana
Camera Model Canon EOS 1D Mark IV
Shutter Speed 1/500 Sec.
Aperture Value f/8
ISO Speed 200
Lens EF500mm f/4L IS USM + 1.4x TC
app 95 % of original

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on November 15, 2011 at 3:02 PM

IMO it works mainly because of the vibrant color in the eye, so I'm glad you didn't convert it.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by John Fan on November 15, 2011 at 3:22 PM

Nice capture. Although the elephant looks a little shy. I wish there is direct eye contact.

Registered on August 24, 2010, 135 Posts, 489 Comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on November 15, 2011 at 4:51 PM

Nice image. I agree it would be a stronger image if the eye was looking directly at the camera. Still, a neat photo with very good detail. Thanks for sharing.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Walters on November 15, 2011 at 8:22 PM

Love the detail in the skin and the eye really stands out. LIke how you can see the white of the eye as well. Looks a little more dramatic.

Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on November 16, 2011 at 5:15 AM

I like the wild look in her eye! IMO, the image might benefit with a little bit of burning to bring out the texture of the skin better....?

Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on November 16, 2011 at 12:22 PM

Ajit, you remarked:

the image might benefit with a little bit of burning to bring out the texture of the skin better....?

Don't get me wrong I welcome all critiques, but am just very surprised about this one. More detail, really??? I already enhanced detail quite a bit from the out-of-camera image and don't think there is much more there!

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

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on November 16, 2011 at 4:44 PM

Is the eye color natural? It sure offers a "wild" feeling!

Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments

Comment posted by Roman Kurywczak on November 16, 2011 at 9:21 PM

Love the eye here Vincent and glad you left it in color!

Registered on November 20, 2009, 56 Posts, 748 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on November 16, 2011 at 10:51 PM

Hi Lon, yep, that eye color is natural. A minor contrast adjustment may have increased the saturation a little, but not much.

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

Comment posted by Rob Graham on November 17, 2011 at 9:59 PM

fantastic detail, Vincent. Direct eye contact may have made this stronger, but I like the multi layered look to the turned eye.

Registered on August 22, 2006, 842 Posts, 2824 Comments

Comment posted by Margaret Summers on November 18, 2011 at 10:28 AM

This is a nice closeup, especially with the wierd eye color. I was in Tanzania this spring and never saw that. I don't mind the lack of eye contact, since the detail in the eye is so interesting. ps. I just browsed my elephant closeups, and you can see brown and blue through the eyelashes. This elephant needs visine!

Registered on May 24, 2011, 54 Posts, 99 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on November 18, 2011 at 11:36 AM

Hi Margaret, thank you for your comment. The eye color as such is not uncommon (at least around here - also note that light has a lot to do with how color, in general, is seen), but you are right that elephant eyes are notoriously difficult to see due to normally present long eyelashes that face downward to shade their eyes from the sun.

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

Comment posted by Clinton Bauder on November 22, 2011 at 1:50 AM

My first instinct on seeing this image was that I wanted eye contact. But as I've looked at it more I think it's better this way. It kind of gives the elephant a pensive look which has quite a bit of personality for an abstract closeup. The bottom of the frame with the hint of a mouth and trunk really makes it. I really like how even though this is really close it's still (to my eye) obviously an elephant and how your mind fills in all the rest of the animal. Neat shot.

Clinton

Registered on December 8, 2009, 31 Posts, 231 Comments