(G)old glory

Gallery: WildlifePosted March 26, 2013709 views14 comments

This is the same old lion full of porcupine quills I posted earlier in my post 'Wear&tear', but taken with a much shorter FL.

I used three bracketed exposures to recreate this high contrast scene closer to how it was perceived through human eyes, since that was impossible to achieve with one exposure.

Southern Kalahari, Botswana
Camera Model Canon EOS-1DX
Shutter Speed 1/160 + 400 + 1600 Sec. (blend of 3 exposures)
Aperture Value f/2.8
ISO Speed 1000
Lens EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM @ 70 mm
beanbag
FF

Comments

14 comments

Comment posted by Elizabeth Arellano on March 26, 2013 at 1:15 AM

Beautiful. Perhaps a little more light on the lion?

Registered on February 18, 2008, 35 Posts, 302 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on March 26, 2013 at 3:34 AM

Epic Kalahari skies indeed, Vincent, and you've got to love the open plains.
I think the exposure looks natural (as it would to the human eye, as per your post), though I might be tempted to lighten the lion a wee bit for aesthetic value while trying to keep it looking natural?

Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments

Comment posted by Martin Dunn on March 26, 2013 at 6:45 AM

Great colours Vincent. Very natural. Though as I am learning natural is not always best. I do agree with Elizabeth and Morkel that a bit more light in the foreground might be good, especially to bring up the lion.
Makes me wish I was over there and not here in the snow.

Registered on February 20, 2013, 198 Posts, 1011 Comments

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on March 26, 2013 at 9:50 AM

Hi Vincent!
You blended the frames nicely & I agree about lightening the lion. However, horizon cutting the frame in middle is bit annoying.
Jagdeep Rajput

Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on March 26, 2013 at 12:36 PM

I am glad you are not still photographing from under the vehicle! Lovely colors make this compelling. Would a little brightness added just to the lion help lift it from the darker surroundings without appearing unnatural?

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

Comment posted by Stephen Kaluski on March 26, 2013 at 1:28 PM

Interesting exposure workflow Vincent, trust you are enjoying the 1DX, it's awesome.

Personally would prefer 2/3 sky, 1/3 FG with lion to create more interest and greater scope for the setting. Nice one.

TFS
Steve

Registered on March 25, 2007, 189 Posts, 1064 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on March 26, 2013 at 2:18 PM

Thanks for the comments all, very interesting as I thought I would get comments that the lion is too light compared to how the human eye would perceive this scene!

Anyway lightening it further would really go against what I feel is right here. I do agree on the comp; the horizon spitting the frame in the middle is not ideal. A lower angle however was not really possible and a wider angle (shorter FL) would have made the lion too small in the frame...

@Steve, yeah that 1DX is really cool

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on March 27, 2013 at 12:14 AM

Great title Vincent. You have captured the feel for the dusk lighting very effectively. Keeping the lion a bit darker in the fading light seems appropriate to emphasize the old lion's plight, a metaphor in other words; the "sunset" years, don't let the sun go down on me... Unique photo Vincent, one I'll remember.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Stephen Kaluski on March 27, 2013 at 4:48 AM

The awesome combination is the 1DX & MKIV, gives you the best of both worlds and IQ.

Registered on March 25, 2007, 189 Posts, 1064 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Andrews on March 27, 2013 at 8:38 AM

A glorious image Vincent, pardon the pun,

I would have preferred a little more room at the bottom of the frame but like the lighting exactly as it is. Great shot, thanks for sharing.

Registered on December 31, 2011, 45 Posts, 222 Comments

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on March 27, 2013 at 8:46 AM

On hindsight, would it be possible to take two images, one exposed for the sky, and the other for the foreground, and then do a HDR processing?

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

Comment posted by William Bickle on March 27, 2013 at 1:54 PM

Hello Vincent

Can feel the Image OOZING MOOD!! Maybe a little less Horizon, but a Great feel to this

Bill

Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on March 27, 2013 at 3:40 PM

@Ajit: two exposures could have worked yes, but then still I would have changed exposure on one of them, and still end up blending three images. Three correct exposure resulted in better IQ. Further used luminosity masks for the middle section. Using only two without changing exposures would have resulted in too abrupt a transition. A gradient could have worked, but really it was all about maximizing IQ. Hope that makes sense to you

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

Comment posted by Paul Marcellini on April 1, 2013 at 11:58 AM

Looks very natural, though I agree to brighten at least the face for aesthetics.

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