Relaxed Bison/Repost2

Gallery: WildlifePosted November 21, 2013173 views11 comments

For some reason, I was not using my DSLR for this capture, but it is one of my favorite bison photos, even though the beast is fully relaxed. This image is from Yellowstone National Park under a pretty sky.

Please comment and critique. I tried to lighten and sharpen the fur on the head, but didn't fully succeed.

Equipment: Canon SD770 is, zoom at 18.6mm, handheld

Exposure: 1/640s, f/4.9, iso 80

Crop: About 10% of right side cropped out to make more space to bison's left.

Post processing in Lightroom 5: Many pieces of dry grass removed from head, attempt to lighten and sharpen the fur on the head head and by dodging. The tail seems fuzzy beyond repair.

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on November 22, 2013 at 1:21 AM

Randy,
What a pity you did not have your DSLR!
This gives a great sense of size and power.
Not knowing what you use for post processing makes it difficult to advise on opening up the shadows, but I had a quick go with shadows and highlights only using a slight opening up of shadows between 5 and 10, nothing on highlights.

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments

Comment posted by Randy Runtsch on November 22, 2013 at 5:59 AM

Thanks, Ken. I just upgraded from Lightroom 4 to Lightroom 5 two evenings ago, and installed Photoshop CC for the first time as well (used it on one photo so far). I'll try to open up the shadows a little more.

Registered on October 30, 2013, 50 Posts, 445 Comments

Comment posted by Ralph Kerr on November 22, 2013 at 6:49 AM

Great Bison, and that sky really adds. My only nit, and you mention it, is that I wish the eye were visible, sometimes hard to get in these guys.

Registered on January 30, 2007, 369 Posts, 852 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on November 22, 2013 at 10:58 AM

Beautiful colors here, Randy. I can see why this would be a favorite and it is a real shame you did not use your DSLR to maximize the opportunity. I agree about the shadow area and find an slight overall lack of fine detail, all probably from equipment limitation.

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

Comment posted by Robert Strickland on November 22, 2013 at 1:21 PM

A relaxed bison is a wonderful subject. I wish the head were lighter or less shadows so you can see some detail around the face. over all I like the angle of the bison to the sky, the blue makes the picture except for some shadowing

Registered on January 16, 2005, 96 Posts, 72 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on November 22, 2013 at 8:01 PM

The fuzzy tail doesn't bother me, Randy-that's just motion. I can see why you like this-it's a very nice pose and a gorgeous sky.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Jack Bell on November 22, 2013 at 8:05 PM

Very nice. I like the relaxed pose.

Registered on April 24, 2007, 55 Posts, 71 Comments

Comment posted by Randy Runtsch on November 23, 2013 at 4:03 PM

Thank you for the comments and suggestions, everyone. In the original image, the fur on the head is a bit fuzzy. This new version is brighter overall, with an attempt to sharpen and lighten the head. The head of this noble beast is better defined now.

Registered on October 30, 2013, 50 Posts, 445 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on November 24, 2013 at 1:50 AM

Randy,

The re-post has perhaps gone a little to far in lightening the head, I wonder if you could selectively darken this area?

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments

Comment posted by Randy Runtsch on November 24, 2013 at 7:09 AM

Ken, you are spot on; thank you. Here is another version with the head darkened to a level somewhere between the original and last images. Also, a blown out area of the cloud has been burned in.

Registered on October 30, 2013, 50 Posts, 445 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on November 24, 2013 at 11:17 AM

Huge improvement in the reposted image, too bad you didn't have your DSLR as Ken has said.
Still a very cool shot Randy

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments