The Bossman, waking up

[Doorstop]

The Boss, waking up early in the morning, comments/crits welcome!

[Kodiak]

Hi Karin,

The exif reveals the this take was published by PS6…
As it was opened in the pixel editor, a quick look at the histogram could
have yield something like this: (would be better from the RAW file!)

[Doorstop]

[QUOTE=Kodiak;453673]Hi Karin,

The exif reveals the this take was published by PS6…
As it was opened in the pixel editor, a quick look at the histogram could
have yield something like this: (would be better from the RAW file!)

Kodiak, my apologies, you are too criptic for me? Would you mind just explaining a bit more?

[Mike Buckley]

Karin,

View the histogram of both versions. Notice that the data in Kodiak's version extends to the right side and that the major part of the histogram is also shifted to the right. That's evidence that the image was underexposed a bit but not so much that it couldn't have been corrected during post-processing. If you're not familiar with how to read a histogram, take a look at the CiC tutorial that explains that.

This is the type of photo that you could have reviewed the histogram immediately after capturing it. Once you had seen that it was a little underexposed, you could have adjusted your settings and captured an improved exposure.

[Kodiak]

… you are too criptic for me? Would you mind just explaining a bit more?

Sorry Karin, I do not have any idea of your level nor of your skills…

Your take was opened in PS6. As you were there, peeking at the histogram
would have warned to you that much more quality was captured but is still
not revealed in the final rendition. The grey cast in your picture is a strong
indication that the exposition needs tweaking. Once the exposition is brought
to a proper histogram representation, the colours are lively, popping, and the
micro-contrast reestablished.

In short: you could get more information out of, and better rendition of your
photograph if you take a look at the histogram.

[Doorstop]

Sorry Karin, I do not have any idea of your level nor of your skills…

Your take was opened in PS6. As you were there, peeking at the histogram
would have warned to you that much more quality was captured but is still
not revealed in the final rendition. The grey cast in your picture is a strong
indication that the exposition needs tweaking. Once the exposition is brought
to a proper histogram representation, the colours are lively, popping, and the
micro-contrast reestablished.

In short: you could get more information out of, and better rendition of your
photograph if you take a look at the histogram.

THANKS for this, Kodiak, I truly appreciate the advice. You are right, I do NOT read the histogram of shots and it is a habit I should get into.

I will definitely take a look at the tutorials!

[Doorstop]

Karin,

View the histogram of both versions. Notice that the data in Kodiak's version extends to the right side and that the major part of the histogram is also shifted to the right. That's evidence that the image was underexposed a bit but not so much that it couldn't have been corrected during post-processing. If you're not familiar with how to read a histogram, take a look at the CiC tutorial that explains that.

Thanks for the kind advice - I will DEFINITELY go to that tutorial. I plead guilty, I glance at the histogram in Lightroom, but I don't study it, and I will definitely get into that habit.

This is the type of photo that you could have reviewed the histogram immediately after capturing it. Once you had seen that it was a little underexposed, you could have adjusted your settings and captured an improved exposure.

.... errrr, this is a wild lion in a nature reserve... uhm, sorry if this comes out wrong, but lions sort of don't stick around and hold the pose while we check and change camera settings... we generally take the shot and post process...

[Mike Buckley]

Once you get used to viewing the histogram, always keep your eye on it during the entire time that you spend post-processing an image. Otherwise, you might start out with a fine histogram and end up with one that indicates blown highlights or shadows.

.... errrr, this is a wild lion in a nature reserve... uhm, sorry if this comes out wrong, but lions sort of don't stick around and hold the pose while we check and change camera settings...

That's not at all my experience of the time that I spent in two reserves in the South African bush. I spent about 3 or 4 days in both reserves and photographed lions and lionesses all but two days if I remember correctly. I always had plenty of time to check the histogram when photographing lions and lionesses.

Even when you come upon a situation that doesn't allow that luxury, you could photograph a similar scene to check the histogram before capturing the important subject. As an example, the lions that I saw tended to be in grassy areas that mostly matched their own color. As the automobile approached a lion, I could have photographed the grass, checked the exposure, and would have been ready to photograph the lion.

[AB26]

Karin,

A nice one, I like it.

The colour seems a tad off, the warmth of early morning Bushveld sun is missing.
I added .21EV increased a tad on the red channel and reduced the green a tad. Hope you don’t mind. If you have any objection I will remove my edit.

The nose is tack sharp but at the bridge between the eyes it gets softer. The DOF is a bit shallow for this shot. A smaller aperture was probably impossible unless you were shooting with a D3s or equivalent high ISO monster.

[Doorstop]

Karin,

A nice one, I like it.

The colour seems a tad off, the warmth of early morning Bushveld sun is missing.
I added .21EV increased a tad on the red channel and reduced the green a tad. Hope you don’t mind. If you have any objection I will remove my edit.

The nose is tack sharp but at the bridge between the eyes it gets softer. The DOF is a bit shallow for this shot. A smaller aperture was probably impossible unless you were shooting with a D3s or equivalent high ISO monster.

Andre, thanks I love what you did - I have always struggled with this particular one, just could not get the colour right. I have actually tried many colour adjustments, however I did not think of working with the red, worked with LR's orange, if I remember correctly.

I think I'll definitely go play around a bit with this one - it is one of my personal favourite lion portraits, but I have never managed to get the colour this close to actual Bushveld colouring.

[AB26]

Andre, thanks I love what you did

Thank you Mam.

I am always worried about messing it up. I am obsessed with getting the colour right in nature images.

If you don't mind me saying so: go have a look at Greg Du Toit's work. I have learned a lot from him by just studying his images.

[Doorstop]

Once you get used to viewing the histogram, always keep your eye on it during the entire time that you spend post-processing an image. Otherwise, you might start out with a fine histogram and end up with one that indicates blown highlights or shadows.

Thanks for the advice on using the histogram - I have already started checking up on this.

That's not at all my experience of the time that I spent in two reserves in the South African bush. I spent about 3 or 4 days in both reserves and photographed lions and lionesses all but two days if I remember correctly.

Mike, we are glad for you that you had a great experience in a park where the lions were tame and tolerant during your visits. At other game reserves we sometimes just have to take what is on offer.

We hope to see you back in SA soon.

[Doorstop]

Thank you Mam.

I am always worried about messing it up. I am obsessed with getting the colour right in nature images.

If you don't mind me saying so: go have a look at Greg Du Toit's work. I have learned a lot from him by just studying his images.

I truly appreciate - I tend to get stuck on Brendon, Wim, Kobus, Morkel, Andrew, et al's images, and don't look wider.

Wildlife is not really my strong point but I love doing it!

[Shadowman]

Karin,

Nice effort.

[Doorstop]

Karin,

Nice effort.

Thank you, John!

There is still also the nerves to contend with when this close to one of these kitties

[Mike Buckley]

We hope to see you back in SA soon.

That would be my pleasure. I have not enjoyed a trip more than our trip to South Africa and that's not just because of the time spent in the bush. The country has so much to offer and we didn't get close to seeing all of those basic offerings.

[Doorstop]

That would be my pleasure. I have not enjoyed a trip more than our trip to South Africa and that's not just because of the time spent in the bush. The country has so much to offer and we didn't get close to seeing all of those basic offerings.

That is very kind of you, Mike. I feel the same about the USA's East Coast, (excluding Boston).

[IzzieK]

Very nice,Karin...I like the edit of Kodiak...more pop in it. Also of Andre but like more of Kodiak's...

[Doorstop]

Very nice,Karin...I like the edit of Kodiak...more pop in it. Also of Andre but like more of Kodiak's...

Izzie, thanks for your comments - I like both of them very much. There is still the fact that the original lion's colouring was quite pale, however I like both the adaptations greatly.