I think this is another image that would look good in a large print. On my screen it just seems a bit dull and static. I'll bet it's tough getting something really special in a place like this. I thought the white areas were water or sand but remembered you said it was soda. The shadows on the mountains look quite blue. I wonder how a skylight might have helped or a bit of manipulation to give the shot a warmer look.
You're right about the image looking much better in a large print. Here are some other comments on the blue of the background.....
At 13:45 +0100 6/2/04, Chris wrote:
MMMM. A Safari. Looks like some game, good bit of meat. But you only got a picture. Did you sample the game meat while you were in the park? The
Background is blue, presumably because of ultra-violet. So you need a UV filter. And a High Solar input film for Africa
Did not sample the game. I'm a vegetarian. One more comment on the blue background......
At 10:16 -0400 6/4/04, Emily L. Ferguson wrote:
Seems like a graduated neutral density filter would have been of some use, or a lot of time dodging the hills behind. The bg is very dark and so are the necks of the giraffes while the feet are burning. Would have been handy if the sun had decided to come out behind the animals while you were shooting.... Also, would have been nicer if there had been a way to make the animals appear in some pattern. Of course they're random, they're not posing, but they look sufficiently random that it looks like a snapshot
Well, the aerial perspective of the shot is what appealed to me in the first place. I like the transition from the cool blue background to the warmer foreground. I fiddled with various permutations in Photoshop and in the end decided to leave it as I saw it. The legs of the giraffes are white which doesn't help to contrast them with the white soil. I do agree that a more pleasing arrangement of the herd would have materially contributed to the shot but in the wild, one takes what one can get.
Thanks to all who took the time to comment. Your perspectives help to make me a better photographer.
Jim Baja Oregon
