Back to Borneo

Gallery: WildlifePosted May 6, 2011105 views14 comments

Canon EOS 7D, EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM + 2x TC @ 600mm, Aperture Priority @ f/5.6 (1/800 sec), +1/3 EV, ISO 2000, Tripod, Cropped About 30% in Total off the Upper and RH edges, Wild Subject

This is going to be my last post in the Wildlife forum for the next 10 days or so, as on Monday morning I'm off to Sabah, Borneo once again to see if I can bring back with me a better selection of quality images than I was able to last November. All being well, you'll get to see some of those later this month … and perhaps even beyond :^)

In light of this trip, I thought it would be fitting to post one more of the images I returned with last time, this one being a Maroon Langur AKA Red Leaf Monkey.

Needless to say, the subject here was sitting in some rather harsh lighting and there are a few areas where the highlights are completely blown out, nevertheless, for me they aren't so distracting as to ruin the image as a whole.

That said, always interested in reading other people's opinions, and thanks in advance for sharing them :^)

Comments

14 comments

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on May 7, 2011 at 12:14 AM

My opinion is: wow! I think you did really well with the light, and the colors of subject and BG are gorgeous, great detail on the subject and really nice background, great separation of subject from background. I really enjoy seeing this image.

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by Stephen Kaluski on May 7, 2011 at 3:41 AM

Hi Ashley, as you say, harsh light but you have dealt with it well, however, as usual, good detail and texture within the subject. Might work on the branch coming in on the rhs and perhaps drop the saturation in the BG a little, WDYT? I like the comp/framing positioning the subject to the left, looking behind you.

Good luck with your trip, look forward to seeing more.

TFS
Steve

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

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on May 7, 2011 at 9:58 PM

Thanks for taking the time to view and offer your thoughts Barbara and Steve :^)

Steve: I'm in complete agreement regarding the branch on the RHS - which I could easily remove - and desaturating the background, both things I should have seen and attended to before posting this one up ;^. As it happens, I developed this photo in Lightroom when I was still feeling my way with post-processing; had I started from scratch with what I know now (both in LR and PS) I'm sure I could make this appear better than it's presented here.

Bit pushed for time now - still haven't begun packing my bags! - but if I don't come back with a stack of much better captures of Maroon Langurs this time, I'll certainly rework this one again and post it up after my return. Thanks again for the feedback :^)

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments

Comment posted by Guy Runco on May 7, 2011 at 11:43 PM

Really nice shot - you did quite well with the harsh light, love that stoic expression!

Registered on September 9, 2008, 77 Posts, 705 Comments

Comment posted by Andrius Pašukonis on May 8, 2011 at 6:37 AM

I really like it and those tiny highlights don't bother me at all. It's a wonderful portrait of such a cool subject. Great expression, detail and color.

Registered on July 23, 2005, 111 Posts, 408 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on May 8, 2011 at 9:02 AM

HI Ashley,

Like the Steve and others have said, I think you handled the harsh lighting quite well from a technical perspective. Just like with humans, I'm not sure this lighting (directness and angle) particularly flatters the subject - the resulting images carries (at least to me) a tiny bit of a ghoulish and/or spooky mood (primarily due to, I think, how shaded/dark the eyes have ended up being).

Compositionally I'm fine with the shot - subject is well-positioned and the crop works just fine for me. The branch in the upper right corner did distract me a bit.

Enjoy your trip - good luck in capturing some wonderful images!

Cheers...

Brad

Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on May 8, 2011 at 10:06 AM

Much appreciate you taking the time to view and offer you thoughts and opinions Guy, Andruis, and Brad :^)

Brad: You may have hit the nail of the head by suggesting the angle of view combined with the lighting effect creates a "ghoulish and/or spooky mood", I couldn't actually find words to describe it well enough myself - imagine that! ;^p - but I felt there was something about this image that leaned toward provoking thought, which is what mainly appealed to me, and is something I hope to incorporate into most of the images I take. I may not always be able to plan this in advance, but as long as I can create images that lead others to run a little further with their imaginations while looking at a picture then I'll have achieved a large part of my goal in photographing wildlife, be it in the wild (as this one is) or in captivity :^)

Hope to be back soon enough with more thought-provoking images from the wilds of Borneo, all the very best meantime :^)

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments

Comment posted by Luca Mussato on May 8, 2011 at 11:39 AM

great detail, and as already said, you well managed the harsh lights. I also like the BG even if that branch is a little distracting, to me, as well as thas white spot over the shoulder. If it were mine, and i like it would, i would try to lighten the right(the leftmost for who look at the picture) eye and to add some shadows on the left side of the face (the rightmost for who watch it).

Enjoy your new trip,
Luca

Registered on November 14, 2006, 118 Posts, 855 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on May 8, 2011 at 2:21 PM

Ashley, looks like you handled the lighting quite well. Glad you took the shot in spite of it becasue this is a face not easily forgotten. Hope you all the best on that Borneo trip. Bet that's an experience and a half.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Anand Narayanan on May 8, 2011 at 3:40 PM

You seem to have great luck with primates ! Have seen these guys in mulu, sarawak but only from a distance

Have a great time in sabah and hope you bring us back some rarities

Registered on October 25, 2009, 110 Posts, 835 Comments

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on May 8, 2011 at 5:53 PM

Thanks for your comments and well wishes Luca, Wayne, and Anand :^)

Luca: As suggested above, I may well rework this one from scratch again after my return (if I don't have a lot more by then that came out a lot better!), so good job for pointing out the bright patch on the LH side, as well as suggestions for lightening up the eye and working some shadows and highlights on different sides of the face.

The bright patch may be a little tricky though, seeing as there are fine hairs from the subject's arm overlapping into it, but happy to give it a try.

Off to the airport in about half an hour, so best I wrap this up and make sure I don't leave anything important behind ... like my camera ;^p Looking forward to chatting with you all again soon after I'm back :^)

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Canuel on May 9, 2011 at 10:33 PM

What a great looking face. Looks like he's sad he can't join you. You did an excellent job of handling the light.

Registered on September 12, 2010, 53 Posts, 660 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on May 26, 2011 at 10:05 AM

I like the animals expression & your POV, nice details Ashley.
Won't waste your time with the nits already mentioned in this chain..
Like the title, engaging image!

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

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on May 27, 2011 at 3:52 AM

Thanks Steve and Howard for taking the time to view and leave comments :^)

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments