Brenda Fishbaugh, QPSA  


Curious Cub by Brenda Fishbaugh, QPSA

August 2020 - Curious Cub

August 2020 - Brenda Fishbaugh, QPSA

Original

About the Image(s)

For this month, I've chosen a photo from March 2012, that I've always wanted to work on, but haven't known where to start. So I'd love some thoughts on direction.

This was taken in the Masai Mara, on one of the last days of our 3 week safari in Kenya. We were watching a huge lion pride go right by us, and my husband kept trying to get my attention, and I was quite annoyed, as the pride was a parade of lionesses and cubs wandering past us and ignoring us. Steve finally got me to turn around and this little cub had climbed a tree on the opposite side of our Range Rover and was staring at our backs, dreaming of the time when he might eat us.

It's handheld, a Canon T3i, and a Tamron lens--18-270. You can see my inexpert camera skills by a shutter speed of only 1/80th. ISO 320, 219 mm, f/6.3 and 1/80 sec.

I am hoping to enter it in PSA Nature, so I think I can't do much to it--let me know if I've already overstepped. I've cropped and dodge/burned, which I know I can do. I have used Smart Sharpen and Topaz AI Clear. I also used Motion Blur in Photoshop, which really helped the long lens and slow shutter speed softness.

Any thoughts on a title and crop? Any other post-processing suggestions? Normally, I would remove many of the distracting branches, but I think that's not allowed.


This round’s discussion is now closed!
23 comments posted




Geoff Wiggins   Geoff Wiggins
(Group 70)
Wow, what a pic Brenda, you and Mervyn are wetting my apatite for Africa. Luck you for watching a lion pride. In my books the way in which you have captured the little fellow, in a tree and staring at you is just great. If I read the PSA rules for nature the value of the animal doing something over rides the technical correctness of the shot. That is not to say the technique should be ignored. I think that your post processing has done well to get the best out of the shot. The others in the group may have got better ideas how to work on the shot but I am impressed. I would be happy to take him home.   Posted: 08/01/2020 22:12:43



Pierre Williot   Pierre Williot
Very nice portrait of a Lion cub observing from his high point. I really like his intelligent gaze. He looks mischievous!
I find that the bright above his back to be distracting. If allowed, I would darken that area.
He is just beautiful!   Posted: 08/02/2020 16:37:02
Brenda Fishbaugh   Brenda Fishbaugh
(Group 78)
Thanks, Pierre! Check out my 3 latest versions below and see if the background still needs to be darkened.   Posted: 08/12/2020 19:51:57
Brenda Fishbaugh   Brenda Fishbaugh
(Group 78)
Another version added tonight. What do you think?   Posted: 08/23/2020 20:18:53



Mervyn Hurwitz   Mervyn Hurwitz
What a beautiful image you have captured of this little cub. The pose and expression are darling. I would definitely darken the background by burning or using multiply with the history brush tool. That does not change any of the content and should be permissible under PSA guidelines.   Posted: 08/06/2020 11:48:51
Brenda Fishbaugh   Brenda Fishbaugh
(Group 78)
I have got to get smarter about the history brush tool! I added 3 new versions below. Do you still find the background distracting?   Posted: 08/12/2020 19:53:06



Candy Childrey   Candy Childrey
(Group 34)
Great capture on the fly, Brenda. In my opinion, your best option is to process the image again using the Adobe Camera Raw Filter. It has been a long time since I have competed in PSA Exhibitions. So I looked at the Nature rules. Contrast, reducing highlights, reducing saturation, sharpening are allowed. This is what I used in ACR filter-highlights -100, dehaze + 79, texture +19, clarity +6, in color mixer yellows -42, oranges -13. Then back to basic panel vibrance -20.   Posted: 08/06/2020 15:20:35
Comment Image
Pierre Williot   Pierre Williot
Really nice!   Posted: 08/07/2020 07:18:27
Brenda Fishbaugh   Brenda Fishbaugh
(Group 78)
Thanks so much, Candy! I did like the softer light, as it framed the lion cub, but I realize it was too lemony and too bright. I put three new versions below. Still too light in the background? I appreciate the feedback!   Posted: 08/12/2020 19:54:36



Brenda Fishbaugh   Brenda Fishbaugh
(Group 78)
I've reworked my cubbie, taking into account everyone's thoughts that the background was distracting. I tried a 50% gray layer blended, but didn't care for it. I did darken the background and Gaussian blur it. Then I desaturated the yellows. I also experimented with NIK Silver Efx, and felt these two options showed the lion well and tamed the background. Thoughts on my new versions?
  Posted: 08/12/2020 19:49:10
Comment Image
Mervyn Hurwitz   Mervyn Hurwitz
I like this version best. It improves the background without detracting from the cub.   Posted: 08/13/2020 11:55:45
Brenda Fishbaugh   Brenda Fishbaugh
(Group 78)
Thanks, Mervyn! I really cropped in on the tree, which I think helped the too bright background. I added some curves and burn/dodge to make the tree and cub richer. Like it better or too much? He's a tricky guy--can't get him right.   Posted: 08/23/2020 20:20:05
Candy Childrey   Candy Childrey
(Group 34)
Brenda, I also like this color revision best. You do have a bright spot under the chin that should be darkened. I do not think that you are able to blur the background or any other part of the image and qualify to enter in Nature. They are pretty specific-nothing added that could not be accomplished in the traditional darkroom.   Posted: 08/16/2020 13:13:11
Brenda Fishbaugh   Brenda Fishbaugh
(Group 78)
Candy, Tonight I posted yet another version. I took down his bright chin, and then got carried away for a richer tree and cub. Better? Worse? I also burned the background a bit.   Posted: 08/23/2020 20:18:14



Brenda Fishbaugh   Brenda Fishbaugh
(Group 78)
  Posted: 08/12/2020 19:49:19
Comment Image
Candy Childrey   Candy Childrey
(Group 34)
This one is good, too-same bright spot under the chin. Ditch the frame, it adds nothing.   Posted: 08/16/2020 13:14:17



Brenda Fishbaugh   Brenda Fishbaugh
(Group 78)
  Posted: 08/12/2020 19:49:32
Comment Image



Dean Ginther   Dean Ginther
Brenda,
Sometimes the best pictures are behind you. I am terrible with titles so can't help much there. I think all your editing is acceptable in PSA nature submissions.   Posted: 08/15/2020 16:19:21
Brenda Fishbaugh   Brenda Fishbaugh
(Group 78)
I made another version below tonight. I wanted to darken his chin as Candy suggested, and then I added some richness to the cub and the tree and tried to take the background down a bit more. Too much?   Posted: 08/23/2020 20:16:59



Jacob Wat   Jacob Wat
I love the changes you added. I do think darkening it helped make the lion stand out more. The detail is amazing especially in the eyes.   Posted: 08/15/2020 17:26:51
Brenda Fishbaugh   Brenda Fishbaugh
(Group 78)
Thanks, Jacob! Do you like my much darker cub below? Or is he too dark?   Posted: 08/23/2020 20:15:49



Brenda Fishbaugh   Brenda Fishbaugh
(Group 78)
One more shot at this-I tried a tighter crop tighter to move out some of the bright background and simplify the story. I darkened his bright chin that Candy mentions, which shows up the blood on his far side chin. I did use curves and dodge/burn to lighten his face, and enrich the tree and his coat. I burned down the background a bit. Any additional thoughts? Getting better or worse...I'm not sure. Thanks for all of the ideas!   Posted: 08/23/2020 20:15:08
Comment Image
Candy Childrey   Candy Childrey
(Group 34)
Much better, the background is less distracting, chin is mu h better with good detail.   Posted: 08/23/2020 21:27:49