Vella Kendall
May 2021 - Stalking Jaguar
Original
About the Image(s)
Canon 7Dii Canon 100-400 at 300MM 1/1250 sec f/5.6 ISO 800
This beautiful cat was taken in the Pantanal in Brazil and I am forever grateful I was able to go the year before covid. Taken from a boat at 8:18AM. Processed in Lightroom Classic. I flipped the image horizontally. Selected the jaguar with the radial filter, inverted and darkened the background. I then selected parts of the jaguar to lighten different parts and pushed more yellow from the white balance. In Photoshop I cloned out some leaves beneath his chin. My goal is to make the jaguar pop and stand out from the background.
This round’s discussion is now closed!
7 comments posted
Vela, I believe this is a follow up to your image from last January 2021. The big cat is filling the frame, and the flip gives him/her room and direction to walk into. Very sharp and also has an important environment component. Indeed you were pretty close to the cat. The colors are well balanced. I see you removed the leaves touching the animal's chin. Permitted here or in color images competitions, but not in pure nature sections.
Great image. Posted: 05/04/2021 15:47:02
Great image. Posted: 05/04/2021 15:47:02
Thank you. I never enter anything into nature because I generally clone something out but good reminder. If is the one I am thinking about she is taking the next step from my other photo. I didn't realize that I submitted that. Posted: 05/04/2021 15:53:43
Thank you. I never enter anything into nature because I generally clone something out but good reminder. If is the one I am thinking about she is taking the next step from my other photo. I didn't realize that I submitted that. Posted: 05/04/2021 18:48:05
Vella, thanks for the detailed explanation of your post-processing work. For me I really like the increased brightness of the tiger contrasted to the darker background. I feel that this leads my eye to the jaguar and holds it there as a strong fixation point.
In the VF I have lightened the left side of the jaguar's face (the right side as we view it) to make all of his head standout a bit more. For me the histogram showed too much total black so I also slightly lightened the shadows.
AS always I would be interested in your thoughts. Posted: 05/05/2021 13:59:42
In the VF I have lightened the left side of the jaguar's face (the right side as we view it) to make all of his head standout a bit more. For me the histogram showed too much total black so I also slightly lightened the shadows.
AS always I would be interested in your thoughts. Posted: 05/05/2021 13:59:42
I appreciate your input and your edits. I like the subtle lighting of the face and do feel it does enhance it. I am still not sure about my flip. Posted: 05/09/2021 14:24:17
Nice image, vella. The flip makes the cat move from left to right which is the way that western minds work (we read from left to right) so it seems more natural. I like what you have done to make the animal stand out. Good sharpness and crop. Posted: 05/10/2021 10:17:36
As you know Vella, timing is everything. What a wonderful feeling it must be to make an image of this solitary Jaguar that most folks will never see, much less having the opportunity to photograph. As the others suggested, the flip provides room for the subject to continue its journey through your canvas. The suggestions from the other members complete a strong image to remember. Posted: 05/26/2021 12:05:58