Somdutt Prasad, MPSA2, BPSA
April 2026 - Couples dance
Original
Original 2
About the Image(s)
In February this year I was in Hokkaido shooting Cranes and Eagles and landscapes. The Red crowned cranes are said to mate for life and do elaborate dances and other posturing, which is very interesting to watch and photograph. They are endangered, with two populations, one in China and one in Japan. The orignal image was practically monochrome anyway, so I decided to go further. I initially selected the birds and their shadows with some areas around the shadows, to keep the impression that they were on the snow, inverted the selection and pushed the exposure till most of the background became pure white. As the cranes are known for their red crowns, I did a version with colour enhanced in the crown and surrounding areas of the bird, looked nice, but I am generally averse to selective cover, as it looks cliched!.
So I converted to monochrome to see what it would look like.
See which version you like
30 comments posted
CONGRATULATIONS:
I saw your "Brewing Storm" (photo of two Rhinos) on page 42 of the April PSA Journal (coverage of the ICPC "InterClubPrintsComp't'n") and the recognition of its First Place Award in Large Monochrome. This put your (India) Club in First Place after two Rounds with 181 points. We're right behind with 180 points. I see that your Club was the Host Judging Club for Round One and your members combined Rd 1 with Rd 2. We (Our Club, Sun City TX) was the Round Two Host Judging Club. I was on the Committee, but not as a Judge and recall seeing this photo. Very Nice. Posted: 04/03/2026 19:15:33
I saw your "Brewing Storm" (photo of two Rhinos) on page 42 of the April PSA Journal (coverage of the ICPC "InterClubPrintsComp't'n") and the recognition of its First Place Award in Large Monochrome. This put your (India) Club in First Place after two Rounds with 181 points. We're right behind with 180 points. I see that your Club was the Host Judging Club for Round One and your members combined Rd 1 with Rd 2. We (Our Club, Sun City TX) was the Round Two Host Judging Club. I was on the Committee, but not as a Judge and recall seeing this photo. Very Nice. Posted: 04/03/2026 19:15:33
Hi Wes, Postal issues meant that our prints for round 1 arrived late, so they kindly held it over for round two, so the two round entries got combined for my club (India International group - IIG), unfortunately budgetary constraints mean that we are only participating in small prints in round 3 of the PSA Interclub competition competition and will not be sending entries n for the large print sections, so in the large print competition, the field is clear for your club to take the lead :-).
Thank you for noticing. Posted: 04/03/2026 22:57:29
Thank you for noticing. Posted: 04/03/2026 22:57:29
We're hoping. I think we sent a good selection, but the others will also. Fun. Posted: 04/16/2026 21:29:00
Such a striking image. I like their dancing postures. Posted: 04/03/2026 20:36:17
Thanks Steven,
This is of course heavily edited, so will not go as Nature image, I am trying to work on similar images to make a portfolio, and would really like everyone's views on whether the mono image posted here looks better or the image where I have let the colour be in the cranes heads and neck, the rest of their bodies are monochrome anyway! As in the original image here.
as one of the choices I have to make, is to make it a portfolio in monochrome or in colour. I am posting some more images in my developing series of these , to give you all an idea of what the portfolio might look like when it is fully done.
Everyone, do let me have your views on this.
Thanks.
Som
Posted: 04/03/2026 23:06:04
This is of course heavily edited, so will not go as Nature image, I am trying to work on similar images to make a portfolio, and would really like everyone's views on whether the mono image posted here looks better or the image where I have let the colour be in the cranes heads and neck, the rest of their bodies are monochrome anyway! As in the original image here.
as one of the choices I have to make, is to make it a portfolio in monochrome or in colour. I am posting some more images in my developing series of these , to give you all an idea of what the portfolio might look like when it is fully done.
Everyone, do let me have your views on this.
Thanks.
Som
Posted: 04/03/2026 23:06:04
I prefer #3 and #5 for composition, and I prefer the red on the head. Posted: 04/04/2026 01:12:20
Every one of your images looks like a winner.... Posted: 04/16/2026 21:31:01
Posted: 04/03/2026 23:06:29
One more:
I recommend the portfolio be in color. Posted: 04/04/2026 01:29:27
I recommend the portfolio be in color. Posted: 04/04/2026 01:29:27
I think so, a bit minimalist, the rest of the image is naturally almost monochrome, except for the crest and the neck, which brighten it up. Agree Posted: 04/04/2026 02:50:12
One more:
I recommend the portfolio be in color. Posted: 04/08/2026 01:53:53
I recommend the portfolio be in color. Posted: 04/08/2026 01:53:53
Posted: 04/03/2026 23:07:02
Posted: 04/03/2026 23:07:30
Posted: 04/03/2026 23:07:45
Dear Diana,
I hope you do not mind my hijacking the forum discussion to get advice on my developing portfolio. If you think this is not in order, do let me know and I will delete these extra images I have posted.
Som Posted: 04/03/2026 23:10:12
I hope you do not mind my hijacking the forum discussion to get advice on my developing portfolio. If you think this is not in order, do let me know and I will delete these extra images I have posted.
Som Posted: 04/03/2026 23:10:12
One way to do this is to use the Bulletin board at the top and tell the group what you want to have help with. Posted: 04/06/2026 20:12:33
Thanks Diana, Didn't think of the bulletin board, I have posted there now. Posted: 04/06/2026 22:55:02
I think this extra activity is excellent to do, and fun.
Good luck developing your portfolio. I like all the images. I like making it in color, for those red crests. Posted: 04/03/2026 23:14:35
Good luck developing your portfolio. I like all the images. I like making it in color, for those red crests. Posted: 04/03/2026 23:14:35
Although I have lots of shots, I have to find 15 distinctive images so they don't look repetitive.
Here is one more
Posted: 04/04/2026 02:19:41
Here is one more
Posted: 04/04/2026 02:19:41
So far 8 Posted: 04/04/2026 02:20:52
This one probably does not make the cut
Posted: 04/04/2026 02:23:03
Posted: 04/04/2026 02:23:03
Haha. But it might be OK if you crop in on just the two on the right? Posted: 04/04/2026 03:17:47
Good idea, will try Posted: 04/04/2026 06:43:40
The cropping suggestion makes for a nice pic. Posted: 04/04/2026 16:42:22
I started my comment and then checked with the bulletin board and forgot to save it! So I prefer the mono though I think the colour would make a good portfolio as well. The 3 chasing each other seem to have lost too much detail in the breast area so the necks and head are not connected to the body. If you could retain even just a single line then it would do fine. I like the difference in this one as the others are usually just 2 birds dancing. Posted: 04/06/2026 20:15:29
I'll rework the three chasing image, maybe just keep the front two in a square crop, and see how it looks, will post here. Posted: 04/06/2026 22:57:49
Very nice image as usual. I'm so sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I certainly wish you the best of luck and keep hanging in there. I will hold you in my thoughts, Posted: 04/07/2026 03:21:57
Thank Ed, as my wildlife trips are going to be on hold for at least a year, you might see some macro abstracts from me over the next few months! One's gotta keep going. Posted: 04/17/2026 00:02:40
You did an excellent job of photographing white birds on the white background. I really like the image of the two dancing birds and think that mono is a good choice for them.
I hope that the treatment of your diagnosis goes well. Posted: 04/16/2026 20:09:01
I hope that the treatment of your diagnosis goes well. Posted: 04/16/2026 20:09:01
Thanks Tom Posted: 04/16/2026 23:59:54