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kodak_challenge | all galleries >> Kodak Challenges >> Challenge 21: Uncommon Angle >> Challenge 21: Competition Gallery > "Rocks & Antlers" by Albert Yanowich Jr.
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12-JAN-2006 Albert Yanowich Jr.

"Rocks & Antlers" by Albert Yanowich Jr.

Colorado USA


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Guest 14-Jan-2006 15:44
Rocks between antlers? What rocks? I don't see any rocks:) -Albert
kodak_challenge14-Jan-2006 14:33
Much better . . . . . but . . . I rather liked the rocks between the antlers!
kind regards jono
kodak_challenge14-Jan-2006 11:11
Now it's a strong image with an interplay of compatible shapes. The tilt on the antlers sits nicely in the space now. Lovely.
Flick.
Guest 14-Jan-2006 09:33
Done! Thanks Flick:) - Albert
kodak_challenge14-Jan-2006 07:23
Gosh, you've been busy with the cloning tool.
Crop down a bit at the top and a sliver from the left to counteract the blank space and you're there.
I don't know why we're all criticising this. You've managed to capture a real live deer on camera...that's amazing!
Flick.
Guest 13-Jan-2006 22:04
Thanks Flick. Those "parallels really grabbed me in this and I've tried to save it. I've uploaded this new version here and you all can tell what you think at this point. - Albert
kodak_challenge13-Jan-2006 20:54
Hi Albert, I can see what you were aiming for here, and where it works it's lovely. However, for me it's a bit too busy. The patches of thaw on the rocks distract from the pure shapes of the deer, it's antlers and the rock that echoes it.
What does work really well for me is the texture. That hairy, fabric sort of feel seems to be a peculiarly Nikon thing (I remember it well from Jono's "Bliss" photo of the nursing kittens).
Flick.
Guest 13-Jan-2006 18:43
Yeah...I think this is gonna take some serious massaging to emphasize the shapes that I want. I'll work on it some more and if it doesn't work out I'll scrap it. Thanks much for the insightful comments mcSaba and Jono! - Albert
kodak_challenge13-Jan-2006 18:16
HI Albert
Quite agree about the shape - I think MCsaba has a point though - having started the cleanup, the rock to the left of the deer is a bit distracting - as are those around the top of the antler. It's a lovely shot though. kind regards jono
Konica Minolta Users13-Jan-2006 15:05
Hi Albert
I think the cleaning is fine. If the crop is about 1:1 then it is a difficult case. May be I would allow more space on top and on the right (if available). Leaving a little blur is somehow better and looks more natural to me than oversharpening. Perhapst it is possible to give a more visual sharpness for the deer by applying some blur on the backround. This would make to feel the deer sharper IMHO. I think the parallel shapes you mentioned are definitely worth to do further efforts on the picture. MCsaba
kodak_challenge13-Jan-2006 14:20
Hi McSaba,
I've reworked the image... the deer only encompassed about 1/4 of the frame... so the area was almost 1/1 crop to begin with. I cleaned up the distractions (branches & weed) and have run a FocusMagic motion blur on it. My point in all this is to keep (what I hope is obvious) the incredible shape parallel of the deer's outline and the rock outline. What do you think? - Albert
Konica Minolta Users13-Jan-2006 11:04
Albert, there should be a beautiful wildlife environment in Colorado. The picture has a bit much grain/blur for my taste, and the dry branch at the antlers distracts a little bit. Here the deer in the wild are very shy, such a shot would be almost impossible with 200mm focus. MCsaba