Digital Photo Question
Jul 19th, 2005, 09:59 AM
#1
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Digital Photo Question
I have one photograph that is possibly my absolute favorite. It is taken from a distance and features a herd of elephants walking with an amazing Baobab Tree in the background. The problem, however, is that the sun was facing me and the elephants turned out darker than desired.
I have not yet had the time to learn Photoshop but I was thinking that there MUST be companies out there that specialize in touching up photos like this. Someone with years of experience would be much more capable, obviously, at maximizing my photo than I would be able.
The photo in question is this one:
(Sepia)
http://www.kodakgallery.com/PhotoVie...d=746055806105
(Color)
http://www.kodakgallery.com/PhotoVie...d=528147853105
(Vertical Sepia)
http://www.kodakgallery.com/PhotoVie...d=993846077105
I think by lightening the elephants and by possibly removing the tree on the right (already done in the vertical shot), that this would be a much better photo, featuring my favorite flora, Baobab Tree, and my favorite fauna, Elephants.
I also think that with the color photo that someone who knows what they are doing could really improve the photo quite a bit.
Of course I don't want to spend thousands of dollars on this, but if this only cost me a couple hundred dollars, I would do it in a heartbeat.
Anybody have any ideas where I should look to help me with these photos?
Thanks.
I have not yet had the time to learn Photoshop but I was thinking that there MUST be companies out there that specialize in touching up photos like this. Someone with years of experience would be much more capable, obviously, at maximizing my photo than I would be able.
The photo in question is this one:
(Sepia)
http://www.kodakgallery.com/PhotoVie...d=746055806105
(Color)
http://www.kodakgallery.com/PhotoVie...d=528147853105
(Vertical Sepia)
http://www.kodakgallery.com/PhotoVie...d=993846077105
I think by lightening the elephants and by possibly removing the tree on the right (already done in the vertical shot), that this would be a much better photo, featuring my favorite flora, Baobab Tree, and my favorite fauna, Elephants.
I also think that with the color photo that someone who knows what they are doing could really improve the photo quite a bit.
Of course I don't want to spend thousands of dollars on this, but if this only cost me a couple hundred dollars, I would do it in a heartbeat.
Anybody have any ideas where I should look to help me with these photos?
Thanks.
Jul 19th, 2005, 10:22 AM
#2
I didn't look at your picture but this guy does what you need. http://wildnaturephoto.com/
"Sending images needing to be prepared for printing: We can help you get the best print out of your image. While we cannot perform miracles, you can benefit from years of experience in achieving the best print from your capture. Send us your RAW, TIFF, or JPEG file with any instructions for cropping or color correction and we will prepare your images for printing.
We will then send you back a file of the prepared image for you to keep and use at some later date when you wish to produce more prints."
I met Juan at the bird workshop I took in April and he's very good at photography and photoshop and printing. Look
Question for you. I am looking at going to Sausage Tree Camp and the dates they have open don't coincide with the dates I can use Delta FF miles. If I fly in earlier than when Sausage Tree is available, what other camp is in the area?
"Sending images needing to be prepared for printing: We can help you get the best print out of your image. While we cannot perform miracles, you can benefit from years of experience in achieving the best print from your capture. Send us your RAW, TIFF, or JPEG file with any instructions for cropping or color correction and we will prepare your images for printing.
We will then send you back a file of the prepared image for you to keep and use at some later date when you wish to produce more prints."
I met Juan at the bird workshop I took in April and he's very good at photography and photoshop and printing. Look
Question for you. I am looking at going to Sausage Tree Camp and the dates they have open don't coincide with the dates I can use Delta FF miles. If I fly in earlier than when Sausage Tree is available, what other camp is in the area?
Jul 19th, 2005, 10:59 AM
#5
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Sundowner,
Right now, I think Chiawa is considered the very best camp in the Lower Zambezi. However, if you do not want to spend about $475 pppns, then you may want to consider either Kasaka River Lodge or Chongwe River Camp, each $285 pppns.
Chongwe River Camp is right at the border of the national park and is at the confluence of the Chongwe & Zambezi Rivers, making it a very good area for wildlife. Kasaka River Lodge is about 3 miles west of Chongwe and is more luxurious than Chongwe. I am visiting each Chongwe and Kasaka for 3 nights each, as I thought they were too good to pass up at those prices.
A final consideration would be Kulefu Tented Camp which has really been upgraded since I visited last year.
www.star-of-africa.com
Andy & Catherine are wonderful hosts and Morad is an excellent guide. Their new location looks about a thousand times better than how the camp was placed while I was there in June 2004. If you are going in September or October, this area is supposed to be incredible for wildlife, according to Ian at Kaingo (www.kaingo.com) who was the manager at Kulefu for a few years before it was a Star Of Africa camp.
Would love to hear your complete itinerary and when you are going to Zambia.
Right now, I think Chiawa is considered the very best camp in the Lower Zambezi. However, if you do not want to spend about $475 pppns, then you may want to consider either Kasaka River Lodge or Chongwe River Camp, each $285 pppns.
Chongwe River Camp is right at the border of the national park and is at the confluence of the Chongwe & Zambezi Rivers, making it a very good area for wildlife. Kasaka River Lodge is about 3 miles west of Chongwe and is more luxurious than Chongwe. I am visiting each Chongwe and Kasaka for 3 nights each, as I thought they were too good to pass up at those prices.
A final consideration would be Kulefu Tented Camp which has really been upgraded since I visited last year.
www.star-of-africa.com
Andy & Catherine are wonderful hosts and Morad is an excellent guide. Their new location looks about a thousand times better than how the camp was placed while I was there in June 2004. If you are going in September or October, this area is supposed to be incredible for wildlife, according to Ian at Kaingo (www.kaingo.com) who was the manager at Kulefu for a few years before it was a Star Of Africa camp.
Would love to hear your complete itinerary and when you are going to Zambia.
Jul 19th, 2005, 11:32 AM
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Roccco: Try posting a message at http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/forum.asp?forum=1006 or in the forum for your specific camera make. I'd be surprised if someone there wouldn't give it a shot for free, as the folks at dpreview forums seem to like challenges. FYI - You'll probably have to give them access to the full resolution photo to download. Nice pic btw...I love baobabs!
Jul 19th, 2005, 11:41 AM
#7
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Rocco,
how were game sightings in Chiawa GMA outside the park?
I recently read a report in Getaway magazine (April 05, unfortunately not online) that they have massive problems in Chiawa GMA. Parts of the GMA are hunting areas. There have been sold illegal lion hunting licenses, and actually, lion(s) have been shot. These areas have also been designated as elephant hunting areas this spring. The report says that game sightings have become very bad, even outside the hunting areas. It is also said, that there's a lot of illegal fishing outside LZNP and that the fishing camps in Chiawa GMA lost attraction.
Do you have any info or reports on these developments?
Mitch
how were game sightings in Chiawa GMA outside the park?
I recently read a report in Getaway magazine (April 05, unfortunately not online) that they have massive problems in Chiawa GMA. Parts of the GMA are hunting areas. There have been sold illegal lion hunting licenses, and actually, lion(s) have been shot. These areas have also been designated as elephant hunting areas this spring. The report says that game sightings have become very bad, even outside the hunting areas. It is also said, that there's a lot of illegal fishing outside LZNP and that the fishing camps in Chiawa GMA lost attraction.
Do you have any info or reports on these developments?
Mitch
Jul 19th, 2005, 12:47 PM
#8
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Mitch,
Last year I stayed at Kulefu Tented Camp which is actually on the far east end of the national park (but still within the NP). Because I was there in June, the elephants had not yet descended from the escarpment. To make matters worse, I was there during a full moon, so the predators were not out hunting.
The birding, however, was fantastic...the best I have experienced anywhere, and the canoeing was awesome...nah, make that death-defying! Ever had a hippo come up for air within about 3 meters from your canoe and then dip back down quicker than you even have time to soil your pants? Trust me, another split second and there would have been an accident of the bodily function kind.
This year I am staying outside the park in the GMA on the western part of the camp. I will say that I spoke to the guests at Kasaka River Lodge while I was returning from Kulefu and they certainly saw a lot more elephants, lions and leopards than I did at Kulefu, which again is inside the NP. We didn't see a single leopard or lion and they saw them at Kasaka despite only being in a GMA.
Believe it or not, the best elephant sightings that I had while in the Lower Zambezi were while on the 10-15 minute road transfer from Royal Zambezi Airstrip to Kasaka River Lodge (where our motorboat then took us 90 minutes away to Kulefu).
NOW LISTEN TO THIS...my tour operator, Mark from Taga Safaris just last week e-mailed me some photos of wild dogs that were spotted at Kasaka River Lodge, which the lodge then e-mailed to him. Too bad they don't update their website with these photos, but I hope to God that the dogs have denned around Kasaka and are still around for my visit.
So, I am not at all concerned about the gameviewing in the Chiawa/Kasaka area. The GMA's around Lower Zambezi are quite sizeable but once you get near the National Park, I expect that the enforcement by the Lower Zambezi Conservation Program and/or ZAWA is quite stringent.
A final word on Kulefu, the former manager of many years, Ian, is now a guide at Kaingo in South Luangwa. He chose not to stay once Star Of Africa bought the camp, but he did say that Kulefu has incredible gameviewing (masses of elephants and plenty of lions) by about September through October. So, while it may be worth a visit, other than for the incredible birding, in June or July, once September/October rolls around, Kulefu is reportedly worth a visit.
Next year I would love to visit Chiawa, as I am starting to hear really excellent reports on Chiawa, while in the past they were a bit mixed (the biggest complaint in the past was that they were too regimented).
Anyway, that is my take on the Lower Zambezi.
Last year I stayed at Kulefu Tented Camp which is actually on the far east end of the national park (but still within the NP). Because I was there in June, the elephants had not yet descended from the escarpment. To make matters worse, I was there during a full moon, so the predators were not out hunting.
The birding, however, was fantastic...the best I have experienced anywhere, and the canoeing was awesome...nah, make that death-defying!
Ever had a hippo come up for air within about 3 meters from your canoe and then dip back down quicker than you even have time to soil your pants? Trust me, another split second and there would have been an accident of the bodily function kind.This year I am staying outside the park in the GMA on the western part of the camp. I will say that I spoke to the guests at Kasaka River Lodge while I was returning from Kulefu and they certainly saw a lot more elephants, lions and leopards than I did at Kulefu, which again is inside the NP. We didn't see a single leopard or lion and they saw them at Kasaka despite only being in a GMA.
Believe it or not, the best elephant sightings that I had while in the Lower Zambezi were while on the 10-15 minute road transfer from Royal Zambezi Airstrip to Kasaka River Lodge (where our motorboat then took us 90 minutes away to Kulefu).
NOW LISTEN TO THIS...my tour operator, Mark from Taga Safaris just last week e-mailed me some photos of wild dogs that were spotted at Kasaka River Lodge, which the lodge then e-mailed to him. Too bad they don't update their website with these photos, but I hope to God that the dogs have denned around Kasaka and are still around for my visit.
So, I am not at all concerned about the gameviewing in the Chiawa/Kasaka area. The GMA's around Lower Zambezi are quite sizeable but once you get near the National Park, I expect that the enforcement by the Lower Zambezi Conservation Program and/or ZAWA is quite stringent.
A final word on Kulefu, the former manager of many years, Ian, is now a guide at Kaingo in South Luangwa. He chose not to stay once Star Of Africa bought the camp, but he did say that Kulefu has incredible gameviewing (masses of elephants and plenty of lions) by about September through October. So, while it may be worth a visit, other than for the incredible birding, in June or July, once September/October rolls around, Kulefu is reportedly worth a visit.
Next year I would love to visit Chiawa, as I am starting to hear really excellent reports on Chiawa, while in the past they were a bit mixed (the biggest complaint in the past was that they were too regimented).
Anyway, that is my take on the Lower Zambezi.
Jul 19th, 2005, 01:10 PM
#9
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Rocco,
I've been at Old Mondoro three years ago, so I know the area inside the park quite well.
In this report, even Grant Cumings expressed his concerns. These are current developments, happening right now.
I just want to let you know.
Mitch
PS: Ian can tell me about Kulefu in two months...
I've been at Old Mondoro three years ago, so I know the area inside the park quite well.
In this report, even Grant Cumings expressed his concerns. These are current developments, happening right now.
I just want to let you know.
Mitch
PS: Ian can tell me about Kulefu in two months...
Jul 19th, 2005, 01:24 PM
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Mitch,
With the way that Zimbabwe is going, I would not be at all surprised if there were some hungry Zimbabweans doing mass poaching. Hopefully this is not affecting the elephant populations or the predator population and they are only doing subsistence hunting.
I have heard from a couple sources that the Zimbabwe wildlife is in some very serious trouble right now, and it would not at all surprise me if people were crossing into Zambia to hunt, as well.
With the way that Zimbabwe is going, I would not be at all surprised if there were some hungry Zimbabweans doing mass poaching. Hopefully this is not affecting the elephant populations or the predator population and they are only doing subsistence hunting.
I have heard from a couple sources that the Zimbabwe wildlife is in some very serious trouble right now, and it would not at all surprise me if people were crossing into Zambia to hunt, as well.
Jul 19th, 2005, 02:00 PM
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Cindy,
Chiawa Camp is located inside the national park and NOT affected.
I'm talking about the Chiawa Game Management Area, the area west of the park where most of the lodges and camps in Lower Zambezi are located.
I will try to find this report when I'm home later on.
Btw, sorry that I tried to recommend a men's safari vest to you. I didn't know...
Mitch
Chiawa Camp is located inside the national park and NOT affected.
I'm talking about the Chiawa Game Management Area, the area west of the park where most of the lodges and camps in Lower Zambezi are located.
I will try to find this report when I'm home later on.
Btw, sorry that I tried to recommend a men's safari vest to you. I didn't know...
Mitch
Jul 20th, 2005, 07:24 AM
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Rocco
Send the photo to me (in TIFF or RAW format). If taken on film, have it scanned at a HIGH resolution, and saved as a 16 bit colour TIFF file.
Email me for my address, send it on CD.
I'm pretty good at Photoshop. I'll do what I can with it. If I don't achieve what you want, then consider spending the money on sending it to a pro but let's try the Fodorites Support Crew approach first?
Send the photo to me (in TIFF or RAW format). If taken on film, have it scanned at a HIGH resolution, and saved as a 16 bit colour TIFF file.
Email me for my address, send it on CD.
I'm pretty good at Photoshop. I'll do what I can with it. If I don't achieve what you want, then consider spending the money on sending it to a pro but let's try the Fodorites Support Crew approach first?
Jul 20th, 2005, 12:43 PM
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Cooncat, I'd be happy to work on a single photo for any of my Fodorite friends here. 
It's quite a time investment so I wouldn't volunteer to help anyone with multiple photos but there's always time to squeeze in work on one!
Rocco, drop me an email and I'll send you my address.
It's quite a time investment so I wouldn't volunteer to help anyone with multiple photos but there's always time to squeeze in work on one!
Rocco, drop me an email and I'll send you my address.
