There is a story behind every photograph:
In this case, it is a story of a young zebra napping near its mother:
Then a car starts, and nap time is over:
For this story, I have left the smaller images of the zebra composing himself in their original as-shot state. The two larger images I have edited. They have been cropped and sharpened. This past week or so, I have been experimenting with curves in Photoshop instead of levels which is my usual go-to for white balance. Earlier in the week, I had been using curves to get a black and white image to pop a bit, so it wasn’t really a stretch to see how that might also work in a color image of a zebra.
I created the first image as a stand-alone, and I think it works on its own. The images taken together though tell a story. To some, it may have an aww factor since it includes a young animal. To others maybe it tells the story of a mother’s care for her offspring. For me, it is also an expression of my love for wild places. On a more practical note, it is also a bit of wild for the wildcard in week 5 of my Dogwood challenge. What, if anything, does it mean to you? There are a lot of ways to correct or creatively edit white balance, do you have a favorite? Feel free to leave a comment below.
Cheers!
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I tend to edit in the PS RAW editor and tweak color temperature there. I haven’t tried levels or curves for that.
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That is one editor that I have used a few times but then tend not even think to open it. Funny how we get in the habit of using certain tools.
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I don’t know anything about editing white balance, but your gallery is beautiful and the story is very charming!
Wishing you a wonderful weekend,
The Fab Four of Cley
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Thank you very much. This little one was not very graceful in the process of getting up something I can relate too 🙂
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Beautiful photos as usual. I found the brownish cream colored lines on the forehead very intriguing and something I have never noticed before. Do they all have this kind of design?
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It was very dusty, despite being the short rainy season, so that is just dust, in this case, that looks interesting instead of just dirty.
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I like all but the second one is my favourite as it gives more information about surroundings.
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Thank you very much. I was a bit delayed approving this because it was in my spam box for some reason. I do appreciate you taking the time to comment.
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No worries and thanks for the message better I should check my spam box.
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Such a sweet series. These moments of nature are such treasures.
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Thank you, I agree, it was cute to watch.
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I felt a sense of unity….
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Thanks 🙂 The bond between the animals was something I could see.
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🙂
and lucky you to see these animals in their habitat
I also loved that story
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Yes, it was amazing to see them all as they really live.
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🙂
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Lovely pictures.
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Thank you.
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A stellar series for beloved. Unique subjects not many of us see up close. Touching.
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Thank you so much Ruth.
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Amy, as always, so fun to hear your thought process as you created these images. I really loved the first photo, which seemed to capture the vulnerability of the small zebra along with the protectiveness of the mother nearby. The last photo seemed to capture a puzzled look on the “face” of the baby, which was also interesting. The second photo struck me with its constellation of zebras, all at different angles to the photographic lens, which suggested quite a different situation than just the mother-and-baby photo alone. Thanks for talking about how you enhanced the white balance. Fun!
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Yes, it was interesting to consider the zebras as individuals, small groups and then as a whole. They did seem to be frequently together in pairs which I just found interesting. Also, I find their stripes quite mesmerizing.
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Mesmerizing is correct. I’ve read no two stripe patterns are the same. But, I was struck by the almost-random appearing scattering of the standing-up zebras. Hmmm. Better not to be bunched, I suppose, in case of attack?
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Yes, they also form a herd with wildebeests. The two animals eat two different types of grass, so they don’t compete for that resource and the added numbers make the herd bigger.
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Oh! I did not know that. That’s a very cool fact!
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It was news to me as well, but made sense!
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Loving these shots from your safari.
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Thank you, it is so nice for me to have all these images as a memory of my trip.
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They tell a nice story and together make me wish I was there to see it for myself.
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So much to see, so many pictures. I did also take the time to put my camera away though and just enjoy the moment in that way as well.
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I really love them. Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you for your visit and kind comment.
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I love your writing how this expresses your love of wild places. That is Beloved! 🙂
For me, it symbolizes nurturance.
Blessings to you – lovely to connect.
Debbie
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Thank you very much for your visit and kind comment Debbie. I would agree that this did seem to be a very nurturing moment.
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