A Newby with a Hippo

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Appreciate any critique..

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Welcome to BCG!!!! Glad you joined us!

That's a great scene with the hippo and its environment! You could also try a 16x9 / pano type crop taking some off the bottom and see which you like the best.
 
I like the light and the ambience. But, it seems, like the horizon isn’t even. You should encrease the darks a little bit to mak the eye of the hippo more visable.
althought the hippo is nicely framed by the grass, I‘d crop out some of the grass in the foreground. First, it‘s dead space. Second, you get a little closer to your main subject, the hippo, and you get it out of the center line.
in addition, you could consider removing the telegraph pole in the back.

overall, a very nice image. Is it the Kawango NP in Botswana?
 
I like the light and the ambience. But, it seems, like the horizon isn’t even. You should encrease the darks a little bit to mak the eye of the hippo more visable.
althought the hippo is nicely framed by the grass, I‘d crop out some of the grass in the foreground. First, it‘s dead space. Second, you get a little closer to your main subject, the hippo, and you get it out of the center line.
in addition, you could consider removing the telegraph pole in the back.

overall, a very nice image. Is it the Kawango NP in Botswana?
Thank you. Much appreciated. Okavango Delta, Botswana.
 
I understand why some would like to crop out some foreground grass, but I like it the way it is. It feels more as if we are having a private look into the hippo's territory without seeming to look down on him and intruding. I like it as an environmental portrait.
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Everything is about personal taste. It's a pleasant image, but, if it were my pic, I would ease up on the black. I would lift the shadows until you see some detail in the dark areas on its face and then, maybe, increase the black point to make the detail pop a little. I like strong colors vs weak so I'm ok with that, it looks like it's the golden hour anyway so colors can strengthen then. I would also crop up from the bottom and show only about 1/3rd of the grass and crop in from the right about halfway to its face. There's just not much to see that's of great interest to the right and it would give the hippo more detail. Overall, it's a pretty nice shot, I'd be happy if it were mine. ;)
 
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