Topic: Bull photography..... (Read 11075 times)

ivan muller · « **on:** January 17, 2012, 05:47:09 am »

Last week I went to a cattle farm about two and a half hours drive from my home, to photograph bulls. They had to be photographed in a very specific way so that the bulls scrotum could be seen....this was a first for me to photograph bulls and their balls.....

It was quite difficult too because as soon as we separated them from the rest of the heard they would dash back to their harem....so I had a few moments at most to capture the bull as he stood still for a minute contemplating the best escape route back to the herd....Just for myself I converted the colour images to sepia and via layers brought a bit of colour back....there are some more images of the bulls and the very interesting farm were I photographed them on my blog...

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francois · « **Reply #1 on:** January 17, 2012, 11:18:46 am »

Ivan,
I'm stunned, those bulls exhale power & bestiality and you managed - perfectly - to put those traits in images… I wouldn't venture around their harem!
Bravo

Rob C · « **Reply #2 on:** January 17, 2012, 12:05:11 pm »

Quote from: francois on January 17, 2012, 11:18:46 am

Ivan,
I'm stunned, those bulls exhale power & bestiality and you managed - perfectly - to put those traits in images… I wouldn't venture around their harem!Bravo

Francois, better the harem than the bull.

Rob C

Jeremy Roussak · « **Reply #3 on:** January 17, 2012, 12:46:55 pm »

Quote from: ivan muller on January 17, 2012, 05:47:09 am

Last week I went to a cattle farm about two and a half hours drive from my home, to photograph bulls. They had to be photographed in a very specific way so that the bulls scrotum could be seen....

Wonderful shots, particularly the first.

I don't suppose you'd let us in on the reasons for the scrotal visibility requirement, would you?

Jeremy

luxborealis · « **Reply #4 on:** January 17, 2012, 07:34:40 pm »

Great shots - both. I have a preference for the first, partly because of the pose struck by the bull (nice posing!) and also because of the presentation. If there is one niggly... after having a good look at the bull, I find my eye looking to the horizon and being distracted by the faintly visible poles and lines. To some, the tree may provide a counterpoint, but to me, it is also pulling my eye away from the details I should be looking at (and I don't mean the jewel sack!).

louoates · « **Reply #5 on:** January 17, 2012, 11:56:06 pm »

I've never had a request such as yours. But you've made some art of it. I'd prefer none of the distracting elements of wires, power lines, and that thing on the horizon that may be a tree. I'd also like to see the bull faces a bit lighter where it is too shady.

francois · « **Reply #6 on:** January 18, 2012, 03:01:47 am »

Quote from: Rob C on January 17, 2012, 12:05:11 pm

Francois, better the harem than the bull.

Rob C

Rob,
100% agree with you!

ivan muller · « **Reply #7 on:** January 18, 2012, 05:12:48 am »

Thanks everyone for the very helpful suggestions! I have cleaned up the sky and lightened the shadows a bit....I like it better now too...

Regarding the scrotum, well I suppose these are prize bulls and prospective buyers want to see how manly they are....so it sort of a 'alpha male' thing I wonder.....

Surprisingly they are quite tame and if you stand in their way they turn away....still a bit unnerving when a massive beast like this charges towards you and the farmer calmly says 'just stand there he will avoid you'...

I posted these with a bit of tongue in cheek but I am delighted at the response.....thanks!

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ivan muller · « **Reply #8 on:** January 18, 2012, 05:18:45 am »

Sorry it didn't load before...

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feethea · « **Reply #9 on:** January 18, 2012, 05:52:57 am »

Very, very powerful images. Well done.

Barry

Eric Myrvaagnes · « **Reply #10 on:** January 18, 2012, 09:15:32 am »

Quote from: feethea on January 18, 2012, 05:52:57 am

Very, very powerful images. Well done.

Barry

+1.

Especially the new version. Nice.

Eric

louoates · « **Reply #11 on:** January 18, 2012, 10:50:24 am »

Great portrait with the changes.

aduke · « **Reply #12 on:** January 18, 2012, 11:26:49 am »

The new version is outstanding.

Well done.

Alan

Dave (Isle of Skye) · « **Reply #13 on:** January 18, 2012, 11:28:17 am »

Quote from: kikashi on January 17, 2012, 12:46:55 pm

I don't suppose you'd let us in on the reasons for the scrotal visibility requirement, would you?

Jeremy

More bollocks = more bullocks

Dave

Jeremy Roussak · « **Reply #14 on:** January 18, 2012, 01:17:20 pm »

Quote from: Eric Myrvaagnes on January 18, 2012, 09:15:32 am

+1.

Especially the new version. Nice.

Eric

Agreed. Why did you not clone out the barbed wire while you were getting rid of the tree? It doesn't look as if it would be particularly difficult.

Jeremy

Les Sparks · « **Reply #15 on:** January 18, 2012, 01:53:41 pm »

I think the barbed wire actually adds to the photo.
Les

Rob C · « **Reply #16 on:** January 18, 2012, 02:54:08 pm »

This seems to have been commissioned work; if you start to PS one thing, folks might wonder where the PSing stopped and cast aspersions upon the virility of the poor old scrificial goat!

I think reality would be the order of the day on this occassion.

Rob C

luxborealis · « **Reply #17 on:** January 18, 2012, 04:12:20 pm »

Great update on the photograph.

In my first post, I had meant to compliment you on the modelling of the light, particularly on the shadowed side of the bull. Very tactile and three dimensional.

Slobodan Blagojevic · « **Reply #18 on:** January 18, 2012, 06:10:23 pm »

Pardon my ignorance, but where are the horns?

Rob C · « **Reply #19 on:** January 18, 2012, 06:21:11 pm »

Quote from: Slobodan Blagojevic on January 18, 2012, 06:10:23 pm

Pardon my ignorance, but where are the horns?

Usually, in front of the bulbous bits.

Rob C

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