03 November 2009, 01:54
TrophyShotPrintsWhat Namibia mountains? [added info as requested & safari collage]
I'm doing some photo paintings on canvas from my Namibia PG safari last year to frame and display on my walls alongside my trophies...
I was in Central Namibia, Omaruru District...
Does anyone know the name of these two mountains?
Thanks!
[work in progress]
03 November 2009, 02:41
SGraves155Roland,
I believe those could be the twin peaks of the Omatako Mountains (Herero for "buttocks").
they are about 7200 ft high, arising from a floor at 4600 ft.. But it's difficult to tell. The Omatakos are really tall and peaked. It might not be them.
If you have google-earth or a map, they can be found at :
21* 12' 25.30" S
16* 42' 57.66"E
04 November 2009, 03:49
SGraves155
PH Cornie Coetzee and the actual Omatakos viewed from the north. From the West, they do not appear as steep, and appear a little further apart. The usual view is from the East on the Hiway.
In North America, these would be called "Squaw tits Mountains" or something similar. Why the Herero call them "buttocks" instead is a mystery.

05 November 2009, 08:04
TrophyShotPrintsquote:
Originally posted by Andrew McLaren:
Squeeze,
Please do tell me - and maybe a few more - a bit about the method of 'photo painting on canvas'?
Thanks.
Andrew McLaren
Sure Andrew...

Let me tell you about Safari Moments on Canvas...my new online start-up business and the exciting direction its heading!
Currently...
HUNTERS send me 2MB IMG_jpg.FILE(s) of TROPHY SHOTS and SCENIC SHOTS that they would like to have proudly displayed.
I study their images intently and determine the overall quality of the image as is. Next, I look closely into the image and analyze the artistic merit and its detail and features. Next, I try to gain a masterful insight into what can I do as an artist to emphasize its strengths and downplay its weaknesses.
Once I gain THE VISION for a personalized, custom PIECE according to my distinct artistic-style...then I go at it!!!
First, I build a foundation according to the direction I want a PIECE to go...
I do this by building layer upon layer of depth into an image to develop a strong foundation.
Next, I meticulously build upon that foundation with more layers upon layers with a very small digital paint brush to manipulate every inch of pixels in the entire image.
Next, I begin to accentuate the image by strategically adding color in different amounts of layers to add depth and balance.
I do all of this on a digital canvas or a without one as a typical print.
Depending on what I "see" in the original image and the VISION I have for a particular PIECE, that alone will determine the order in which I will develop each image.
Like in a TROPHY SHOT I do not use the same exact techniques, I use some and incorporate others! I want the HUNTER and TROPHY to be the focal point of course. So, I eek-out all the detail that's possible from that area of the image and I only paint the background of the image on canvas and balance the entire scene with its subtleties.
The process may take me from 3 to 5+ hours for a complex SCENIC SHOT...and 1 hour for a typical TROPHY SHOT...
Once done, I will send the client a low-resolution PREVIEW file...Once accepted I send them a PayPal Invoice/request pymt. and once pymt is confirmed I send the client the FINAL high-resolution IMG_jpg.FILE where he/she can take to print and enlarge.
If requested, I will recommend an on-line print lab that does exceptional quality enlargements.
And this is the direction I am heading, but once my website is live, I will work exclusively with my printer and have prints delivered-direct to client...Its just easier for a lot of folk...And I will eventually offer frames too as I develop into an on-line one-stop shop serving Europe, Africa, and US.
In a nut-shell that's what Safari Moments on Canvas is offering exclusively to HUNTERS...
A hunter, for HUNTERS offering affordable, quality art from your digital image files...each PIECE personalized and customized
by yours truly...

Digital Enhancements and Digital Photo-Painted Art on Canvas or without!
The image itself is to be printed on typical photo paper, yet the appearance of the image will display a canvas-like rendition of it being done on canvas.I felt this was a great opportunity to explain what Safari Moments on Canvas is all about and to clarify the who, what, when, where, why of the business...
I have noticed a great need for this UNIQUE service...I too often see many hunters who post images to this forum and several others that I frequent, with digital photos straight out of their cameras or auto-enhanced...

Every digital image needs to be
processed...at the very LEAST with the basics...But how much more, if they had an professional individual such as myself to personally process them. Their photos even from a typical POINT & SHOOT camera would make an incredible difference in QUALITY...I see this every day...Its all I see...

Either hunters don't know how and/or don't own the more expensive processing softwares or they do know how to process their photos but just lack the time and energy!
I'm here to SPECIALIZE and take care of these hunters and offer my expertise and my artistic-style and talent if needed. I'm not into the numbers, but I'm into QUALITY at a fair price for my work. I cannot AUTOMATE the process and techniques that I use...I must work creatively on each image and gently manipulate and massage each image until I successfully reach my objectives.
I am not able to ACHIEVE the QUALITY in my images by using Auto Enhance...there's no one CLICK here and its all done!!!...LOL...it'll NEVER HAPPEN...LOL
Another important note here Andrew is that I'm now featuring "collage" work...HUNTERS can do specific hunts or they can do a HUNT SEASON as a collage print enlargement...yes, celebrating one whole year with a collage of all their trophies taken that season....
Below is a sample of Namibia 2008 for me and my son...It is not done canvas-style but normal print. The background is an African sunset and I built all these photos into it with white-bordered photos. My wife wanted to put up a whole bunch of our photos, I showed her this instead and she was really happy!
This will be printed 36"x54" to proudly display on the main wall of our trophy room/living room/dining room/tv room....hehehe
It'll definitely be a conversation piece...
The possibilities are endless in what I can envision with my clients, as there's a myriad of options...
Its UNIQUE, because I'm creating something from the hunter's SPECIAL collection of hunt images that they took with their own camera and their own safari and their own hunt...I "dubb" the work I do to friends as THE FINAL SHOT!!!!
Its not me offering for sale my wildlife images that I took with my own camera and as valuable as they are...
You just can't beat...
The HUNTER who is the PHOTOGRAPHER and this is my SPECIAL way for me to present his/her very special shot in a very unique way for their special display!
I tell you Andrew...I love my job and I'm very passionate about it...
Anyway, here's just a sampling of Namibia 2008 36"x54" Print...