The Stare (c)

Gallery: WildlifePosted August 22, 2010315 views6 comments

This was taken at Loro Park, a zoo in North Tenerife a few years ago.

It was taken through very thick, degraded, perspex or glass and I had to increase contrast in Photoshop to compensate.

I wasn't able to get near the front of the crowd and couldn't see all the animal so I took this shot between the heads of the people in front of me and had to settle for just a head shot.

This is full frame, I compose in-camera whenever possible, a habit from the days of shooting with film that I find hard to break.

The light was a bit low in the enclosure, I didn't notice at the time, I was still getting used to my new camera, it was delivered on the Thursday and I was flying on the Saturday, read the manual on the plane to see what all those knobs and dials did, luckily it looks like I had my anti-shake switched on anyway.

I'd love a chance to take a photo like this in the wild.

Sony A350
Sigma 50-500
f6.3
1/30th second (yes I know lol)
ISO 400
420mm

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by Joe Becker on August 22, 2010 at 4:22 PM

You did a wonderful job considering the conditions - hard to believe the sharpness you maintained with 1/30th and 420mm! Great job! And the look on his face is priceless (like he's thinking when are all those humans going to leave me alone).

Registered on November 1, 2003, 76 Posts, 182 Comments

Comment posted by Butch Lama on August 22, 2010 at 5:09 PM

Even through the glass you have manage such clarity & sharpness here.The look says you are time out.

Registered on July 23, 2010, 42 Posts, 316 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on August 22, 2010 at 9:48 PM

I think this came out beautifully, especially considering the shooting situation you describe! I like the expression very much. The sideways glance he is giving places him perfectly in the frame. Well done.

Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on August 23, 2010 at 7:50 AM

Great expressions, head-turn and side glance !
Jagdeep Rajput

Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on August 23, 2010 at 2:39 PM

Wow, what a colossal head! And what an expression! If you would not have mentioned you shot this through perspex I would never have guessed, the clarity and sharpness is sublime. (moreover when seeing your SS and FL!). Like you I also would love to heve the opportunity one day to spend time photographing wild Gorillas.

You said:

I compose in-camera whenever possible, a habit from the days of shooting with film that I find hard to break.

I think that is what we should even strive for in the digital age, so don't try to break that habit I would say!

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by Elizabeth Arellano on September 1, 2010 at 9:02 AM

Perfect.

Registered on February 18, 2008, 35 Posts, 302 Comments