Portrait

Gallery: WildlifePosted January 7, 2013105 views4 comments

I was out this morning at sunrise and it was very pretty with lots of red and orange. But then the fog descended and there was the usual light with that kind of day. I had decided to go today without my tripod and without the TC, just to see if I could come up with anything different. I had mixed results. I had to throw out a bunch of the early shots due to camera shake, but I was willing to try for a vertical here which is much easier handheld than on a tripod. This is one buck I came across who decided he would just stay put and watch me as I clicked off a series of photos. I'm interested in whether this should have been cropped from the bottom. With a narrow frame, it seems a bit harder to come up with a pleasing comp. So, I'd like to know your thoughts. I warmed this up just a little bit and sharpened slightly. On the downside, I didn't get a catch light. Oh, well. Otherwise, it is as shot. Comments and critiques welcomed and appreciated.

Tech Info
Canon 60D with EF 70-200mm f/4L @ 200mm
1/200th @ f/4 and ISO 1600
handheld

Comments

4 comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on January 8, 2013 at 3:27 PM

I like this a lot - the fog gives it a moody feel. The young buck is in a good position to show his antlers.
The OOF branches in the FG are a little distracting - if possiblem a tighter crop would et rid or a least minimize some of them.
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Reed on January 8, 2013 at 8:46 PM

Peter, I like this as is. The natural foilage makes a good frame. You are looking into the environment past the foreground and into his world. It works for me.

Registered on September 19, 2009, 198 Posts, 1074 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on January 8, 2013 at 11:54 PM

The foggy mood sure is what gives this image an appeal Peter. Both the pose and low POV work for me. I think a crop from the bottom is not needed as this space allows for 'virtual leg' room. One thing in particular does catch my eye in a less positive way and that is the BG tree trunk behind the animal's muzzle. Despite being well OOF its placement is distracting.

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

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on January 9, 2013 at 8:09 PM

Peter, personally, I would leave it alone. It is a tight crop of a limited view. I don't think there is room for the "virtual legs", but if that involved a lot more grass, I wouldn't look at that as an advantage. I might be tempted to remove the OOF tree trunk behind the nose, but I sure would do it non-destructively, and abandon it if it didn't work. Frankly, this is a solid picture with some minor flaws, best left untreated. I think the quiet foggy mood is enough to override them. It certainly has kept me looking!

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments