Rim Lit Coyote

Gallery: WildlifePosted March 30, 2013248 views12 comments

This was one of those special moments that happens once in a while when the light is favourable and the subject pauses just long enough to allow for a quickly composed shot.

In hindsight I guess I could have bumped the ISO a little, albeit at the risk of also increasing noise. But given the coyote was stationary, I decided the current settings would probably suffice.

The original image was a little on the blue side so I warmed it up a little, and cropped about 25% from the top and right side.

Comments, critique and suggestions always welcome.

Tech stuff: Canon 1D4, EF 500mm f4L IS USM, 1.4x TC, f/9, 1/400 ISO 200. Manual spot metering.

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Christine Adams on March 30, 2013 at 9:17 PM

Awesome shot Rick! I am amazed that you had time to think about settings and metering! I love that the fg is crisp and bg is oof. It just isolates him perfectly.

Registered on January 24, 2006, 119 Posts, 1871 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Marsh on March 30, 2013 at 9:38 PM

Beautiful image Rick! I love the lighting and the comp. The way the coyote and fg is in focus and the bg is oof gives it a 3D effect.

Registered on December 29, 2012, 21 Posts, 225 Comments

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on March 31, 2013 at 3:50 AM

Beautiful frame, very nicely executed!
Love the cut light & your composition.
Jagdeep Rajput

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

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on March 31, 2013 at 8:03 AM

I like this very much!

Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments

Comment posted by Martin Dunn on March 31, 2013 at 10:26 AM

Cool shot. Great exposure. Love the way the sharp foreground leads up to the coyote and then the background is out of focus. I assume the coyote was on a rise or hill and that the background is a lot further away.

Registered on February 20, 2013, 198 Posts, 1011 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on March 31, 2013 at 4:44 PM

Beautiful Photograph Rick

You handled the tricky lighting perfectly, the coyote is nicely rim lit with excellent fur detail. I think the hillside environment really adds dimension to this very pleasing composition.

Excellent Work!!!

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Don Westbrook on March 31, 2013 at 7:46 PM

Beautiful image and lighting. Nice technical choices.

Registered on January 4, 2013, 11 Posts, 332 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on April 1, 2013 at 10:14 PM

Unusual setting, the exposed rocks are quite dramatic, looks like a burn area? Nice pose and moody lighting. I like the way you composed this Rick.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Andrews on April 2, 2013 at 10:27 AM

Thank you all for reviewing this shot and offering your very kind comments.

@Martin - Yes the bg was on the otherside of a small draw or gully, and it was far enough away to remain out of focus even at f/9.
@ Gary - Yes as I remember it I believe this may have been a former burn area.

Registered on December 31, 2011, 45 Posts, 222 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on April 2, 2013 at 11:41 AM

Rick, I think you nailed this one. The scattered rocks make for a pleasing pattern/texture, and the rim light is at a perfect angle... too far behind the coyote and it may have been too weak to set it apart from the background.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on April 2, 2013 at 9:03 PM

Just enough light on the coyote to make it work! I like the gentle diagonal of the slope, texture of the snow and the fact that foreground to subject is in focus.

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

Comment posted by Ralph Kerr on April 3, 2013 at 9:26 AM

Rick, a beautiful rim lit coyote. Ideally, I would like to see the tree right behind him removed, but we take what is presented. Very nicely done.
Ralph Kerr

Registered on January 30, 2007, 369 Posts, 852 Comments