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Backlit mule deer
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Backlit mule deer

by Lon Sharp

Gallery: WildlifePosted April 18, 20132,030 views7 comments
Here is something from earlier this year showing an effect I like to apply to animal images, especially velvet antlered deer. This is a mule deer buck with the morning light adding a rim lighting glow to his antlers, all against a shadowed background.

Minor crop to reduce oof foreground elements. D3S, 200-400 @200, 1/200, F4, ISO 720, -0.3ev

Comments welcomed.

Comments

7 comments
Comment posted by Don Westbrook on April 19, 2013 at 12:06 AM
That is a really good effect. Those antlers really pop. Thank you for sharing this example. Just another example of the great techniques beginners like myself can learn here from you pros.
Registered on January 4, 2013, 11 Posts, 332 Comments
Comment posted by Steven Svalina on April 19, 2013 at 3:21 PM
The back lit antlers nicely displayed against the blurred darkened background. A nice pan. At I/200th I probably would have had a blurred subject. You allowed a nice space for the buck to migrate into. I wonder if you could have gone neutral (0.0) on your compensation adjustment and lightened up the buck a tad without sacrificing the peripheral glow.
Registered on March 19, 2013, 5 Posts, 23 Comments
Comment posted by Brad Clinch on April 21, 2013 at 11:23 AM
Nice use of backlighting, it creates great separation of the subject from its environment. While the body could have been lightened, I think your exposure is right on as it conveys the early morning light and sense of moment very effectively.
Registered on January 5, 2013, 37 Posts, 261 Comments
Comment posted by Martin Dunn on April 21, 2013 at 12:32 PM
The glow on the antlers realy lifts this shot. Nice technique Lon.
Registered on February 20, 2013, 198 Posts, 1011 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Hackley on April 24, 2013 at 11:41 AM
Wonderful use of light to show off this deer. The larger image has nice detail in the shadows and the subtle contrast really adds to the image, excellent shot Lon.
Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments
Comment posted by Jeff Lewis on April 24, 2013 at 1:05 PM
Really nice shot Lon, that is a very nice effect and everything seems spot on to me - sharpness, exp, comp. Well done :toast:
Registered on January 29, 2013, 9 Posts, 89 Comments
Comment posted by Howard Cheek on May 20, 2013 at 1:15 PM
You have to love that beautiful rim lighting, it's magic.
Very special image, excellent work Lon! :toast: :toast:
Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments