Group Hug

Gallery: WildlifePosted November 22, 2013150 views5 comments

Not my normal Gallery, but I ran across a family of otters (full grown cubs) at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge yesterday and couldn't resist shooting them. It was a continuously shifting and squirming mass, so I just let loose with the shutter release. I'd really appreciate any feedback. The eyes in this species are small and inconspicuous which seems to make it difficult to get appealing images. Also, I'm not sure what the fencing cage in the bg was for, and I'm wondering if it's a major drawback with people.

1Div, 300 mm f4 + 1.4TC, hand held from truck window (you're not allowed out of the vehicle in this part of the refuge). f8, 1/160, Av mode, iso 500. Cropped for pano from top and bottom and a touch off the right to balance the image. I removed some bright sticks from the foreground and there was part of another otter in the left side of the frame that I removed. Taken yesterday at 10:44 am.

Your comments and criticisms are most appreciated.

Thanks for looking,

Comments

5 comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on November 22, 2013 at 8:13 PM

Well taken and processed. The appeal doesn't have to be in the eyes. Its the interaction. I think you caught it quite well.

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

Comment posted by John Tobias on November 22, 2013 at 8:15 PM

Dennis, IMHO you have a very nice shot of a river otter family. Good exposure, nice and sharp, and interesting action. It does seem to have a slight magenta cast, at least on my monitor. My guess is the fence is around the plants to protect them. Thanks for sharing.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on November 23, 2013 at 12:36 AM

Great find, Dennis. I've never been to Ridgefield and need to get down there some time. Nice depiction of these very sociable creatures, and I'm impressed with the sharpness at only 1/160th. Good crop choice as well.

Max

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

Comment posted by Richard Olsen on November 24, 2013 at 7:51 PM

Love this photo Dennis! Great family portrait!

Registered on October 19, 2006, 306 Posts, 1571 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on November 26, 2013 at 3:52 PM

Cool encounter. I suspect you maximized the opportunity given the situation. I would wish the left individuals were in same light as the others...far beyond your control! Maybe try a bump in warmth on otters and dry grasses?

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