Sly One

Gallery: WildlifePosted October 23, 20151,953 views9 comments

I know this comp probably won't work for everyone, but I wanted to really try something different when I shot this. I was trying to think of something that might work on a magazine cover. So I left some room on top and wanted to try something with more unique with the comp that would stand out from other fox images. I am curious about what other others think.

1DX, 300mm f/2.8, 1/400 at f/8, ISO 3200

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on October 24, 2015 at 7:47 AM

Hey Kurt. A very pleasing close-up composition here with strong diagonals, soft light and wonderful details.
I'd consider going square on it, shaving some off the top?

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

Comment posted by Kathy Barnhart on October 24, 2015 at 2:26 PM

This is just gorgeous, and aptly titled. I love the fluffy tail in the foreground, the hyper alert ears, and the colors. The added space at the top makes this a winner for some lucky magazine to put on its cover.

Registered on November 11, 2011, 404 Posts, 1639 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Minish on October 24, 2015 at 10:18 PM

I really like it, Kurt! I think you met your goal quite nicely. It would work perfectly with a magazine title on the top. I think the wrap around tail adds to the photo and helps create a peaceful mood. The exposure is excellent also and the details are great. Very nicely done! devil

Registered on February 4, 2006, 625 Posts, 3583 Comments

Comment posted by Yun Gao on October 24, 2015 at 11:22 PM

I like this composition. Nice expression and detail. Great image.

Registered on September 11, 2012, 267 Posts, 1621 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on October 24, 2015 at 11:38 PM

Nice one, Kurt. I like the angle of his gaze. The tail and body line cause me to look a bit extra to put him all together, but it doesn't feel like a negative. Nice job framing with a fixed focal length.

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

Comment posted by Brad Hill on October 25, 2015 at 9:27 AM

Hi Kurt,

I think the crop as presented WOULD work very well as a magazine cover - lots of room for the masthead (and it would fall on a nicely dark OOF zone) but with strong interest below. That one diagonal lighter OOF zone stands out a little for me, but only because everything else in the OOF zone is so uniformly dark (but most magazine editors I know likely wouldn't even see it! enlightened

).

If we forget about the magazine cover aspect of it...hmmm...not sure it would be my first choice in cropping - without something above (like a magazine title!) it almost feels a bit "forced" into a vertical. There ARE many aspects of the image I do like in absolute terms - the diagonal flow, the tucked tail at the bottom of the frame, the angle and "pointing" of the ears, the detail in the face of the subject, the overall colour palette, and more! But...I am left wondering if all of these would be showcased even better in a horizontal crop (but without seeing the full frame this is obviously pure speculation on my part).

Cheers...

Brad

Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on October 25, 2015 at 6:30 PM

Thanks everyone.
Brad, this is full frame. This fox was very friendly you could almost touch her. So it won't be speculation. sad

I have horizontal versions of a similar pose and will post one of them next so you can see. I like them also, was just trying something out of the box here.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on October 26, 2015 at 6:10 PM

Kurt, I like the cropping on this one. Everything that is important is in the frame.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Zack Clothier on November 4, 2015 at 10:26 PM

Would make a great magazine cover, nicely done Kurt.

Registered on January 28, 2010, 343 Posts, 2257 Comments