Strike the pose

Gallery: Man & FaunaPosted June 26, 2016146 views6 comments

Good morning,
I haven't posted in quite some time and need some instruction.
I was testing my new Canon 70-300 L and took this is a photo of a little chipmunk running around in my back yard. I cropped quite a bit to eliminate distracting grass and a really poor and boring background.
I am constantly looking at composition and want to know how some of you would have cropped this to highlight the chipmunk. I know the best is to get it right in camera but I was a little too far out.
Please let me know what I can do to improve because I have a lot to learn.

Canon T5i
Canon 70-300 L
Iso 800
F 6.3
1/400 shutter.

Thanks in advance for you advice.
Brian

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by Brian Murphy on June 26, 2016 at 11:35 AM

Registered on November 15, 2015, 35 Posts, 50 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Murphy on June 26, 2016 at 11:37 AM

Below is the jpeg version of the original photo. Not ideal background in any way but I need to learn how to work around it.

Registered on November 15, 2015, 35 Posts, 50 Comments

Comment posted by Floyd Hopper on July 1, 2016 at 6:21 PM

I think I would have made a vertical crop. I like the "catch eye:.

Registered on May 1, 2009, 652 Posts, 762 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on July 4, 2016 at 1:29 PM

I think I agree on using a vertical crop, Brian. As you noted, you were a bit far out at the size of the crop is going to create quality issues unless you have a situation where it makes sense to keep the subject small in the frame. In this case, the oof foreground grasses and the fence at the top make that a pretty untenable option. I don't know what you are using for processing, but if you can select the chipmunk and do noise reduction and or blur on the bg it would make the critter pop a bit better and minimize the effect of the bg.

Hope that helps,

devil

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Murphy on July 4, 2016 at 1:55 PM

Yep I was too far out for this one but hoping to make the best out of a not so good shot for future reference. My post processing software right now is Photoshop elements. Some day I will move up to the real photoshop.
Thank you for your help. I have a lot to learn.
Brian

Registered on November 15, 2015, 35 Posts, 50 Comments

Comment posted by Floyd Hopper on July 9, 2016 at 8:13 PM

There is nothing wrong with using Photoshop Elements, which I use. There are some great editing software available. The one I prefer is Nik Software. It is easy to use and navigate. I believe is free from Google. Also, Topaz Labs have great editing software, which I also use. Before laying out some high costs and complicated Photoshop editing programs, check these out.

Registered on May 1, 2009, 652 Posts, 762 Comments