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Moonrse in Cotopaxi
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Moonrse in Cotopaxi

by Cam Held

Gallery: WildlifePosted November 12, 2009111 views7 comments
Hi everybody. After over a year and a half of obsesively viewing your amazing photos, I decided it was time I stopped spending money on equipment, and I got a membership!
This past summer I traveled to Ecuador with a National Geographic Student Expedition. If there are any other aspiring high school age nature photographers, I highly reccomend these trips, I recieved amazing instruction from great photographers.

Anyway, this was taken in the highlands of Ecuador. In the late afternoon I noticed a group of wild horses on a ridge above the ranch we were staying at. I spent some time photographing them, (I'm sure I'll share those pictures later!) and on my way back down the ridge I noticed this horse on the ridge opposite me. The fence next to the horse is actually intended to keep the wild horses out of the cattle pasture. I knor the post in front of the horse's face may be distracting, but I liked the composition of the horse and moon. I know my work may not compare with the beautiful images I constantly see on this site, but there's only one way to get better: get critiqued. I appreciate all of your comments and critiques in advance.

And I apologize for my excessively long description! :biggrin:

Tech:
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Tamron 28-300 f/3.5-6.3 @ 109mm f/10
1/200 sec
ISO 800

Comments

7 comments
Comment posted by Brad Hill on November 13, 2009 at 9:58 AM
Hi Cam,

Welcome to NPN - and to the Fauna Gallery in particular! I hope this is just the first of many posts (and comments) that you contribute.

Before I say anything about the image - thanks for including all the appropriate tech info and contextual information - it really helps when the image has context AND the tech info often leads to more meaningful comments...

The image: this is a very nice first post. The image detail (especially as seen in the larger version - and thanks for posting the larger version!) is very good, including in the moon. You did a great job on the exposure - nice silhouette AND nice exposure on the moon. I like how the horse is grounded at the bottom of the frame (and I'd be tempted to slice even more off the bottom if the image were mine). As you pointed out, the post that's almost touching the horses's nose IS distracting - too bad it's there. I personally like VERY simple images and could do without any of the posts (but do like the bushes) - when I look at this image and imagine 1) the horse reversed in direction and standing INTO the frame from the same position and 2) without the nearest pole (and possibly all of them) - I think "Wow!". Interestingly, these changes would be a snap to make in Photoshop if you want to see what I mean (not that I'm advocating "manipulating" the image this much and presenting it "as shot", but simply that these kind of experiments can teach us something about composition).

Cheers...thanks for sharing this...looking forward to further contributions from you!

Brad
Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments
Comment posted by Sally King on November 13, 2009 at 12:20 PM
I agree with Brad about taking some of the black off the bottom. The post in front of the horse's nose is bothersome. I am not so bothered by the other posts or that the horse is tending to look out of the frame. An image manipulated as Brad says would have a place in photo art. Overall I think it is a very nice image.
Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments
Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on November 13, 2009 at 1:08 PM
Hi Cam and welcome to NPN :wavey: You have joined us for all the right reasons, namely to become a better photographer and that is certainly what NPN (or rather all its members) can help you with. This image tells me you are no complete novice in photography and that you have a good eye for composition. The fact that you already critique your own work in your commentary is another sign of that you are willing to learn and a great attribute for any photographer. I like the image quite a lot Cam, and it looks technicaly very well executed. But I have to agree with you that the post in from of it nose is a pity.
I am looking forward to seeing more of your work in this gallery soon Cam. :toast:
Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments
Comment posted by Cam Held on November 13, 2009 at 1:12 PM
Thanks everyone! I'll definitely take some black off the bottom. I agree that that would help the image. As far as turning the horse around, and getting rid of the posts, I'll see what I can do. I might repost in Photo Art later if I like the changes. Thanks again!
Registered on November 12, 2009, 59 Posts, 398 Comments
Comment posted by Cam Held on November 13, 2009 at 1:53 PM
Here's the changed version, I decided to just repost it here. I removed one of the posts, and turned the horse around.
Registered on November 12, 2009, 59 Posts, 398 Comments
Comment posted by Brad Hill on November 13, 2009 at 7:33 PM
Hey Cam,

I think the re-post is much nicer. I'd still argue for shaving more off the bottom, but that's purely an issue of personal preference and definitely NOT a right-wrong sort of thing. Thanks for taking the time to re-work and re-post the image...

Cheers...

Brad
Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments
Comment posted by Sam Rua on November 14, 2009 at 12:29 PM
Nice repost, Cam. Very nice work moving the horse without making it look obvious. Another very easy fix to this shot is to clone out the dust spots. I think it's definitely time for a sensor cleaning :eek:
Registered on September 9, 2006, 130 Posts, 2281 Comments