Sea Otter, Alaska

Gallery: WildlifePosted April 4, 2010190 views8 comments

Not sure why I didn't post this here previously... but here you go

This was taken last June in the eastern Prince William Sound. Can't wait to get back again in a couple of months - the area is ripe with photo ops.
Had great weather for this kind of photography, thin but consistent overcast skies - a great big diffuser. I'll post a few more in the coming days.
Comments & critiques always welcome. Please click the link for a much larger copy.

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on April 4, 2010 at 9:43 PM

Sweet one Dave, that clean reflection puts it over the edge for me

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Andrius Pašukonis on April 4, 2010 at 9:44 PM

I love these creatures (who doesnt?) and this picture is great. Very nice reflection you got there and I dont know exactly how. I rarely see any reflections in the ocean.

Registered on July 23, 2005, 111 Posts, 408 Comments

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on April 5, 2010 at 12:41 AM

Nice reflection, Dave. Maybe, you could darken the water in the upper half?

Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on April 5, 2010 at 2:27 PM

This fellow has an endearing face and you found nice light for his eyes. I quite like the split between dark, calm, mirror-like water in the foreground and the brighter agitated surface behind him. The reflection of the face is very nice and is as much a part of the subject as the face above water. That said (and it is difficult to discuss a crop without knowing camera, shooting stats and whether this is already cropped...You might try to include that in the future!) it seems that the presentation has his face/reflection positioned dead center vertically. You could experiment with taking a panel from the bottom, then some from the left side and perhaps a tiny sliver from the right. You would eliminate some space that isn't doing all that much and the leading lines of the wake better emphasize the reflection, IMO. Thanks for sharing this guy and please don't hesitate to share your insights by commenting on other fauna images!

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

Comment posted by Brad Hill on April 6, 2010 at 9:03 AM

Hi Dave,

Very nice shot - I particularly like the reflection and the blue/green water in the foreground. I'm a big fan of simple compositions and like this, but would probably like it even more if the background was as calm (and dark) as the foreground - but obviously this was completely out of your control.

But overall very pleasing - I hope to capture some images of these fellows myself this summer and this image makes me want to do so even more!

Brad

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

Comment posted by Darren Colello on April 6, 2010 at 3:31 PM

Beautiful sea otter image. Great detail and reflection.