Grey Seal Portrait

Gallery: WildlifePosted July 18, 201078 views5 comments

I went to a "double" seal release today (a grey seal and a harp seal). I may post some images from that experience but they don't compare to the seal release last week. Another shot of the grey seal, this one being a little more intimate.

Since these events occur several times a year (I can make it to usually 6 or more) does anyone have advice based on experience as to how to make the most of these situations? The seals of course are very unpredictable (the seals today basically bolted into the water) which makes it a challenge. Thanks in advance.

Nikon D300s 300 f4 + 1.7X TC HH
f/8
1/1250s
ISO 640
-.33 EC

Full Frame, Sharpened

- Luke

Comments

5 comments

Comment posted by Dan Walters on July 18, 2010 at 8:01 PM

Great detail in the seal and I really like the drops of water.

Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on July 19, 2010 at 7:21 AM

I like the water drops, great stop action Luke.
Excellent details & framing.

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on July 19, 2010 at 9:35 AM

Hey Luke,

I'm going to go against the grain of the previous comments: To my eye, there's a critical sharpness (that I think is essential for intimate portraits) that's missing from this image. I think - to your credit - you've done a good job of sharpening the image, but when I look very closely at the eye, nose region, and whiskers they seem soft to me. Bear in mind that the wetness of the seal was working against you a little, but overall I think we're looking at softness here that's imparted purely by the 1.7x TC (given your techs, I don't think it's camera shake issues). I'm wondering if stopping down a little more might have helped sharpen this up a little more (at f8 on an f4 lens, this is close to wide open).

On the positive side, exposure looks spot-on and I think you captured (or processed to) the correct amount of shadow detail. Compositionally no nits...

Cheers...thanks for sharing this...

Brad

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

Comment posted by Bill Maile on July 19, 2010 at 2:41 PM

I really think comps with the animal coming out of the bottom left corner are very appealing to the eye. This is a great example Luke. For me, I like the seal of course, and water droplets and fading BG. Nice.

Registered on March 2, 2009, 984 Posts, 2518 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on July 20, 2010 at 11:41 AM

Lovely portrait Luke with a classical pose. The light is great here. Looking at the larger version I see Brad's point about the sharpness. As for advice; I think you are doing very well and like you say, the situations (as mostly the case in wildlife photography) are very unpredictable.Perhaps trying a WA approach would be interesting, if that is an option at all.

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments