The Munch!

Gallery: WildlifePosted March 28, 2011183 views16 comments

Canon EOS 7D, EF 500mm f/4L IS USM, Aperture Priority @ f/5.6 (1/640 sec), ISO 3200, Handheld, JPG from RAW, Full Frame

For those unfamiliar, this is a Ring-Tailed Lemur, one of a number found at my local open zoo. I fell in love with these characters from the first time I saw them there; they are one of the most adorable animals I can think of both in behavioural traits as well in their appearance, which makes them extremely photogenic.

Their enclosure is set kind of half below ground level and half above, and when food is left out for them it's usually placed on the ground level of the enclosure. Normally shooting a subject from directly from above doesn't make for a good image, however, when leaning over the edge of the visitors area I saw immediate potential for what I thought would make a cute capture; one of the Lemurs was working on a cucumber and, every few bites, it would look directly up at me while munching away.

I wanted to zero in on the wonderful expression on it's face but I also wanted to get just enough of it's ringed-tail slightly out of focus in the background at more of a diagonal angle leading off to a corner of the frame, rather then have it seemingly shooting straight up and out of the top. Twisting myself into various positions, I found this composition to work the best.

Hope you like it too ;^)

Thoughts, comments and suggestions always welcome :^)

Kind regards,

Ashley

Comments

16 comments

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on March 28, 2011 at 11:40 PM

Normally, I don't comment on zoo images, but the expression here is priceless! I also like the way you have tilted the camera to give a slanting look and, as you have mentioned, the blurred tail in the bg.

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

Comment posted by kiran khanzode on March 29, 2011 at 1:47 AM

Nicely done, Ashley, doesn't look like a zoo image to me. Lovely eye contact/angle, the blurred tail adds to my interest.....

Registered on February 21, 2009, 83 Posts, 428 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on March 29, 2011 at 1:50 AM

What a character! LOVE those eyes and that expression!
Not sure about the tail in the BG - I didn't know what it was before your comments.
Still, a wonderful image!
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on March 29, 2011 at 3:17 AM

Great expression

Sweet Photo Ashley!

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Stu Porter on March 29, 2011 at 4:47 AM

Ashley, I like this one a lot !! the tail adds to the interest of the photo and eyes and ears are alert and looking right at you - nice one :) cheers Stu

Registered on March 10, 2011, 8 Posts, 58 Comments

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on March 29, 2011 at 6:41 AM

Many thanks for your appreciative comments Ajit, Kiran, Sandy, Ken, and Stu :^)

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on March 29, 2011 at 8:50 AM

Great placement in the frame n love those eyes! The tail too adds to the frame,
Jagdeep Rajput

Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments

Comment posted by Jorne de Bruin on March 29, 2011 at 11:02 AM

Very nice image Ashley, like the other I like the placement in the frame and the almost crazy expression here!

Registered on June 26, 2008, 178 Posts, 2136 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Cloran on March 29, 2011 at 9:33 PM

I think you nailed what you were trying to do and it works very well. The detail in the face is excellent and the tail provides a perfect balance for the face with this comp. Well done.

Registered on April 6, 2004, 119 Posts, 1989 Comments

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on March 30, 2011 at 3:15 AM

Many thanks Jagdeep, Jorne, and Rick for your kind words and comments, much appreciated :^)

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on March 30, 2011 at 8:55 AM

Hi Ashley,

This one's a smiler! The eyes are amazing and stand out very well. I do like the inclusion of the out-of-focus tail and the diagonal flow of the image. I would probably crop a sliver off the top of the frame if it were mine, but that's a personal preference issue. Noise - especially colour noise - is quite noticeable in the larger version, but not a significant issue on the standard-sized image.

Fun shot - thanks for sharing it!

Brad

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

Comment posted by Paul Marcellini on March 30, 2011 at 11:16 AM

Love it! That full mouth is great and the tail really adds!

Registered on November 27, 2007, 250 Posts, 2468 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on March 30, 2011 at 11:45 AM

I like your decisions for composition. Good work.

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

Comment posted by Luca Mussato on March 30, 2011 at 5:33 PM

Hello Ashley, I watched it and i smiled, I re-watched it and that expression make me lough. Those eyes are fantastic. As well as some others I'm not used to comment on shots taken in a zoo, but in this case I had to make an exception. The framing is ok as is the OOF tail. I'm still smiling it seems it get out from a cartoon.

Cheers, Luca

Registered on November 14, 2006, 118 Posts, 855 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Canuel on March 30, 2011 at 11:54 PM

Neat shot. OOF tail makes me think of the Cat in the Hat from Dr. Suess.

Registered on September 12, 2010, 53 Posts, 660 Comments

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on March 31, 2011 at 1:08 AM

Many thanks Brad, Paul, Lon, Luca, and Steve, real pleased this one apparently appealed to you all at least as much as it appeals to me :^)

Best regards,

Ashley

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments