What marmots look at

Gallery: WildlifePosted May 2, 201173 views11 comments

Back from recent "marmotting" trekking I start reviewing my my shots. Initially I thought there was nothing special, all classical poses of marmots getting out from their caves but it happens that working in Photoshop to try and fix some grass stems I looked with more attention at marmot's eye and I saw it: a perfect (almost) reflection of the blu spring sky with white clouds and the sun.

No retouch has been applied in PP, neither bites. Please look at the larger version.

Techs: Nikon D2Xs
W.B: Auto
Metering: Spot
Iso: 200
S.S.:1/1600
E.C: -0,67
Lens: Af-s Nikkor 300 ED f/4 at F/4
Distance from the subject: 3.2 m
Tripod + Wemberley Head

Comments much appreciated.

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by Fabio Giarrizzo on May 2, 2011 at 2:25 PM

Excellent capture- Like very much the pose, the nice detail (with great eye) and your composition choice- Now I'd like to marmott soon- Ciao, Fabio

Registered on December 3, 2010, 90 Posts, 1614 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on May 2, 2011 at 4:45 PM

Luca,
very nice portrait with great detail and landscape in the eye.

I'd like to do some marmotting trekking me too.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Egging on May 2, 2011 at 10:27 PM

The reflection in the eye is awesome. I am somewhat distracted by the two blurred pieces of grass coming out of the right side of the frame.

Registered on April 26, 2011, 3 Posts, 18 Comments

Comment posted by Luca Mussato on May 3, 2011 at 1:04 AM

Thanks for comments and impressions.
Look at the repost.

ciao

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

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on May 3, 2011 at 7:06 AM

Had you not mentioned Luca, I would have definitely missed that wonderfully reflected cloud in it's eye, wow! that really does make this one a keeper and something special :^)

If this were mine, I would remove the brighter-coloured strand of grass on the LH side (as it really distracts my attention) and while in the toolbox I'd decrease the brighter parts of the background some too ... but that's just me ;^)

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

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on May 3, 2011 at 10:05 AM

Now we know what marmots look at, sky. Nice feature, Luca. Also a good close up of the animal all around, although I'd also remove the oof grass blade on the left side.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on May 3, 2011 at 12:25 PM

Hi Luca,

Nice detail in that eye (and the entire facial region) - I'm a big fan of interesting reflections in animal's eyes and in that regard this one works well for me. I actually found the out-of-focus grasses coming in from the left side of the frame (in the ear region) a little more distracting than the ones you cloned out on the bottom in the re-post, but I'm not advocating cloning that region too. That bright grass on the left side is the most distracting remaining element - personally I'd handle that simply with a crop - I don't think you need all that space on the left side of the frame. It also might be worth selectively darkening the background on the left side of the frame to help de-emphasize all those out-of-focus elements and make the marmot pop a little more. Just a thought...hope it makes sense!

Cheers...

Brad

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

Comment posted by Luca Mussato on May 3, 2011 at 3:58 PM

Thanks to all of you. I tried to collect all your suggestions in this repost. Let me know your thoughts.

Cheers, Luca

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

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on May 3, 2011 at 7:23 PM

that is a great reflection in his eye. Nice portrait

Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on May 4, 2011 at 10:13 AM

Hi again Luca,

I definitely prefer the 2nd re-post - much less competition for the eye now...

Cheers...

Brad

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

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on May 5, 2011 at 10:38 PM

Cool eye detail!! I prefer the final repost.

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