Gallery: WildlifePosted August 7, 2011204 views7 comments
This is the calves of the white cow I posted earlier.
Nikon D300, 500mm, 1/80 at f/4, ISO1600
Comments
7 comments
Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on August 7, 2011 at 7:53 AM
There is a lot of oof grass in the foreground that is taking away the attention from the main subjects, Lennart.
Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments
Comment posted by Brad Hill on August 7, 2011 at 8:21 AM
Hi Lennart,
Like with your previous post of the white cow, I find these subjects absolutely fascinating. The oure white calf on the right would be interesting in itself, but when you add in the "piebald" variant on the left this image gives one lots to look at.
Regarding the out-of-focus grass in the foreground: I tend to be a believer that images with some form of visual contrast (including a strong contact in focus, i.e., large differentials between in- and out-of-focus zones) are more compelling than images lacking such contrast. In that regard I think this image works well - between the contrast in colour between subjects and foreground and background AND the selective focus, the subjects stand out really well here.
At the same time, have two out-of-focus zones in an image doesn't always work for me. My gut reaction here is that the image might be stronger if the amount of foreground was cut (and that amount added on top) AND that you stopped down to the point where the foreground grasses that WERE included were in focus. But, when I look at your tech specs, it's apparent that you had very little light to work with, had pretty much maxed out your ISO on the camera you were using, and had absolutely NO shutter speed to give up. With that all factored in I think you made very good decisions in the field and produced close to the best image possible given the constraints imposed on you (primarily the low light).
So...overall...very well done...congrats!
Cheers...thanks for sharing this...
Brad
PS: Good job on the processing, too!
Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Teller on August 7, 2011 at 5:29 PM
Very interesting image. The animals are fascinating. I agree with the comments about the foreground. I would try working with a pano crop.
Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments
Comment posted by Dan Walters on August 7, 2011 at 10:32 PM
Must have been quite the experience! Agree about cutting off some of the foreground.
Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments
Comment posted by John Blumenkamp on August 7, 2011 at 11:56 PM
Wow... what an image. Fascinating to see a pair of these! Nice capture, and your low angle really makes them stand out against the darker background. I agree with others about possibly cropping some from the bottom.
Registered on February 26, 2011, 58 Posts, 313 Comments
Comment posted by Lennart Augustsson on August 8, 2011 at 5:47 AM
Thank you everyone for your comments!
I will think about your proposals about the foreground.
It was with purpose I made the foreground so big.
I didn´t want to split the picture in the middle and in the choice between 2/3 almost black or 2/3 light I choose the light.
I felt that the camera position seemed lower and that it gave more sneak hunting feeling.
It gave more room in the direction that the calves were looking.
The foreground was completely out of focus and didn´t draw any attention.
But as I said in the beginning I will think about it again. It is always good to have an other point of view.
Maybe it depends on what you are used to. Some people find it natrual to read from right to left and some think the opposite.
Registered on July 29, 2011, 21 Posts, 137 Comments
Comment posted by Lennart Augustsson on August 8, 2011 at 11:43 AM
Roslin,
Moose cows get their first calf when they are one to six years. Most common is three yeras.
The biggest threats for these calves are traffic and bullets from hunters. Predators are not so many, just a few wolves.
My guess is that they will grow up and breed because hunters often save the white ones.
Lennart
Registered on July 29, 2011, 21 Posts, 137 Comments
Comments
7 commentsLike with your previous post of the white cow, I find these subjects absolutely fascinating. The oure white calf on the right would be interesting in itself, but when you add in the "piebald" variant on the left this image gives one lots to look at.
Regarding the out-of-focus grass in the foreground: I tend to be a believer that images with some form of visual contrast (including a strong contact in focus, i.e., large differentials between in- and out-of-focus zones) are more compelling than images lacking such contrast. In that regard I think this image works well - between the contrast in colour between subjects and foreground and background AND the selective focus, the subjects stand out really well here.
At the same time, have two out-of-focus zones in an image doesn't always work for me. My gut reaction here is that the image might be stronger if the amount of foreground was cut (and that amount added on top) AND that you stopped down to the point where the foreground grasses that WERE included were in focus. But, when I look at your tech specs, it's apparent that you had very little light to work with, had pretty much maxed out your ISO on the camera you were using, and had absolutely NO shutter speed to give up. With that all factored in I think you made very good decisions in the field and produced close to the best image possible given the constraints imposed on you (primarily the low light).
So...overall...very well done...congrats!
Cheers...thanks for sharing this...
Brad
PS: Good job on the processing, too!
I will think about your proposals about the foreground.
It was with purpose I made the foreground so big.
I didn´t want to split the picture in the middle and in the choice between 2/3 almost black or 2/3 light I choose the light.
I felt that the camera position seemed lower and that it gave more sneak hunting feeling.
It gave more room in the direction that the calves were looking.
The foreground was completely out of focus and didn´t draw any attention.
But as I said in the beginning I will think about it again. It is always good to have an other point of view.
Maybe it depends on what you are used to. Some people find it natrual to read from right to left and some think the opposite.
Moose cows get their first calf when they are one to six years. Most common is three yeras.
The biggest threats for these calves are traffic and bullets from hunters. Predators are not so many, just a few wolves.
My guess is that they will grow up and breed because hunters often save the white ones.
Lennart