Mrs Bush

Very nice portrait of the impala! Love the DOF! Very nicely exposed and composed, a stunning shot of a relatively common animal (in Africa!)
-Cam

Nice portrait. It does feel slightly soft. I would also trim the right side enough to remove the dark blotch in the URHC.

Ingrid...
DOF really makes this portrait. Nice warm vibrant colour as well.

Wonderful detail and colours in this fine portrait. Love those ears!
Nice bg to set the animal off we'll.
Sandy

Nice portrait of a lovely subject.

I don't think it is soft at all, sharpness looks good on the larger version. Yes, the BG looks soft due to the shallow DOF and that is exactly what it should be! I have no suggestions other than the composition. To me all the empty space on the right does not add to the image and I can even argue it distracts rather due to the white vertical stems of the bushes. Yet, if it were simply a vertical portrait of her it would perhaps be too 'simple' and thus I can understand your choice of framing... Maybe if there was something a bit more 'interesting (color or shape) on the right?

Thanks all for the comments!
@Vincent: thanks for your suggestions. However, to me having something else in the BG would distract. Having a different color (I think you mean a more uniform BG, e.g. plain red sand?) would make the image more boring imho. As would portrait, as you mention. Therefore I intentionally made this photo as is, because I wanted to show the impala in its habitat (thick bush in Tsavo West), without showing that habitat in a way that distracts from the impala - or at least to me it's not distracting - for me it's the BG that (of course together with Mrs Bush) makes the picture, but tastes differ I guess... Thanks again!
Ingrid.

Beautiful Portrait Ingrid Great eye contact and complimentary background habitat. A very pleasing composition.

Sweet Photo!!!

Ken Archer

Focus seems fine to me. Just a bit too much empty space right for my tastes The crop leads you into the picture thru Impala but then I am lost in the right portion

I initially perceived some softness too, but it must be an illusion, because the larger version looks fine. I also agree with Phil's comment about slightly trimming the right side to remove the dark edge. Almost looks like a vignette.

Overall though, it's a great background for the subject and I am glad you went horizontal here. Nice job, Ingrid.

Max

What gorgeous ears, and such a nice head-on look at her. Love the composition and the blurry background colors.

Nice capture!

Beautiful exposure, Ingrid. In terms of framing, I like your choice of leaving space on the right with oof vegetation implying habitat, although I think I would trim it back just a little...all totally subjective, of course!