Galapagos Tortoise + Repost

Gallery: WildlifePosted August 26, 2014107 views7 comments

I had previously posted a wide angle shot of a tortoise so I thought I would add a close up. This is a wild tortoise photographed on a private ranch on Santa Cruz Island. There were several basking in a small, plant covered lake there. This is slightly cropped from left and top to place the eye at the rule of thirds axis.

Canon 5D3 500F4 1.4x 1/400 F8, iso 800, handheld

Comments

7 comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on August 26, 2014 at 9:10 PM

Positively ancient and primeval. Looks like something that didn't quite make it to the Ark in time!

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on August 27, 2014 at 10:13 AM

Excellent portrait Nate!
Neat the way its head pops up out of the 'soupy' vegetation, sharp details & great eye contact

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

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on August 27, 2014 at 10:33 AM

Terrific detail on the colorful vegetation and excellent, low perspective look at the face. I would apply a slight boost in both brightness and contrast to JUST the orb of his eye to help bring out that bit of highlight showing there! I think that would really add a bit of pop. Also, just as an afterthought and given the vertical nature of the head and that the body in beyond the zone of focus, it might be an interesting presentation as a vertical! ??? When I frame it that way on my screen, it becomes my preference.

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on August 27, 2014 at 7:15 PM

Thanks Lon, here it is with the repost, the eye was really dark and I had lightened the original but I have reworked it and I do think it looks better. Not sure about the vertical as it turns out pretty squarish unless you crop into the shell on the right but I do think the closer crop has more impact.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on August 28, 2014 at 8:32 AM

The repost certainly has a lot of detail that was lost in the original, Nate. Would love to go there one day....sigh!

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

Comment posted by Brad Hill on August 29, 2014 at 5:31 PM

Hey Nate,

Thumbnail on this one didn't do it justice - and I'm definitely in agreement with you that the closer crop has much more impact. Well done.

Cheers...

Brad

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

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on September 3, 2014 at 12:19 AM

Awesome image Nate. Love the muck he seems to bee rising from. Nice work!

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments