Your Lion Eyes

Gallery: WildlifePosted October 14, 2017302 views7 comments

I mentioned in my previous post that I had responded to the Sea Lion beach party at the hatchery with my 100-400 lens on the camera and had to go back for the 16-70. Well, I did grab a few shots with the big lens before I swapped it. This is one of those. I zoomed in this close just because I could and was curious how many intimate details it would show. It's not something you would hang on a wall but it is fun to look at enlightened

Sony a6500, FE100400GM @ 400mm, ISO=400, f/6.3, 1/640, hand held.

Comments

7 comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on October 14, 2017 at 2:46 PM

Some excellent detail here, Gary. I particularly like the definition in the eye. So often with seals and sea lions we get just a black mass, but here we can see the ring around the iris.

About the only suggestion I'd make is to watch your background. The lighter triangle in the top left butts right up against the tip of the nose. Had you moved slightly, you may have been able to get a uniform background without that distracting lighter sliver interfering. Easier said than done, I know. I forget things like this half the time when I'm in the moment.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on October 14, 2017 at 4:21 PM

An outstanding close-up, Gary. The details and especially the eye are great. There's good eye movement with the whiskers angling up from the bottom. Yes, the lighter area ulc is a bit of a distraction, but not a deal killer., Maybe some (or some more) burning-in there would help. I disagree with your assessment about this not being a wall hanger, the tight view, comp. and details all look great to me.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on October 15, 2017 at 11:52 PM

I love this. I think you could just fill in the ULC if you wanted to. The light is beautiful.

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Sandor on October 16, 2017 at 2:39 AM

Gary: very nice to see a sea lion in a calm pose as I generally think of them as being raucous. I like the detail in the animal's head and seeing the sclera in the eye in particular. You might consider burning the bright spot in the ulc or cloning it. Richard

Registered on January 12, 2014, 453 Posts, 1625 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on October 16, 2017 at 8:01 PM

The eye contact is pretty cool, Gary. I agree that repositioning left work better, if possible. Well done considering hand held at wide aperture.

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on October 18, 2017 at 8:14 PM

Beautiful detail, beautiful light, and beautiful eyes! I find myself wishing the whiskers were not cut, but that is a very minor and subjective observation.

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

Comment posted by Elizabeth Arellano on April 14, 2018 at 1:27 PM

Tack sharp, love the capture.

Registered on February 18, 2008, 35 Posts, 302 Comments