Posted by Elliott Neep on October 3, 2006 at 3:59 PM
Hi Everyone,
Followed my friend Jerry Sutton to the stunning Isle of Mull again. This time I came back with a bag full of great otter imagery. This particular shot was the result of an hour's stalking and being submerged in a rising tide, but worth it. Thanks to Jerry for a great trip!!!!
EOS 1DSmkII
EF 300mm F2.8 ISL
Shutter speed: 1/250 sec
Aperture: 5.6
ISO: 400
Soggy Beanbag
Wet feet, legs and bod.
Bruised knees, twisted back and stubbed toe.
maybe a little lower and a touch right in the frame might have made it a little stronger. would have been a stunner if there had been a reflection too.
still it must be fantastic being able to even see one of these.
have you ever thought of wearing a wetsuit for this mucky stalking in shallows? you might find it worth looking at one. a 7mm full suit would be well warm and also provide some padding on your sore joints. as for street cred.....well......none at all!!!!! you might even get arrested!!
nice image. look forward to seeing some more.
m
Posted by Malcolm Muir on October 3, 2006 at 6:51 PM
Nice, clean, sharp and striking image Elliot. I like it.
Malcolm
Posted by Paul Williams on October 4, 2006 at 4:07 AM
Nice shot, hope you recover! Mull is lovely, camped on the beach at Calgary Bay a few times but all I ever saw of these guys were fresh footprints on several occassions near to the tent, a tad frustrating!
Posted by John Chapman on October 4, 2006 at 5:26 AM
Hi Elliot
what a fantastic shot which you deserve by putting in the effort.
John
Aberdeen
I like it also Elliot, the eye contact makes this special IMO
Terry
Posted by Sean Bolton on October 4, 2006 at 4:25 PM
Hi Elliott
Great shot, I like the low angle and the eye contact with the Otter. The setting is superb too. Composition wise the Otter maybe slightly too central, but given the efforts you went through to get this shot I think I can let you off on that one!
Great image Elliot. Other on your website also fab.
Mull is a fantastic place, I was up there earlier in the year. Think I should plan a trip for next year in search of some better Otter pics than I managed this time round.
Gavin
Posted by Elliott Neep on October 5, 2006 at 12:41 PM
Hi Everyone,
Thanks for responding and critiquing the image. Its a RAW image so thought it may come across quite flat, but I think its actually befitting the image.
Writepic: Yep, I have considered most things. After this trip, I've decided on a set of neoprene chest-waders. I still need a jacket of some type to hold all my bits.
I can't put into words how beautiful Mull is. Its strikingly dramatic with tall mountains cut by long lochs. You can see otters there but it really is trecherous. I have so many broken camera things and bruised body bits. If you ever go, make sure you go in as a pair. People I know have suffered broken ankles and had spleens removed trying to get close to wildlife on these slippery loch shores.
Elliot - I have worked on Mull a lot over the years, and spent almost two years there making a documentary on otters using 16mm Arri kit (heavy) and know only too well how incredibly difficult it is just to find otters never mind get safely close enough to them to get a frame-filling shot without falling into the sea/breaking a leg/banging your head. All I can say is congratulations and your effort was well worth it!
Posted by Danny Green on October 6, 2006 at 5:57 PM
Hello Elliot
Great shot love the setting. I have also spent such along time in trying to photograph otters and have suffered many falls during that time. I once slipped and fell into the water and lost a 300mm lens which fell out of my pocket and into the water an expensive mistake
Discussion
12 repliesFollowed my friend Jerry Sutton to the stunning Isle of Mull again. This time I came back with a bag full of great otter imagery. This particular shot was the result of an hour's stalking and being submerged in a rising tide, but worth it. Thanks to Jerry for a great trip!!!!
EOS 1DSmkII
EF 300mm F2.8 ISL
Shutter speed: 1/250 sec
Aperture: 5.6
ISO: 400
Soggy Beanbag
Wet feet, legs and bod.
Bruised knees, twisted back and stubbed toe.
maybe a little lower and a touch right in the frame might have made it a little stronger. would have been a stunner if there had been a reflection too.
still it must be fantastic being able to even see one of these.
have you ever thought of wearing a wetsuit for this mucky stalking in shallows? you might find it worth looking at one. a 7mm full suit would be well warm and also provide some padding on your sore joints. as for street cred.....well......none at all!!!!! you might even get arrested!!
nice image. look forward to seeing some more.
m
Malcolm
what a fantastic shot which you deserve by putting in the effort.
John
Aberdeen
Like it loads and only nit is that it is not mine
Terry
Great shot, I like the low angle and the eye contact with the Otter. The setting is superb too. Composition wise the Otter maybe slightly too central, but given the efforts you went through to get this shot I think I can let you off on that one!
Great work
cheers
Sean
Mull is a fantastic place, I was up there earlier in the year. Think I should plan a trip for next year in search of some better Otter pics than I managed this time round.
Gavin
Thanks for responding and critiquing the image. Its a RAW image so thought it may come across quite flat, but I think its actually befitting the image.
Writepic: Yep, I have considered most things. After this trip, I've decided on a set of neoprene chest-waders. I still need a jacket of some type to hold all my bits.
I can't put into words how beautiful Mull is. Its strikingly dramatic with tall mountains cut by long lochs. You can see otters there but it really is trecherous. I have so many broken camera things and bruised body bits. If you ever go, make sure you go in as a pair. People I know have suffered broken ankles and had spleens removed trying to get close to wildlife on these slippery loch shores.
Great shot love the setting. I have also spent such along time in trying to photograph otters and have suffered many falls during that time. I once slipped and fell into the water and lost a 300mm lens which fell out of my pocket and into the water an expensive mistake
Danny
A 'complete' wildlife shot, involving plenty of fieldcraft and a well deserved final result!!
Great stuff
Alan