Seal blakeney point

Hi
this is my first time posting. Sorry this isn't current but i currently don't have a lens. Taken a blakeney point this autumn with a 400 5.6L. What am i doing right and wrong, i am relatively beginner.

I was also wondering if anybody could give me advice with photographing dippers at Lathkill dale i have heard it is good hope to go this spring. Also i am spending a week on skokholm early this summer. Could anyone give advice on photography there or specifically on manx shearwaters.

Thanks

Hi Jack

Welcome to the forum and I hope you get a lens soon, they come in handy I find

I would recommend buying Mike Lane's Nature Photography guide book which has some excellent advice about photography at Lathkill, Skomer, and many other sites.

Mike Lane Photography guide


cheers

Sean

p.s. your post is a bit small at 400 pixels wide, 640 would be better.

Thanks for directing me to the book Sean and i will definitely get it. Looks to be pretty useful for other sites as well.

Good advice on the lense, i am figuring it might help my photography

thanks again

Hello Jack
Welcome from me too, a nice first post and useful advice from Sean (as is usual).
Best wishes
Phil

Hi Jack,

Welcome to the forum

A nice first post, which would be even better posted at a bigger size.

I look forward to seeing more of your work.

Regards

Rob

Hi Jack

Just thought I would revisit your post and make some (hopefully useful) comments.

Composition wise you have done reasonably ok, maybe the head is just a bit too central in the frame, having the head slightly lower and to the right might improve it. I am guessing this was taken from the boats that visit Blakney point? If so it is tricky to get the ideal composition so you have done well in the circumstances. A head on shot would also work well here.

Processing wise the image looks a bit soft and a bit flat. So I downloaded it, applied some sharpening (USM 120,0.3.,0) twice to the entire image and then again selectively to the head/eye area. I then tweaked the curves very slightly with a 'S' shape just to lift the colours and contrast a bit. Also cloned out the blob top right which is a distraction against an otherwise clear background. Cloned in some space above just to give a sense of how a different composition might work.

Also when posting also post the techie details too, i.e. Canon 350D, 400mm f5.6, ISO 200, 1/1000th at f5.6, handheld from boat. This gives some perspective to the shot and allows for better comments by other forum members.

cheers

Sean

thanks for the advice Sean

i like the inprovements you've done. Thanks for the advice posting bigger everyone and next time i will add the techie details