Last Otter

Hi Folks. Thanks for all the great comments on the previous otter posts. This will be the last one (before you get too bored!) I had such a great trip and the other images and more detail will be on my blog.

This was a mega-stalk with a very wary male - one that I have come to quickly recognise over the past couple of years. It lasted over 4 hours from start to finish with lots of waiting, crawling, slipping, slithering and a few photo opportunities

The highlight of the observations was discovering that this dog otter was now a father and I watched him reunite with his family (female with one cub) further down the shore. I was only a few metres away, but couldn't get a clear line of sight with them all together.

This was shot about 2.5hrs into the session. He came on shore for a rub down and power-nap. I managed to slip quietly through some seaweed covered rocks, on my belly (thanks to the extra cushioning), and eventually arrived within a few metres of the rubbing otter. I kept low and laid the beanbag on a smaller rock than usual - to see if I could get a really diffused image. I like the result, although the diffusion maybe too much for some. C&C Welcomed...

Camera Model: Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II
Shutter speed: 1/160th sec
Aperture: f/5.6
Exposure mode: Av
Exposure compensation: +2/3
ISO: 200
Lens: 600mm
AF mode: AI Servo AF
Beanbag
Soaked though!

I like the diffused foreground Elliot. It gives a sense of depth and intimacy to the image and conveys the secretive nature of the animal.
Robert

^^^ What he said!! ^^^

I really like the diffusion, and great eye contact, beautiful!

Excellent shots on your blog too! I really like reading about the story behind the image.

looks about perfect to me Elliott, very nicely done.

Matt

Very nice shot! One of your best portraits i think.
Really like the blurry foreground in this one

Like it too.... not sure but I might try to remove the bit of sharp seaweed on the right of the frame...

Great eye contact.

I agree with all that has been said and like Phil I would blur down the bit of seaweed a little to bring back full attention the face you have captured so well. I would also clone or blur down the little bit of seaweed on the immediate LHS of the frame, just above centre. I find myself drawn to it.

Great work and terrific series.

Brett.

Blurring doesn't bother me, great shot, wish it were mine

Stephen

I agree with Stephen. Terrific. The Otter gets the attention (and he likes it )

Love the straight on look.
The diffused look is not really working for me. Maybe if it were more solid and spread more evenly across the base of the frame it would work better; but hey, I'm not asking you to take it again

Blurring looks fine to me, but as mentioned think blurring the remaining sharper bits of seaweed will hold the scene together better and bring the focus more onto the otter. Lovely shot though, and really interesting to read about the "how" on your blog, thanks

Very good ,but I prefer the previous one
Cheers
JR

The off-centre framing works very nicely with the foreground blur, creating a nice 'rhythm' in the image. Great POV adds to the feeling of being there - my kind of shot. Great work again.
Chris.