Seal pup with a difference..!

.. Not to many of these melanistic looking seals among the colony but several born each year. This is a stage five pup being that it has shed its lanugo and is now independent of its mother. Just one of the c.1500 pups born on this particular island in Scotland.

Kind regards,

Brett

Canon 30D, Sigma 50-500mm @ 500mm, Tripod
1/125 @ f10, ISO 400

What a strange looking creature! Do you have any more space? If so, I would love to see this cropped differently - perhaps portrait, taken in to the edge of the whiskers but including the top of his head - wonderful image though!

I agree with Ian Pity about the head top
Great shot none the less.
JohnR

Thanks Ian, yes I have a few more images from different points of view but I just enjoyed the expression of this one and just thought I'd share a different kind of seal shot to show something a little unusual.. He actually just bobbed his head as I pressed the shutter which is why he's chopped at the top Don't want to let all the best ones out of the bag

Brett

In all honesty I don't see any issues with framing etc. - all I can see are those huge and beautiful eyes.

Wow...never seen one of these before!
Love the look on it's face and the soft feel this has.

Greetings,

Jeroen Stel

Something I have never seen Brett and certainly a very attractive looking animal.
Robert.

It is a shame about the top of the head, but in the circumstances you describe there is not much you can do, and a bit off the top is worth it for those eyes any day..

Although the vegetation on the left does not worry me, that oof twig on the right does. It probably is clonable, but if this is full frame how about a crop to just show head, whiskers - and those eyes.

David

what a beautiful looking creature - and as you say - the expression is spot on - don't you just love those whiskers!

As David says above, and I agree, the OOF twig is a bit distracting - but it's a minor niggle

cheers

Colin

What a beautiful animal, love the way the whiskers stand out against the dark fur, nice one Brett.

Andy...

Its very nice to see a different seal shot.

I cannot get over the eyes, I am not bothered by the missing bit of head but do find the OOF twig a bit distracting. However thats the was the shot presented it self so not really much to do about it.

I love this, I really like the crop - when I first looked at it - it just made me laugh - they eyes are superb. A really super composition.

Thank you for your comments, it's nice to share different opinions and to be able to share the images with you.

Brett

I wondered what it was when the image was loading! Very different from the norm. Great colour. I'd love to see more of this individual if you have any.

Love the coloration on this one - agree with Julian re people vs wildlife cropping but if you're going for the former aproach then it'd benefit from an even tighter crop off the head imo making it look deliberate rather than something that could just be an error (which you've explained it wasn't anyway).

Nits covered, it is such a treat to see this little rarity Brett, and those eyes really win my heart!
Great stuff!

Fran

Lovely image,and those eyes beautiful images and loads of seals on here at the moment ,see you did'nt fancy my image Brett lovely image

Little bit's coverd a suprb image.


Keith.

Have to agree with the crop but a very strong portrait. The look and the light whiskers against the dark fur really jumps at you.

Des

Agree with other comments re the crop but a fabulous image nonetheless. The detail is superb and the expression on the seal's face is fantastic. Looking forward to seeing more of them.