My first badger...

First of all, thanks to Jeff Harrison for his time and effort as well as the use of his garden where this is! Taken earlier this evening in -3°C temperatures using E-3, Zuiko Digital 50-200@69mm, 1/125s ISO 250, f8 with 3 Metz flashes, two either side (+0.7 EV) and one to the front. Slight cropping and minor touch-up for exposure only. When I broke everything down to put away, there was ice all over the flashes and the front of the lens!

Very "seasonal" shot with the snowdrops in the foreground. Sounds like you went to a lot of trouble to set this up and it has delivered for you, so well done. I find the cut branches behind the badger a bit of a distraction and maybe a slight crop off the bottom, but minor points.

Lovely shot of this beautiful animal. I agree with Cliff though, about a slight crop off the bottom.

Here's a slightly different crop with the logs toned down a bit...

Nice image, i also prefer the 2 version. Would be nice if he would have raised his head.....
Rene de Heer

Image 2 for me -might have been tempted to loose the grass stalk on the hind quarter though

Well planned and executed.

Image 2 for me -might have been tempted to loose the grass stalk on the hind quarter though

Well planned and executed.

Thanks - I was trying to be virtuous and only stick to exposure tweaking! I don't think that would materially alter the image and would be nicer...

Andy

Hi Elliot, what a thrill to get this image.

The cropped version looks far better, very nice indeed!

The crop works better for me too and agree with a couple of the minor nits already mentioned. But I'm still in awe of the work on badger shots that are being shown. Testimony to the work involved. Well captured and thanks for sharing.

Brett

Congrats on the shot Andy, it's the second one for me too.

Andy...

Good stuff !
Second for me too. Aarene says - a head up would have been good but I know how hard it is to get them to do it once they're onto food. ! I had to clap my hands !!
Cheers
JohnR

Good stuff !
Second for me too. Aarene says - a head up would have been good but I know how hard it is to get them to do it once they're onto food. ! I had to clap my hands !!
Cheers
JohnR

I think I will be trying that next time - I was more interested in getting any shot at all last night!

Nice one Andy Glad you managed to get one under your belt last night after all the hours we've spent watching and waiting

Personally I don't mind the head down pose - it does, after all, show typical foraging behaviour.

I think Cliff's point about the distracting branches in the background is a good one - I'll try to improve the 'set' (no pun intended!) before our next session.

Finally, I hope you've thawed out now

lovely image especially with the snowdrops

Thanks, guys. It's just been pointed out to me that the WB is a shade too warm and the foreground would benefit from a tone-down. Hopefully this is the last iteration...

First of many Badger shots for you i hope, One of my favorite animals to shoot, Get some head down shots first then you can clap or talk to them either will work

Dave

A good reward for all the effort and pain

These creatures get addictive, you are constantly looking for an image with it's snout of the floor. technically they are quite hard as well re lighting.

Hope to see some more soon.

T

Nice one - love the setting!

David

A good image and best of luck with any future opportunities.

Cracking first Badger image,love the composition

Thanks everyone for the encouragement and advice. Jeff and I are hoping to have another crack at this next week - fingers crossed!

Andy