I've been putting in many hours after dark working on red foxes. While the project has tailed off due to a few 'no-shows' (by me and the foxes) this is from a series concentrating on a different view point - hopefully it works for a few of you?
While I can't prove it, I have a hunch that at least one of the animals photographed is a 'country fox' entering the urban environment for 'easy' pickings then spending the day out-of-town. There is a reasonable amount of research to suggest this happens and because of the terrain in this location it is easily possible.
Anyway, photographic critique always welcomed.
Cheers,
Chris
1Ds3, 16-35 (@ 35), 1/15 @ f/2.8, ISO 1600, tripod, mirror up + cable release, 'car hide' manual off-camera flash @ 1/32 power
I think this works quite well Chris. The car window emphasises the fox's proximity to humans and the lighting and techs all look good. I think I'd prefer a bit off the left.
Works for me. Like the comp and the documentary feel.
The wing mirror gives a good sense of 'location' (ie a car) so it all gives a sense of being there.
My only criticism might be - and this is being really picky - the wing mirror might have been a useful tool to show the empty street behind - as it is it has no reflection which I suspect in real life might not be the case. However having said that its possible to get too clever with such things and end up with a really cheesy effect thats obvioualy staged. Its a fine balance I think!
But thats not a detraction from the image as it is which I like very much. Good to see the low light capability of modern kit being properly and gainfully employed, and when its on stuff that goes on under our noses and is usually overlooked so much the better.
Excellent work Chris. I initially felt that I agreed with Matt re a little from the left to reduce the impact of the black area which rather dominates, but it does have the effect of focussing attention on the fox, so I think on balance you have made the right choice there. I like this one a lot. eric
Dale: Yes, they are my fish and chips - I've gained 3 stones in weight since the beginning of this project!
John: Nice to see you kicking around again. Yes, I agree about the mirror - funny how the smallest of details can cause so much angst.
In this location the street literally ends behind the car and gives way to a short drive, then a hedgerow and finally the countryside. When using flash, the drive behind the car loses its orange street light glow and is replaced with harsh 'white' light. So I tried tilting the mirror to get blue night sky and silhouette hedgerow - works ok but looks slightly odd. Finally, I decided to drop the amount of detail to almost none but, as you point out, I'm not sure it works either.
Don't get me started about the specular reflection off the mirror's paint-work . . . .
I'm afraid this isn't working for me Chris and the problem I have is I cannot really explain why it doesn't. Firstly, I like the idea..no problem there. I appreciate that you are trying to capture the essence of the urban night scene but I cannot ever remember having seen any street as orange as this. I know our eyes see things differently to film/sensors but surely if you are trying to convey what is happening around us then the final image should appear as our eyes and brain would see it. Compositionally, mention has been made of the blacked out area to the left. That area doesn't sit right with me either as to my mind that is one hell of a door pillar and my head tells me there should be part of the windscreen in there somewhere .... I could be wrong of course (different vehicles and also the proximity of the wide angle lens). I hope I'm not coming over too negative here because I really do like the idea.
As for country foxes visiting urban areas at night I'm certain you are absolutely right. Any fox living within travelling distance of a decent source of food would most definitely take advantage of it. Good luck with the rest of the project and if that is a rural fox then don't give it too many chips or it will never outrun the hounds!!
Robert: With your thoughts in mind (in addition to John's) I've reposted the image. The repost represents a closer rendition to the original camera capture. The reason for darkening the left-hand side (and the mirror) was to give the fox more emphasis - in hindsight (without a cropping) this was a mistake. As you point out, the viewer becomes drawn to the area because it doesn't look right (same for the mirror); therefore it gets in the way of the original focus of the image - the fox. I didn't see your comments as negative, just good honest critique. Thanks, it has improved the presentation of the image . . . . hopefully?
I've spent more time looking at this than any other image I have recently seen, so that must say something. I prefer the first - the slightly evident cabin details in the second do distract me from the fox. I would also find the window on the building at the top of the frame distracting. But I like the journalistic style of the image and overall, it's very effective so I would have been very pleased to have taken it
Discussion
13 repliesI've been putting in many hours after dark working on red foxes. While the project has tailed off due to a few 'no-shows' (by me and the foxes) this is from a series concentrating on a different view point - hopefully it works for a few of you?
While I can't prove it, I have a hunch that at least one of the animals photographed is a 'country fox' entering the urban environment for 'easy' pickings then spending the day out-of-town. There is a reasonable amount of research to suggest this happens and because of the terrain in this location it is easily possible.
Anyway, photographic critique always welcomed.
Cheers,
Chris
1Ds3, 16-35 (@ 35), 1/15 @ f/2.8, ISO 1600, tripod, mirror up + cable release, 'car hide' manual off-camera flash @ 1/32 power
Matt
I like this, the composition and atmosphere tells the story perfectly
Ron
The wing mirror gives a good sense of 'location' (ie a car) so it all gives a sense of being there.
My only criticism might be - and this is being really picky - the wing mirror might have been a useful tool to show the empty street behind - as it is it has no reflection which I suspect in real life might not be the case. However having said that its possible to get too clever with such things and end up with a really cheesy effect thats obvioualy staged. Its a fine balance I think!
But thats not a detraction from the image as it is which I like very much. Good to see the low light capability of modern kit being properly and gainfully employed, and when its on stuff that goes on under our noses and is usually overlooked so much the better.
Nice one!
Dale
John: Nice to see you kicking around again. Yes, I agree about the mirror - funny how the smallest of details can cause so much angst.
In this location the street literally ends behind the car and gives way to a short drive, then a hedgerow and finally the countryside. When using flash, the drive behind the car loses its orange street light glow and is replaced with harsh 'white' light. So I tried tilting the mirror to get blue night sky and silhouette hedgerow - works ok but looks slightly odd. Finally, I decided to drop the amount of detail to almost none but, as you point out, I'm not sure it works either.
Don't get me started about the specular reflection off the mirror's paint-work . . . .
Cheers,
Chris
Hi Chris,
This works well for me as it is, well thought out and executed!
Cheers,
Lewis.
!!
As for country foxes visiting urban areas at night I'm certain you are absolutely right. Any fox living within travelling distance of a decent source of food would most definitely take advantage of it. Good luck with the rest of the project and if that is a rural fox then don't give it too many chips or it will never outrun the hounds!!
liam
Robert: With your thoughts in mind (in addition to John's) I've reposted the image. The repost represents a closer rendition to the original camera capture. The reason for darkening the left-hand side (and the mirror) was to give the fox more emphasis - in hindsight (without a cropping) this was a mistake. As you point out, the viewer becomes drawn to the area because it doesn't look right (same for the mirror); therefore it gets in the way of the original focus of the image - the fox. I didn't see your comments as negative, just good honest critique. Thanks, it has improved the presentation of the image . . . . hopefully?
Cheers,
Chris