Posted by Mike Smith on February 23, 2012 at 4:56 PM
New Year, New Computer & New resolution to contribute more.....
It's been a heck of a long time since I posted anything nature orientated, mainly because my work and other commitments have kept me otherwise occupied. Changing computer systems hasn't helped, but they are all poor excuses.....
One of the few nature images I took last year from a summer trip to Tuscany in Italy. As always with lizards there is a trade off between full subject and losing impact or cropping the tail to increase subject size, I chose the latter, which may not be to everyones taste.
Travel set up - Olympus E620, 50-200mm tripod. Iso 200, 1/40s at F8, Jpeg from camera, FF and minimal digital processing
Off to Austria next week with hopes for alpine chough and snow finch, but the weather forecast isn't looking too promising
Posted by Bob Johnson on February 24, 2012 at 2:34 AM
Hi Mike. Good to see you back Maybe you could go in tighter on this giving the idea that you deliberately shot it like that. This could also reduce the impact of the black cross in the BG. Good look in Austria.
Bob
Posted by keith mitchell on February 24, 2012 at 3:36 AM
Mike see where your coming from re cropping, hope you get your Chough ect.
For me there is far too much foreground on this one. An attractive stone wall may have been different but even allowing for the inclusion of 'habitat' and bearing in mind the title of the reptile, all that black takes away most of the impact of the lizard. I would crop to just above the white spot in the middle of the black and also crop some from the top to make a more pano image.
Posted by Philip Kirkham on February 24, 2012 at 6:41 AM
Hello Mike
Good to see you posting. I'm afraid I have to say that I am firmly in the "crop" camp with this one, as I too find the B/G distracting.
Best wishes
Phil
Posted by Rene de Heer on February 24, 2012 at 1:19 PM
Cropping would be a good option Mike. I like the setting as well.
Rene de Heer
Posted by Nick Mckeown on February 24, 2012 at 4:06 PM
Hi Mike, agree with a crop as the lizard (very colourful specimen!) looks a little lost with quite strong FG & BG.
Have a great time in Austria.
Nick.
Posted by Matt Cole on February 24, 2012 at 4:25 PM
a nice subject Mike but it's neither a full body shot or a higher impact close-up, I think you're caught between the two. I would definitely like to see a closer shot to emphasise the head and upper body. The dark lichen also looks very blue to me. A great looking lizard though.
Matt
Posted by Jeroen Stel on February 24, 2012 at 5:10 PM
I think a tighter crop or more space all around and a lower F-number would have done the trick here.
Do like the color scheme in this one and nice to see some different species from Italy.
greetings,
Jeroen Stel
Posted by David Sewell on February 24, 2012 at 6:02 PM
I agree, a tighter crop in a letterbox format would have helped here. On my screen there also appear to be a few funny marks around the edge of the animal's body, which I am guessing is compression. Good luck in Austria, and hope to see some results when you are back.
David
Posted by David Taylor on February 25, 2012 at 7:46 AM
Nice to see a species without feathers for a change. I for one like the BG but I agree with the foreground crop. Looking forward to seeing the results of your Austrian trip, perhaps even one in 3D
Discussion
11 repliesIt's been a heck of a long time since I posted anything nature orientated, mainly because my work and other commitments have kept me otherwise occupied. Changing computer systems hasn't helped, but they are all poor excuses.....
One of the few nature images I took last year from a summer trip to Tuscany in Italy. As always with lizards there is a trade off between full subject and losing impact or cropping the tail to increase subject size, I chose the latter, which may not be to everyones taste.
Travel set up - Olympus E620, 50-200mm tripod. Iso 200, 1/40s at F8, Jpeg from camera, FF and minimal digital processing
Off to Austria next week with hopes for alpine chough and snow finch, but the weather forecast isn't looking too promising
Bob
Keith.
Good to see you posting. I'm afraid I have to say that I am firmly in the "crop" camp with this one, as I too find the B/G distracting.
Best wishes
Phil
Rene de Heer
Have a great time in Austria.
Nick.
Matt
Do like the color scheme in this one and nice to see some different species from Italy.
greetings,
Jeroen Stel
David
Phil.