Galapagos Tortoise in mud puddle

[Arthur Morris]

This image was created on 5 September 2022 at the Highlands, Puerto Ayora, Santa Crus Island, Galapagos, Ecuador on a BIRDS AS ART Galapagos Photo-Cruise of a Lifetime. Seated on damp dirt and grass behind my lowered tripod, I used the Robus RC-5558-3 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1605795-REG/robus_rc_5558_3_series_3_3_section.html/BI/6633/KBID/7226/kw/RORC55583/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xRORC55583)/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro (https://birdsasart-shop.com/levered-clamp-flexshooter-pro/)-mounted Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1369634-REG/sony_fe_400mm_f_2_8_gm.html/BI/6633/KBID/7226/kw/SO40028GM/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xSO40028GM) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1619483-REG/sony_ilce_1_b_alpha_a1_mirrorless_digital.html/BI/6633/KBID/7226/kw/SOA1B/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xSOA1B)). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 500. 1/320 sec. at f/2.8 (wide open) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, (https://birdsasart-shop.com/the-rawdigger-e-guide/) the raw file brightness was determined to be dead-solid perfect (ho hum). AWB at 8:42:59am on a heavily overcast morning. Manual mode was used to create this two-frame manually stitched panorama.

See more tortoise images in the blog post here (https://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2023/09/20/tortoise-heaven-the-highlands-at-puerto-ayora-santa-cruz/).

As for the image, don't be shy -- all comments are appreciated.

with love, artie

[William Dickson]

This is definitely different and I like it. I think the DOF works well here, with the eye drawn straight to the head, which has lovely detail. Not really sure about the crop. Personally I would have liked to see more at the top. The POV looks spot on to show the reflection, which adds.

Will

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Arthur ... would agree it is different , but I do not like it as presented .
Too much uninteresting stuff around the head .... the bright carapace is grabbing my attention . The crop does not work at all for me .
But at least the head turn is good including the reflection .

Good to see a different species .

TFS Andreas

[Gerald Kelberg]

This is a really cool image. I love the panorama and how the image is designed to bring attention to the bits that really mattered and really fascinated you!

At f/2.8 the DOF must be quite thin, so I am curious about the actual size of the model. I assume it must have been quite large.

Thanks for sharing, Gerald

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Artie, well it gets my vote!

With the neck outstretched to the left, the tight letterbox crop was a good call, many, perhaps even myself, may have gone for a more open/wider capture, with the whole shell, but on reflection that would have been a bit pedestrian. The low POV is critical and not too low. Personally I would have preferred a slightly darker FG, to me light is always darker nearer the camera, slowly getting lighter as it drifts back, also being a bit darker it would help the reflection IMHO.

The only element that does catch my eye, is the RH crease between the neck and the leg that runs vertically, just looks a bit soft and blurry????

Nice to see something different.

TFS
Steve

[Jonathan Ashton]

Nice shot but I think the crop does not work, I cannot understand why bisect the carapace.... from what I can see I would guess the background was clear.

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks to all who commented. On the crop: two thumbs down and three thumbs up. I love the crop :-) Will, I went with a pano cop to eliminate the glare off the top of the carapace -- that is why I bisected the shell. . Gerald -- adult males average about 500 pounds and 5 feet in length. The females weigh about half that. The largest one ever was just shy of 1000 lbs, so yes, they are large. The largest tortoise species in the world.