Eastern Water Dragon portrait

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Captured this during a bushwalk this morning in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney. A quite common reptile growing to about 18 inches. Lives near water as the name suggests. Almost full frame with a 30D, 300/4 IS and 1.4x. Flash was 430EX at -2/3.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3453/3221990470_758a25c981_o.jpg

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

Very nice detail and BG in this image and I like the crop you chose for this image Akos. Fine work !!

[joel quenneville]

Excellent pose and detail Akos. I would add some canvas above and maybe trim some off the right side. If you are OK with cloning, you could try to remove the square catchlight in his eye. I like the way you emphasized the scales and the eye. Good job.

[David Thomasson]

Very nice, Akos. Possibly do some selective darkening of the background and selective brightening (levels, etc.) of the subject.

Animated gif (355k):

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/7256/lizardqg4.gif

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Thanks for the suggestions David. That looks really, really good! :)

[Robert Amoruso]

Interesting rework by David and I like the idea of the animated gif.

Akos, I like the use of a diagonal coming in from the edge to strengthen this close-up. Nice work.

[Sabyasachi Patra]

Akos,
i like the composition and the details in the image. The background is nicely diffused and the image pops up. David's method is effective.

Cheers,
Sabyasachi