Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: Natural Parasol

  1. #1
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    14,858
    Threads
    1,235
    Thank You Posts

    Default Natural Parasol

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    A young Wire-tailed Ground Squirrel in the Kalahari desert uses its tail as a shade from the sun.
    This photo was taken in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in the Mata-Mata rest camp in late morning light.
    Fill flash was used and I was lying on my stomach.

    Techs:
    Nikon D3s with Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 VR-II
    f8.0 @ 1/1600 SS @ ISO-400
    EV +0.3


    Last edited by Peter Kes; 12-15-2012 at 08:29 AM.
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


  2. #2
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    NYC
    Posts
    14,320
    Threads
    929
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Very cute, Morkel. Looks like it's smiling for the camera. Nice low pov, excellent techs, bg and tones all combine for a simple but pleasing image. Of course some will say to get rid of the one blade of grass but I understand your feelings on cloning. A couple of spots on the leg look like they might be too hot but not a major distraction for me.

    TFS,
    Rachel

  3. #3
    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Dortmund / Germany
    Posts
    10,906
    Threads
    1,196
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Morkel,
    high cuteness factor under the umbrella.
    Nice composition , but think you can loose bit of FG and if you have give more on top.Low POV is working great.
    Like the colors and the tones throughout the image.
    I feel like that the flash is a bit too heavy , light is too even in the "shadow" areas for my taste.

    TFS Andreas

  4. #4
    BPN Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Northern Rockies
    Posts
    1,273
    Threads
    106
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Morkel, I agree with Andreas re the foreground. I like the POV, but I think if you had been sitting up when you took the image the squirrel's right paw would be fully visible. It looks like it was a hot day. I like the techs & the story told by the parasol tail. TFS.
    Andrew

  5. #5
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Hyderabad, India
    Posts
    5,088
    Threads
    1,356
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    This has "cute" written all over it as mentioned by others. Lovely image.

  6. #6
    Lifetime Member Marina Scarr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Sarasota, FL
    Posts
    10,347
    Threads
    403
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Love that tail. The OOF at the bottom I find is quite overpowering and takes away from your subject.
    Marina Scarr
    Florida Master Naturalist
    Website, Facebook

  7. #7
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Somewhere in the world
    Posts
    20,551
    Threads
    1,285
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Morkel, great title.

    I'm with Andreas on the FG, perhaps 1/3 - 1/2 the space, but add that to the top, needs to be played with? Perhaps moving slightly to the left may have give more to see of the body which I find a little odd looking as presented with that left rear leg splayed out. Obviously nothing you can do as they do hug the ground, but I feel it is exaggerated with the very sharp head and then straight to OOF. It might have also helped the stem in front of the front left paw which I do find annoying, so it could be toned down rather than pruned. Also, not sure what the setting was on the flash, but I might have also knocked it down more, which in turn may have helped in the point Rachel made.

    TFS
    Steve
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

  8. #8
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Pennsylvania
    Posts
    129
    Threads
    48
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Morkel,
    I like this image just the way it is. Very cute.
    Like the color and pose.
    Nice.
    Janet

  9. #9
    BPN Viewer Steve Canuel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    5,444
    Threads
    444
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Interesting behavior and cool to see. Face and paws looks a touch over sharpened but with a name like wire-tailed, may be accurately portrayed (similar to your klipspringer's fur?) As for the FG, I think it just needs to be darkened/subdued a touch. The amount provides a nice balance to the image. Its the slightly brighter look that I notice.

  10. #10
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    14,858
    Threads
    1,235
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    thank you for your honest feedback, folks...
    not sure what the flash setting was but for fill flash on wildlife I normally dial it down to betwen -1 and -2 flash-EV...
    will revisit the crop when I have time...
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Web Analytics