This is an Uinta Ground Squirrel from Encampment, WY.
There were lots of these in a field and I was able to isolate one of them in the late afternoon sunlight. I laid down in the grass for this shot.
I had my central sensor on the squirrels eye.
Canon 7D
Canon 400mm f/5.6L
ISO 320
1/1250s
400mm
I cropped about 30% off the image for composition from the right side. I did a USM at 300. I didn't do anything else.
I am thinking about doing noise reduction but I tried it once and it made the foreground grasses too blurry. Am wondering if there's another way to only NR the background in this type of shot?
I would really appreciate your comments on this. Thanks, Ashleigh
Hi Ashleigh - this is very nice. I really like the comp and the catchlight in the eye. Nice low pov and details too. To apply a round of NR selectively, you can make a background layer and then a mask for the whole layer, apply the NR and then paint black on the areas of the mask that you don't want to apply the NR. If it were mine, I would apply another round of sharpening selectively to the squirrel. Try USM at 99, .2, 0. Shout if you have any questions or need clarification.
I really like the quizzical look in the squirrel's face with the little piece of grass just showing. I think that the grass seed heads add dimension to the image and I don't find the background too noisy (having shot with a 7D and been plagued with noise, I'd be happy with this!). I agree with Rachel that the squirrel needs some selective sharpening. Make sure you remember to mask the sharpening only to the squirrel or that noise will be shouting at you.
I certainly think the image is interesting enough to persevere with.
Hi Ashleigh, like the placement of the subject and you gave some good space for the subject to look into. Nice low POV and the DOF looks about right, (f/5.6? please can you remember to add this in next time ) I also like the little bit of vegetation poking out of the mouth. Adding some more Mid tone will help bring out a bit more depth in the coat and help in the whites of the chest. I agree on applying more sharpening, but the middle figure needs to be 0.3 (????/0.3/0) the first figure is oh so personal hence I omitted it. I might consider either cropping or pruning (cloning) the grass heads creeping in on the RHS.
I'm not a huge fan of the 7D and feel you do have to be spot on with the exposure as it's not that forgiving especially at higher ISO's. There are a number of NR software available, you just need to try them if they off trial versions to see what suits you the best & your workflow & budget. You can also address this in LR & ACR too.
Rachel is ideally located for you and I would PM her with any key questions you may have, likewise happy to suggest to bits of Software you may wish to look at.
TFS
Steve
Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.
I really do love the space you gave this little sweet chap. You got some great suggestions above from all. I have to agree with Steve with the creeping in grass, but tat is not disturbing me much
Very well done.
Super cute pose here and killer low angle, Ashleigh!
I concur with the comments above on the 7D - used one for a long time and it's a tough camera to master but can produce good results. I'd look at toning down overall brightness here (try using the luminosity adjustment laid out in the sticky thread here: http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...rocessing-Tips).