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Thread: Uinta Ground Squirrel

  1. #1
    Lifetime Member Ashleigh Scully's Avatar
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    Default Uinta Ground Squirrel

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    Hi -

    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
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/awscully/

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    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.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    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.

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  6. #4
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    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.

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    BPN Member Anette Mossbacher's Avatar
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    Hi Ashleigh,

    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.

    Have a great day

    Ciao
    Anette

  9. #6
    Lifetime Member Ashleigh Scully's Avatar
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    THank you everybody! I will try to do a repost this weekend.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/awscully/

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    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).
    Morkel Erasmus

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