Results 1 to 16 of 16

Thread: Stoat

  1. #1
    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 Stoat

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    I've seen these guys many times, but generally from a distance, however luck was on my side. Taken mid morning, so the light was getting a little harsh, need to reset the camera T&D so I can be more specific. These guys move like bullets and taking a zigzag path, so I was somewhat surprised to get this close. He/she was ferreting in the fall leaves, I guess for bugs or earthworms, however their preferred choice of meal is rabbits or rodents.

    Cropped to a 16x9 partly to edit out some of the unwanted BKG, plus I felt it lent itself to it. One or two elements cloned out from within/on the leaves and a couple of blades of grass. With hindsight I should have gone to say ISO1600 for more SS, especially with this particular animal.

    Processed via LR & PS CC


    Cheers
    Steve

    Subject: Stoat (Mustela erminea)
    Location: UK
    Camera: Canon 1DX
    Lens: 500f/4 HH
    Exposure: 1/640s at f/8 ISO800 +0.33 EV Comp
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

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

    Default

    Hi Steve - I like the cocked head and eye contact. Nice fall colors too. I also like the inclusion of the one tall grass on the lhs. I'm curious, if the light was already getting harsh, why the + EV? Although the light certainly looks well controlled.

    TFS,
    Rachel

  3. #3
    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

    I'm curious, if the light was already getting harsh, why the + EV? Although the light certainly looks well controlled.
    No idea in all honesty, unless I caught the dial on the back, I really cannot answer that.

    It was taken on the day of 'fall trees' with the lake in the background.
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

  4. Thanks Rachel Hollander thanked for this post
  5. #4
    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Dortmund / Germany
    Posts
    10,906
    Threads
    1,196
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Steve,
    think you have done a good job just getting this guy in focus and looking at you…..

    Like the colors and the look up from the race through the leaves , nice setting in autumn.Good choice of comp , but i would like to see more space in front and less in BKG, just loose the one blade that is almost sticking out of the frame.
    I tad more DOF would have been nice to get more of the subject sharp, the leaves LHS and RHS look sharper than the subject ?! or better said have more crisp appearance .
    I think i see real colors, very nice Steve.

    TFS Andreas

  6. #5
    Lifetime Member Ashleigh Scully's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    NJ
    Posts
    241
    Threads
    49
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    THis is a great shot with sharp focus on the stoat's face and nice tones all around him too. Can you remove the tiny grass blade from his eye? I did this with a toad once and it worked.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/awscully/

  7. #6
    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 Andreas, there is not a huge amount of additional FG, I cropped that out because the leaves had curled up and created some dark shadow areas which I thought was slightly distracting and not pleasing. The FP was slap bang on the head with the four expansion point activated too, plus everything had just come back from Uncle Canon where it had been calibrated again and a wash & brush up. I'll pop something over to you. I quite like the blade of grass.



    Thanks Ashleigh, I could remove the debris, but feel it should stay in.
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

  8. #7
    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Dortmund / Germany
    Posts
    10,906
    Threads
    1,196
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    The blade could stay in if you do not choose my crop suggestion, i am fine with it.
    Still think specially the ears could be a tad sharper, for me there is a slight fall off in sharpness, which I would address but leave it to you .

    See ya , Andreas

  9. #8
    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Somewhere else in the World
    Posts
    4,797
    Threads
    708
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Apart from the nits mentioned above, what stands out overall for me is the lighting, nice head tilt and the autumnal carpet, well seen Steve.
    TFS


  10. #9
    Forum Participant edwardselfe's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    South Luangwa, Zambia
    Posts
    701
    Threads
    26
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Very very nice of a species we don't often see. I would leave a little more above to accommodate the piece of grass. For me, it's running a little too close to the top of the frame, but I like it so I would give it a bit more space.
    Ed

  11. #10
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Griffin, Georgia, United States
    Posts
    309
    Threads
    38
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Steve , I find everything to my likening . The speck of grass ,(although it will call for attention ) adds to the story for me . It (The speck at the eye ) adds to the dirt telling me what action the Stoat was up to . If it were mine I too would give the one tall grass some breathing room . All in all ,love the lighting and dof choices ,Beautiful shot .

    AS to why I like the light . Sometimes I find soft shadows Add to the story ,Helps me recognize when these lil guys go out to forage .............

  12. #11
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Thousand Oaks, California, United States
    Posts
    3,023
    Threads
    416
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Steve, I think your definition of mid day sun is a little bit different than for the rest of us :). From the shadow, the light looks pretty nice to me, not so harsh. Love the expression, sharpness, and fall colors. The whites look perfect. I don't mind the oOF FG. In fact I think it complements the oOF BG, so that the only thing in focus is the stoat (which is a new species for me!0. TFS. Loi

  13. #12
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    NYC
    Posts
    14,320
    Threads
    929
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Loi - I think we call a stoat an ermine, especially when it has its white winter coat. It's also known as a short-tailed weasel.

  14. #13
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Thousand Oaks, California, United States
    Posts
    3,023
    Threads
    416
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Rachel Hollander View Post
    Hi Loi - I think we call a stoat an ermine, especially when it has its white winter coat. It's also known as a short-tailed weasel.
    Got it. Thanks Rachel. I hear it is really hard to get a picture of this species. Great job Steve to get this at such details and low angle. Loi

  15. #14
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    14,858
    Threads
    1,235
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Nice one Steve. I like how he pops up from the bed of leaves.
    Out of curiousity - what did you use to "level" it in PP? With the stoat posing like it does, won't some CCW rotation improve it? Assuming you have space to work with bottom and top (which I think you do looking at the crop ratio).
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


  16. #15
    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

    Out of curiousity - what did you use to "level" it in PP?
    Nothing 'leveled' Morkel, all framed in camera if that makes sense, I just ran the crop where I thought looked right through the leaves at the foot. There is a little below, but happy as is.
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

  17. #16
    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    7,738
    Threads
    455
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Wow Steve, I really like this image! This is one cute fellow and I love the pose you have captured! I particularly like the leaves, your subject looks so small among them, almost lost…Where was this taken? Great FG and BG, the subject really "pops" and that blade of grass on its left kind of gives direction. The crop is great, I might have taken off a tad more from the left it this was mine. Hmm, on second thought, maybe not, this is well balanced as is...

    Great colours, very natural, looks effortless - as if no PP work was done whatsoever. I also like the dirt bits here and there, the little un' was running? Digging?

    So pretty, looked at this image over and over again, now off to bed, ready to dream of my furry Kalahari friends...

    Kind regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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