Abert's Squirrel
aka as Tassel-eared Squirrel. These squirrels are closely associated with Ponderosa Pine and are found in pine forests from Arizona north to southern Wyoming. In the southern part of their range they are gray with white bellies. Here in northern Colorado most of them are all black. I have a pair that come to the bird feeders occasionally.
Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 400 f4 DO IS lens, 1/400, f4.5, ISO 800
Comments and critiques most appreciated.
Hi Nancy - nice control of the blacks with good detail and sharpness. Cute pose with the tail up. I like the image design with the perch/branch going into the corner. Only thing I might suggest is to burn the perch/branch a little so it doesn't draw the eye. Did you apply any additional blur to the bg?
TFS,
Rachel
Thank you Rachel for your comments. I did not add any additional blur to the bkgd. I think that is due to the minimal DOF from f4.5. Is the tree trunk distracting since it is at an in-between place that is jarring to the eyes, trying to either focus on it or make it recede visually? Maybe a tighter crop from the top would remove enough to be less of an issue?
Nancy, this is such a pretty subject to photograph!
I have never seen a squirrel with such cute ear tufts...
Love the pose, she looks like she is about to take off
Well exposed and well presented, lovely image, I really like that you have included the environment
Kind regards,
Gabriela Plesea
Hi Nancy, I like the framing, composition and overall environment/habitat, but I wouldn't go tighter IMHO. The blacks are clipped, so lifting the shadows (in the RAW converter) a bit really helps, but do this as an adjustment layer, or double process, as you want more detail/tone within the brach. Based on the techs I would have gone f/4 and had a bit more SS. I'm still not 100 on your MKIV, the 7D seems to give you better images which I'm surprised about. Personally if you have a Canon Service centre, or Pro dealership where you can take it in, it might be worth it as the images should be much better.
TFS
Steve
Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.
The Squirrel is well exposed with lots of detail in blacks, very sharp.
It is very difficult with a black subject to expose correctly without blowing the BG, especially me that might use spot metering.
To my eye I would tone down exposure on bark.
Might also crop sliver of bottom.
TFS
Andre
Hi Nancy, just a couple of other observations. I might add a little NR to parts of the BKG, also I think there is some CA fringing in the ears which may need to be addressed too. There is truck loads of depth in the branch which you can extract. I might also add some green in saturation just to boost the vegetation.
Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.
Hi Nancy - it was the blurred area to the rhs that looked a little off to me, sort of uneven on the top branch. I wonder if it is just some snow or dew coming through. You've gotten additional good suggestions from the others.
Rachel
Hi Nancy ,
cute little squirrel nicely framed . Loads of detail in the 3/4 tones , which is great , but as per Steve blacks are clipped.Would try to follow his suggestions. I like the subtle colors and overall tonal range , but would go deeper in tones in the tree to extract more detail.
Love the glossy eye..
TFS Andreas
There have been some good suggestions already here, Nancy. I'm surprised by how well you've made him stand out, but agree there's still more to extract.
I also agree on toning down the brightness of the trunk/branches around the squirrel.
I don't have any real nits with this as I really like the subject. I have never seen one, maybe the best
looking squirrel ever!….
Dan Kearl
Thank you all! I'll rework the blacks and tree bark, etc. as suggested.
Steve, my husband has absconded with my MKIV, I just got a 1Dx! MKIV was at Canon last spring for check-up. But I have always been suspicious of the 400 DO lens. Nice weight to carry but would like to replace it some day...
Dan, I agree. This is a very handsome squirrel!
Remember Nancy, with this one you do need to read the Manual! You may find there is a more up-to-date version on the Canon web to download, as it takes into account the new Firmware. I have no experience with the 400 so sadly I cannot help, but your image taken with the 7D was far better.I just got a 1Dx
Not sure if this helps Nancy, but you can pair them up to see the changes? The tail is still an issue, but nothing I can do as it based on the OP.
Good luck.
Steve
Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.
Thank you Steve for the example of the repost! I'll check the web for an up-to-date manual.
This is one of the nicer shots I have seen of this (for me) difficult species to get. They seem to taunt me when I'm out hiking, posing in great light and comps only to run up the tree as soon as I get out the camera and get set up.
Thank you Steve! Even though I have a pair that visit my bird feeders, they are not all that cooperative when I attempt to photograph them. They taunt me also by coming so close to the windows and then...gone. See, this one did climb a tree!
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