Red Squirrel
Hi, this is my first post in this section so please be gentle with me!! I have posted a few in the Avian section. My computer work is pretty hopeless and I try to concentrate on local subjects to me. This was taken at a set up at home on one of the few days this Winter with good light.
Canon 5D Mk 111,
Canon 300mm f/2.8
Tripod
f/4. 1/6400 sec. iso 400 -
Lens prefocussed and set to manual focus. Few falling bits of lichen removed.
Thank you for looking
Andrew
Hello Andrew,
Reading your humble text - the image was still coming up on my screen slowly - I expected an image with poor IQ but was prepared to be "gentle" as per your request...Wildlife members are kind and helpful, by the way, you will love it here!
This is a STUNNER! No need to be modest Andrew, I think this is absolutely lovely and sharp, and those amazing colours!!!Perfect BG and the subject is so adorable in its alert pose, looking as if about to make one big leap and jump out of the screen...
Welcome to Wildlife, I certainly look forward to more images from you
Kind regards,
Gabriela Plesea
Hi Andrew - Welcome to the Wildlife Forum. Excellent first post! Beautiful light, sharpness looks good and the shallow dof has worked well. Nice bg too. I also like the pose with the tail up. I hope you'll post more wildlife images.
Don't hesitate to jump right in and post your thoughts on other people's images. It's the best way to get the most out of BPN and also fosters a sense of community. We recommend commenting on at least 3-5 other wildlife images each time you post one of your own.
TFS,
Rachel
Andrew, you are too modest! This is great! Love the alert pose on the squirrel. Excellent composition with the very nicely detailed branch stretching the full length of the image & placed in the bottom third of the image, your perky squirrel is perfectly parallel to the camera sensor and the bkgd is simple, blurred and a lovely color. The lighting is beautiful, bringing out the natural colors of the squirrel and branch with lichens & moss.
Hi Andy, would not worry a bit about this it looks great to me, good to see you posting on here, how about a Water Vole, agree with above comments it is a great looking image.
Cheers Keith.
Hi Andrew, welcome to BPN. Lovely image and a wonderful first post. I like the composition and the texture of the branch added much interest to the image. Light was beautiful and the details are great. I do have a question, why pre-focus and manual focus/ I assume with a home set up, you woul dhave the time to nail the focus at the time of exposure with AI Servo on the 5D3. TFS. Loi
Hi Andrew, love the rich colours on this and a pleasing BKG to isolate and make the subject standout, however, being a set-up negates any BKG issues and allows you to present the subject well. I do feel the perch is a tad spindally, however covered in the moss & lichen does add interest. A little more DoF perhaps f/5.6 which would not have compromised the SS, as it is quite high, I think 1/3200 would have been more than enough for a spiriting, athletic 'Red'. Again, I agree with Loi, why prefocus as this is a set-up. You know the area the subject will travel along so the camera can track it? Just looking at the tuffs on the ears, is this around March time, as I think they are more pronounced in the deeper parts of Winter, just a thought? Good bit of kit, works well.
Like Rachel mention, please feel free to chime in on other threads to, it's a great way to bolster the BPN community & learning curve.
TFS
Steve
Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.
Hi Andrew,
great subject with nice colors and tones , and a almost too perfect BKG.
I would slightly back off on sharpening and contrast on the perch.
TFS Andreas
Many thanks indeed for your very kind remarks, I am delighted that you like it. The image was taken in March which is why on this individual the red is starting to come through on it's coat and as Steve says the ear tufts are starting to recede a bit. I have been doing a Winter long project with them jumping and running and I find I get a much better strike rate by prefocussing rather than tracking (probably my poor camera skills!) It also means I can sit a bit away from the action and not worry them too much and fire it remotely. I have had some success by tracking them but just liked the colours on this one. Anyway those are my thoughts. I will chip in on other posts, not enough hours in the day at the moment! Thank you again.
Andrew
welcome Andrew!
stunning first post indeed, it just works
looking forward to more of your work and your critique on others' work...
Very nice. I can't add anything extra to the others' positive comments. I wonder if a tiny reduction in contrast would draw the whites in the fur back from bright white and unblock the blacks under the branch. It might also soften that beautiful yellow bg. Just an idea.
Ed
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