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Thread: Alpine rat

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    Default Alpine rat

    Finally after years of not bothering we drove down to the Grossglockner, Austria's highest mountain. The road, which climbs upto around 3000M, in winding and full of suprises. After driving to the sumit on Friday in thick cloud, and then failing to find many Marmots in the falling snow... yep, in June... we drove down again. Saturday however turned out to be a complete change. Unfortunately the high sun is quite strong up there and i had to really squash those highlights, no chance to stay late for better light but after Friday I was just happy to see the little monsters.

    5DIII, ISO400, f7.1 200-400 @ 490mm. Hand held. Not baited.

    PS - these are "wild" animals but have become very used to people.

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Lovely image from what I can see on the iPhone, will check it out later with more feedback, just browsing as things are a little quite in the blind at present, but extremely warm!

    Talk later matey, Wol has just arrived again!

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Neil, back on the laptop so can see it better.

    First thought is, have you thought about flipping it L to R, may sit better? Love those teeth and body posture, likewise being on the stones, a refreshing location. based on the Histogram I might lift the white to 240 and mask just for the sky. Do you think cropping the end stone may help and offer a cleaner comp?

    TFS
    Steve

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Neil - I too like the pose with the front paws on the rocks. Looks like you handled the strong light well. If it were mine I would apply a bit more sharpening to the mouth, teeth and tip of the nose area.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    Cheers guys. Thought about the crop Steve, long and hard, but prefer to keep the aspect ratio and then I would be too tight on Mr Marmot. BG is actually mountains ;) Whites in his fur are at saturated clipping point, just on his nose is unrecoverable hence the choice to keep the whites at 0 in LR.

    You guys and your sharpening :)

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    That's fine Neil, had to ask. Yes I saw the white clipping, hence just lightening the mountains a fraction, but no worries, just a thought.

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    Super Moderator Daniel Cadieux's Avatar
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    I love the members of the groundhog / marmot / woodchuck family :-) All qui8te the personalities, and you captured this one in one such pose. Maybe a little greenish / cyanish on the WB? Fun image, well balanced comp.

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    Interesting image of something new for me. I like it and can't add much to the above.
    Ed

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    Thanks all. Managed quite a few images in the short time I had, just wish it had been overcast, never happy ey?

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Hi Neil , neat shot of this funny animals ,any problems with people in the BKG at that location .
    I like the comp and overall tones , good suggestion by Steve and Daniel regarding tone /color.Sharpness looks good to me as presented . Shadows are looking a bit light , S/H ? If so, i would reduce the effect.

    TFS Andreas

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    Thanks. People only a problem in the 17mm shots :) I did have them to myself for a while until someone looked over the fence! Was fun though. As for contrast, trying to control it really. Went to look at others and the light is so strong the eyes are dark, lifting them looks odd. It is the shiny fur causing my sharpness problems too, fine at full res but grizzly at 1100px.

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Love the perspective and expression here Neil.
    I'd add some midtone contrast is feels a tad flat overall to me?
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Righty-o! Cheers Morkel.

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    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
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    You did an excellent job with the harsh light. The front of the snout and those cute teeth could be opened up a bit more.
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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Dear Neil,

    What really makes this image special, in my opinion, is the point of view - well done Sir!

    This little fellow towering there, on his rock, on top of the world - nice detail all around, good IQ, and I do agree - a tad more sharpening on the teeth and that cute little muzzle would make a difference. Lovely image, really enjoyed viewing and hope to see more, BG is great and I love the colours, I would make use of the burn tool a bit on the rock if this was mine

    A bit off topic, but I just wish to thank you for your kind comments on my images Neil, I really appreciate it

    Kind regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Kind comments work both ways :)

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