Results 1 to 15 of 15

Thread: Red Squirrel - simple DoF

  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 Red Squirrel - simple DoF

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Shot in the lovely tranquil forests of the Cairngorms, these wee fellows were certainly not used to human presence, but were easily bribed to occasionally pose.

    Keeping a good distance with the BKG & FG you can create a nice, soft OOF environment to isolate the subject which, in this instance I really like, as it eliminates any distracting bushes, shrubs etc.


    Thanks to those who viewed or posted a comment on the previous thread.

    Steve

    Subject: Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) sitting on an old tree stump
    Camera: Canon 1DX
    Lens: 500f/4 MKII with 1.4MKIII
    Exposure: 1/800s at f/5.6 ISO2500 (Gitzo tripod/Uniqball head)
    Original format: Portrait, slight crop for presentation
    Processed via: LRCC & PSCC

    Remove some small dark blemishes within the BKG for continuity only

  2. #2
    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Cheshire UK
    Posts
    17,017
    Threads
    2,604
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Very skilfully done I can see a little time and effort went into the making of this image. I like the diffuse background but especially like the foreground haze, the squirrel ain't too bad either! It's a lovely, lovely shot, the colour of the fur looks excellent.
    Just as an aside we all seem to be preprogrammed into feeding hazel nuts to red squirrels (me included) .... but I can't remember seeing too many hazel trees in pine forests can anyone else?

  3. #3
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Lincolnshire UK.
    Posts
    4,951
    Threads
    187
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Think Jon describes my thoughts very well,this is beautifully done and the tail is in the right position to cover the lack of ear tufts, very well thought out and a successful outcome.
    Can I ask what is the food?

    Keith.

  4. #4
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Gibraltar
    Posts
    1,521
    Threads
    161
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I like this a lot. The OOF FG and the crisp subject really make this stand out

    Nice details on the fur and i like how the subject sits in the frame

    TFS

  5. #5
    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

    Hello Steve,

    Thank you for offering some insight on your thinking behind this image, I appreciate it

    Delightful subject and the size of its "perch" emphasises how tiny he/she is. Beautiful colours. Great choice of DOF, the end result is a superbly balanced image with the squirrel well isolated from its rich surroundings. This image resembles a stage to me, the "scene" somewhat visible although it does not divert the viewer's eyes away from the protagonist. Vegetation is barely recognisable but still contributes to the frame in terms of colour and shape.

    This is just lovely Steve, there's a tiny bright bit on the wood you might consider darkening a little but all in all a superb image I took great delight viewing, great techs as well as PP work as usual, thank you so much for sharing!

    Warmest regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

  6. #6
    Lifetime Member Andre Pretorius's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Hluhluwe, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
    Posts
    1,237
    Threads
    135
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Steve

    Love it! Good comp, POV.
    The soft FG and BG makes the squirrel "pop" from the image. Good example of planning the shot.
    IMHO just some hot spots on stump and tail?
    Can one do a Vignette with a BG colour? Just curious?
    Regards

    Andre.

    www.gappimages.com

  7. #7
    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

    Thanks folks.

    Jon/Keith staple diet when you can find them, as you - 'pay peanuts you get monkeys', and these aren't monkey's.


    This is just lovely Steve, there's a tiny bright bit on the wood you might consider darkening a little
    Thanks Gabriela, it's right on the cusp, minimal tone, enough not to be blown, but a bit of tonal selection would probably address the issue here.


    Can one do a Vignette with a BG colour? Just curious?
    Andre, not with you here. Do you mean select the colour and use that as a Vignette so you are laying the same colour on top of the existing colour?

  8. #8
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Hyderabad, India
    Posts
    5,088
    Threads
    1,356
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Amazing Steve. Love the DOF and the way you made this. I like the pose, the details and colours and of course superbly composed!

  9. #9
    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Centurion, South Africa
    Posts
    21,360
    Threads
    1,435
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Steve, I really like these type of images with soft foliage surrounding the subject. Great comp, and I like the soft light and colours. Well timed to have captured this pose, as Im sure they must be pretty busy with their hands, if there is food around.

  10. #10
    BPN Member Anette Mossbacher's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Switzerland
    Posts
    1,818
    Threads
    95
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Steve,

    with what did you price the squirrel ?

    beautiful done this image. I love it with BG and FG. Very nice.

    Oh and the squirrel is sharp

    Have much fun where you are

    Ciao Anette

  11. #11
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Nagpur, India
    Posts
    3,837
    Threads
    245
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Steve -- I loved the way you have framed this one , what good use of technique and the way you must have visualised before pressing the shutter , very thoughtful image and a lovely outcome. colours , details and IQ all good as usual .

    TFS !

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

    Default

    Hi Steve - this just simply works on all counts. Love the color palette here.

    TFS,
    Rachel

  13. #13
    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 well i missed that looking at very high quality images , so a pleasure to view to this one
    Does work on all counts !!!
    I very much like the statue effect you have created with your chosen point of shooting , very well done in the field .Lovely creamy FG and BG .

    Nice work , Steve

    TFS Andreas

  14. #14
    BPN Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2015
    Posts
    1,179
    Threads
    103
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Beautiful image Steve thanks for the musings on dof
    take care
    Stu

  15. #15
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Montana
    Posts
    221
    Threads
    27
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Bokeh is lovely and the detail sharpness is all good. Cropping is a matter of personal taste and to me there is too much foreground in the image for this little guy. I do understand that you are making a point about DOF and Bokeh. TFS

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