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Thread: North American River Otter

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    Default North American River Otter

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    Yesterday Dottie and I were driving the roads around Lake Apopka (Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive) in Apopka, Florida. She watched this otter come out of the water, up a embankment and begin rolling and squirming in the sandy dust on the edge of the road. We watched and photographed this otter for a half hour or so while it bathed in the dusty sand. Comments and critique welcomed and appreciated. Thank you for viewing.

    Nikon D7000
    Nikon 80-400mm F/4.5-5.6 VRII AF-S ED shot at 400mm (600mm FFE)
    1/1600 F/8 Matrix Metering +1/3 EV ISO 1250 AWB
    Post processed in Lightroom CC and Photoshop CC
    Cropped for composition and presentation
    Joe Przybyla

    "Sometimes I do get to places just as God is ready to have somebody click the shutter"... Ansel Adams

    www.amazinglight.smugmug.com

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Joe, Otters are really cool characters, can be tricky to photograph in the water, but looks like you had one who was willing to pose.

    Love the curving/sweeping tail and the upright, alert head. Techs look good, nice amount of SS & DoF. The greens to me look a bit bright & vivid, personal choice, but I might just tame them so it's more in keeping with the tones of the other colours. I might also adjust the blue (see in the FG). Watch your highlights & white on the cheek. No idea if this is FF or cropped, but a suggestion for an alternative would be to loose about a third or half the FG, bring back some more detail in the FG (your signature then shows) and loose say half on the RHS and add that to the left. No sure how that might look, but the central placement is 'OK' but I feel there may be another alternative?

    Would like to see more of this if possible Joe.

    TFS
    Steve

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    A nice low angle to this cool character.
    I agree with Steve's points, would definitely crop some of the bright foreground out if the image quality can take it? I am fine with central placement given the look & pose though.
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Joe - It's always great to see an otter and this one looks like it was a character, checking you out as well. I also agree with the points and suggestions made by Steve.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    Hi Joseph -- Nice low POV and the inquisitive look on its face . I too am in agreement with the above . Do post more of this beautiful creature.
    TFS !

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    Thanks everyone for viewing, commenting, and suggesting improvements. Very much appreciated.

    Steve sent me an email suggestions changes to balance the colors. Here is a repost with those changes listed.

    HL -25

    Shadows +25

    Whites -30




    Sat

    -20 Y

    -30 G

    -100 B

    -15 Purple




    Lum

    - 3 G




    FG was with a Graduate Filter
    Joe Przybyla

    "Sometimes I do get to places just as God is ready to have somebody click the shutter"... Ansel Adams

    www.amazinglight.smugmug.com

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    Looks much better !!

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