I don't seek these animals to photograph but do relish the opportunity when chance allows. Dottie and I came across this lovely cat while driving along Black Point Wildlife Drive in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge on Merritt Island, Florida. Comments and critique welcomed and appreciated. Thank you for viewing.
Nikon D7000
Nikon 70-300mm F/4.5-5.6 VR AF-S ED image captured at 300mm
1/1250 F/8 Matrix Metering EV 0 ISO 1250 AWB
Post processed in Lightroom Classic CC and Photoshop CC 2018
Cropped slightly 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
If we had them here Jo (UK) I'm sure I'd be hunting this one for an image sadly pretty much all our apex predators have been exterminated by us humans,I despair at times at what goes on here.
I'd maybe like a bit more below please Jo apart from that it's a lovely image of something I imagine is incredibly elusive and I honestly don't want to change much
Hi Joe, a lovely encounter and nice to see he/she was very relaxed with your presence.
Nicely framed, however having a little more below would be nice, but I doubt a deal breaker, perhaps you do and this is just a crop of the original??? However, Jon picked up my point and that is the subject does look a bit dark. Reducing some of the contrast, blacks and opening up the shadows a fraction does help, but I also like to use Curves to with specific 'tonal' ranges within the Channels. Tweaking some of the colours too, does I think help so there is more of a 'uniformity' overall, if that makes sense. For me what highlights it all, is the lovely, fine detail you have in the grasses and so this should echo with the subject so there is a seamless 'picture'.
The body on the LHS may need to be a fraction more in 'shadow' so to speak, but hopefully it may help?
Nice work Joe and good to see you over here on Wildlife. I imagine these sightings are pretty rare so well done to get this, and a nice sharp, relatively unobstructed view. Steve had taken this where I would go by lifting the darker parts of the cat as the first thing that struck me about the original post was that the animal looked a bit 'inky' in the shadowed areas. Hope you get more encounters and we get to see them!
Hi Joseph -- A lovely looking specimen of Bobcat and a nice eye contact as well . Agree with STeve and Jon, reg it being dark. Steve's RP has certainly improved the image . I would have liked some more separation from the BKG but tht is something not in your hands at all. But a few tweaks as suggested above will make this a nice frame. TFS !
Hi Joe - A lovely look at the bobcat and nice that he posed for you. I agree about a little more below and also about the op being a little dark but, as Steve suggested, would go somewhere in between your op and his rp at lifting/opening the shadows on the left side as viewed. Keep them coming.
Indeed there is Jon, plus some Blue too. Joe I would look at Blue, Purple & Magenta and if you want, do it as an adjustment layer where you can just target specific areas in question, but the RP is much better.
Hi Joseph ...well very nice to get the bobcat looking relaxed in this image .I bet many times you will see them disappearing.
So you did well or had just luck ....i the end it does not matter .
I do like the pose of the bobcat with the head turn facing the camera ...framing does look good to me.
Overall i think the image is too saturated and the blacks and contrast is too heavy for my taste.
But this could be improved if you like ...
TFS Andreas
Bobcat
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Originally Posted by Joseph Przybyla
