Otter

[William Dickson]

Canon R6
f/4 400mm DO Mk2 at 800mm
f/8
1/800
ISO 3200

I captured this Otter last week whilst on a trip to the Isle of Mull...I've been to Mull 5 times and never seen an Otter. Then it happened. I was photographing birds from the side of a sea loch, when I noticed the Otter swimming towards me..Got myself behind a large rock on the lochside, as they are very wary of human presence...The Otter kept swimming towards me, then dragged the large flounder across the seaweed and rocks, before settling down and eating it. This image is when the otter dragged the fish from the water...Late evening...HH...ACR and PS.

Will

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Will .... i am so ****in envious about your luck with the Otter
Just gorgeous shot , glad you managed this opportunity !!!
Love it

Was thinking many times to visit there ... but so far never made it .

TFS Andreas

I would have fired non stop

[Gabriela Plesea]

Wow, super capture Will, and well framed! Good DoF as well. Great pose from the otter

Overall frame is processed well. One challenge I see here in terms of PP is, the sea weed, fish, as well as otter have similar colours. I would try bring out the subject more (including flounder) and perhaps a tad of NR to the BG would also help. This is just a humble suggestion Will, I have not had the time to try, just thinking it's a great image and worth spending more time on it

Kind regards,

[Steve Kaluski]

Mulls a fun place Will only been there twice on consecutive days catching the first ferry every morning. never got to see anything like this!!!

Really cool encounter, well deserved Will. Would have gone to ISO6400 for greater SS with that set up, the 2x will just magnify any slight movement, albeit IS will have helped. As Andreas said, I would also just keep tracking and finger depressed on the shutter for continuous firing, did you have eye detection on?

TFS
Steve

[William Dickson]

Thanks for that guys..much appreciated...Yes eye detection on Steve....I was using short bursts as soon as I seen the Otter move....took hundreds of frames, and kept over 50 with different poses etc...As the Otter got closer I was filling the frame, but never removed the 2X as I was so focused on the subject.

Will

[Steve Kaluski]

Will, here turn off Eye detection.

[Andreas Liedmann]

Will, here turn off Eye detection.

Why turning off eye detect , asking just curious

[Steve Kaluski]

Why turning off eye detect , asking just curious

Lack of contrast and slows the AF down.

[Andreas Liedmann]

Okidoki