The rock is interesting enough it is worth including and I think you cropped it just right. Lots of detail considering it is almost a backlight situation. Rim light works well in the Squirrel.
The subject size is not an issue. The rim light attracts attention, so it doesn't get overpowered by the rock. I cropped this image to remove the portions of the rock behind the squirrel. Let me know how you feel.
There are lot of details in the image. The rim lighting is nice. I am sure Bobcat in such a scene would have been fabulous.
I prefer the original, it is more unusual and coveys the scene more pleasingly. Whilst I like the latter also I feel it is purely a shot that has been taken of a squirrel on a rock, the former is more interesting than that.
Very nice! The rim lighting works like a charm. Might be worth playing around with toning down the brightly mottled background a bit. Here I used a curves adjustment layer.
Hi Steve. I like all the colors and textures in the rock and the rim-lit squirrel adds just the right touch. I like David's treatment on the background though I think I would prefer something between that and the original. This looks like a Rock Squirrel to me. ?? Well done.
Thanks to all for the comments and suggestions. Interesting to see/hear different takes on the same subject.
Sabyasachi, I had a crop similar to yours but went with the presented one because I wanted to show the "tabletop" portion of the column and I liked the opposing points of the portion behind the squirrel.
David, I personally liked the mottling of the BG as I thought it was more reminiscent of the waning spring day. I like your treatment but think it gives a "darker" feel to the image that is different than what I remember. Interesting to note how that little change makes a difference as the subject seems unchanged.
Steve, you're probably correct as to species. This is a kind of small, rocky oasis that's a bit different than the surrounding area.