Coyote
Cleaning up some old files, I found this one that I'd never done anything with. Caught this young coyote crossing through this field on a breezy, late summer afternoon. I was so intent on catching the look back that I cut the feet pretty close, maybe even off. Thought the FG blur obscured it enough to make it a keeper. 20D, 500/4 + 1.4xTC, f5.6, 1/250s, ISO 400, handheld from vehicle, cropped some off the left.
Hi Steve,
Just got home from a little photography trip and turned on my computer to see my favorite mammal here in Missouri. He appears to have huge ears in this shot....a jack coyote!:) The color is beautiful and oh boy...those eyes. Also the image almost looks rim lit around the bases of the ears, with great effect. I like the clump of prairie grass below the coyotes nose. I'm amazed that you could have thrown a shot like this on the backburner. Needless to say, the ole 20D was doing a good job for you. Colorado must be a wonderful place for a photographer who is willing to get out and do some hiking.
DB
Hey Danny,
Hope you had a successful outing. The coyotes have been scarce for me this year but they are great subjects,especially in the winter. This one was part of a group of three pups that I got to observe over a few weeks when I lived in New Mexico. The sun was setting on one of those great southwestern sunsets and he/she was heading west, hence the rimlight and golden hues. The breeze helped blur the grasses a bit as well. As for Colorado, the hiking/exploring came first, photography was something I decided to do to capture the things I was seeing while out and about :).
Nice look back pose Steve. Great setting for him, techs look good as well as the comp. The blurred bg and fg make him stand out well, it would be an easy canvas addition to the bottom if you felt it ness. I like it as presented.
TFS
Todd
Hey Steve,Originally Posted by Steve Canuel
Yes, I knew you were a longtime hiker before the camera came. I was the same way but with hunting instead of hiking. Take care, my friend.
DB
Steve, I'm really glad this went into the 'Keeper' box, a little gem.
Perhaps not the best POV, but I feel that there is enough OOF of the rear to blend into the complimentary BG very nicely, great colour. The focus, clarity and detail are just where they should be, on the head, perfect.The alertness, ears pricked, just adds to the atmosphere. I know Grant A loves to see wild dogs with their ears raised, well I think this is a joint first with them and I love the detailing within them.
Steve, for me you always pay attention to detail and that really shows in one simple area, the nose. There is just the right amount of detail, shadow & colour which is something quite often overlooked and when you get things like that right, the rest is a stroll in the park.
Just goes to show, when you get it right in camera, no need for a lot of work in PS. Nice one.
TFS
Steve
Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.
Great image! Love the eye contact and the colors of the surrounding vegetation. Really compliments the coyote.
You gotta love this Steve , excellent image
TFS
Love the overall colour here Steve and the killer look back pose.
TFS
Steve,
Nothing much to add , except beautiful eyes and "missing" feet do not bother me
BTW what mode were you using?
Hi Steve, patience paid off to capture the look back pose. I really enjoy these type of images with the subject surrounded by slightly OOF grasses. Great detail on the head, and nice and sharp too. I like the BG colours as is, but feel a touch of saturation and contrast to the BG will make this pop even more. Enjoy your work. Cheers.
Hi Steve, wonderful shot that has lots of contrast in it for me, between the sharpness on the coyotes face, and the soft BG and surroundings. Rimlight on the ears is super too, and as Steve K pointed out, "ears-up" does it for me...super shot.
cheers
Grant
Thanks everyone for the comments.
Ken,
This was taken in AV mode.
Excellent image, Steve. The feet are not even a minor issue. This is one of those images where the eye is drawn right into to the coyote's eyes. Exposure, comp, DOF, details right on. Well done.
Steve - I really like how the coyote is framed by all the soft colored brush. Great detail and pose.
TFS,
Rachel
Thanks for the comments John and Rachel.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
