Sweet dreams
A brief encounter with a family off River otters. This male decided to catch a moments rest, as the rest of the family slipped back into the water in the quay. As the heavens opened above, the boardwalk below was warm and dry, not ideal for getting light on your subject.
Taken late afternoon about 20% to avoid some bits of clutter.
Steve
MKIII 300f/2.8 1/200sec f/5.6 ISO 400 (HH)
Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.
Hi Steve, rare subject matter here, and well captured. I like the leading line of the timber that the otter is resting on. Also really like the detail around his face. Nice to see some different creatures on here.
cheers
Grant
It might be nice to see an Otter, but the surroundings are not exactly conducive. I would try a vertical crop to try and eliminate as much as possible of these distractions.
Do you have any in more "natural" surroundings?
Love the relaxed look on this one Steve. good detail and I also like the wood coming in from the lower corner as a lead in line. I do agree though that a vertical crop might work better. I would be tempted to cut off the left side all the way to the dark BG since this is really more of a portrait look anyway with the shallow DOF...or if you don't want to cut into the animal on the crop, I would take it at least up to his right side and then clone the BG to make it all dark and less distracting.
Looks like how I feel some mornings!
I rather like the use of manmade substances here as it makes a good comparison with the structures we make and the use of them by wild animals. Great DOF. Would have preferred not to have the upright pole on the rhs as it is very strong, but like the horizontal format as the wood the otter is resting on is leads nicely into the image.
As always, great IQ.
Love the lay down pose, eye contact, DOF and image quality that a 300 f/2.8 provides Steve.
The metal posts are somewhat distracting though.
TFS
This particular family had not been seen for many months, but frequented the quay and therefore this is part of their 'natural' habitat. As they are wild, they are also very skittish and this was a chance moment. Having explained in the OP, I had to shoot below the boardwalk, sadly with all the distractions that go with it, there was no option, but guess that's wildlife.
Yes I could clone and do a lot of PP, but I feel that is just too much, however, here is an alternative option taking into account the feedback.
Thanks
Steve
Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.
I like the re-post. Draws the eye straight to his face, which is the strength of this image, and you don't sacrifice any of his body.
You lose the leading line of the timber some, but I think it's a worthwhile tradeoff to not have the RH post detract from the otter.
Repost works well Steve.
Although I like the repost, if the OP didn't have the rhs metal post it would be the clear winner and despite that distraction I'd still choose the OP. I like the way the timber takes you into the image and the surrounding 'air' gives a better sense of the environment.
BTW, where did you find these otters?
Repost is a vast improvement.
Steve,
I think there is a subtle difference between "surroundings" and "habitat":2
Re-post for me , excellent image Maestro
TFS
Repost for me too. An unusual view of an animal we don't see very often.
TFS,
Rachel
very interesting "perch" for this lazy fellow...though this is not per se "natural environment" this image brought a smile to my face...
an apt title could be "Otter Bum"?
good to see you also use a 300 f2.8 - just got mine on Sunday
Fishing's hard work and I don't blame him for laying on a nice, smooth, beam rather than a bumpy, knotty old log. The strong lines of the boardwalk gives this one a kind of picasso-like feel for me but its all about the expression on the face.
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