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Thread: Spotted-Necked Otter on a catfish

  1. #1
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Default Spotted-Necked Otter on a catfish

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    As I popped into a local bird sanctuary I had no idea that birds would be the last thing to steal the show on this particular morning. In one of the hides I noticed a family of spotted-necked otters swimming about very close to the hide. They were very inquisitive and curious about my presence there. I was the only person around, and pretty soon they let go of their timidness and climbed out onto the rocks below my position to inspect my lens protruding from the hide opening.

    The next moment, one of them dove down into the water and came back up with the head of a freshly caught catfish. It then proceeded to eat a large part of it right in front of me on the rocks. I had too much glass and only one camera/lens combo with me, so I took off my 1.4x TC and moved to the best possible vantage point. Unfortunately the little guy was sitting in the shade of the hide most of the time so the light was left wanting. The shots I got make up for that in terms of detail, behaviour and things like this stare I got. This was my first sighting of this rare otter and I will remember it for a long time.

    All critique most welcome. This is full frame with a wee bit cropped off the RHS.

    Techs:
    Canon 7D with 300mm f2.8 L IS USM
    f7.1 @ 1/250 SS @ ISO-1600
    Exp +1
    Took out a lot of the 'cold blue shaded' look here...didn't want to desaturate the blue/cyan channels in totality...what do you think?
    Last edited by Morkel Erasmus; 07-18-2011 at 03:52 PM.
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  2. #2
    Robert Amoruso
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    Hi Morkel,

    Too bad you were so tight as my preference would not have been a crop of the top of the head. Good DOF has good sharpness in all the right places. I like the side-ways glance - makes it look like he is worried something might steal the catch.

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    I like the tight crop. Using +1EV brought out plenty of detail, so I don't find the light wanting. Aren't hides wonderful?

    Great shot.

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    BPN Viewer Steve Canuel's Avatar
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    Neat shot Morkel. I think you did an excellent job on the shadow/cool blue look. Looks perfectly natural to my eye. Very nice detail in that wet fur and fish flesh (why do I suddenly have the urge to go out and get some sushi?) and the suspicious look of the otter makes the cropped head a non issue for me. In fact, I think it balances out nicely with the slightly clipped foot in the LLC. And congrats on the sighting!

  5. #5
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Like this a lot Morkel and as Robert said, the face conveys a lot.

    TFS
    Steve
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

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    Lovely image Morkel, the main focus is on the face so think this works well

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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Good detail and colour extraction here Morkel, with a mischievous look well captured.
    TFS


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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Morkel - As said above, you handled the color issue well and got good detail. I too like the otter's "stay away from my dinner look."

    TFS,
    Rachel

  9. #9
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Thanks for the comments folks...yeah Robert I wish I wasn't this tight but I had not brought the 70-200mm along as this was an impromptu session.
    Morkel Erasmus

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    I like it a lot... very nice, crop doesnt bother me... love the expression. great detail, I might just tone the light roch abit in BKG

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    Greta image bud...I like it a lot!

  12. #12
    DanWalters
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    Very nice! Like the white of the eye.

  13. #13
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Thank you Peter, Dumay and Dan...
    Morkel Erasmus

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