Katmai Brown Bear Portrait

[Tom Redd]

This guy came close and so I know it is too tight, I missed the top of the ears but I still like the pose and eyes. A case of too much lens here. I am curious what others think about the shot, should I crop it vertical (which I think is too tight) or maybe square or leave as is? Does this shot work? Thoughts, criticisms and suggestions welcome.

Nikon D3s
Nikkor 300/2.8
300mm
1/2000
f3.5
ISO 400

The shot is full frame, no crop, I recovered some shadows in the neck, slight sharpening and very slight levels adjustment.

[Steve Canuel]

Hi Tom,
Don't mind the clipped ears and like you I also like the pose and eyes. Processing looks good to me and I like the softer colors of the overall image. Tough call on the crop. A 5:4 ratio to the M in your name works but still leaves too much space behind the eyes vs in front for me. With you stating that you especially like the eyes, I thought this vertical crop might work too. I see a nice triangle formed by the ears and nose with the three corners leading to the expressive eye. Just my late night interpretation . Will remove upon request.

[Tom Redd]

Steve, please do not remove it. I played with different crops and so I want to know what others think. Like mentioned, I just like the expressive eyes enough to not mind the tight crop and missing ear tips so much. Thanks for the feedback and I do like the vertical as well.

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Tom, firstly I am very envious of you photographing this subject, they are gorgeous and this is an excellent image.

The colour, sharpness & clarity look spot on, especially the eye, it really stands out well and draws the attention IMHO. Nicely process and a good call on your behalf about retrieving a little more detail around the neck. Great detail in the nose/muzzle too, sometimes overlooked at times. I like Steve suggestion, but if you can, extend the canvas to the LHS and move the crop to the left, reducing more of the body to the RHS could be another option.

Sadly, fixed lenses do have their draw back at times which is very frustrating at times like this and I wish Canon would launch their 200-400 soon, as Nikon certainly steals the thunder with that lens and flexibility.

Look forward to seeing from your trip Tom, well done.

TFS
Steve

[Rachel Hollander]

Tom - excellent IQ, color and the eye is captivating. I went even tighter as another alternative crop. Just another thought.

TFS,
Rachel

[Roman Kurywczak]

Hey Tom,
Colors and sharpness are fantastic! I like Steve's repost vert and I also like Rachels......since PS was open.....took a whack at it to give you yet another option. I cropped.....then added canvas on bottom and using a combination of content aware fill and the patch tool made the bottom extension for a bit more breathing room. Would work on Steve's version as well if you are OK with such things. Just another idea for you to explore.

[Steve Kaluski]

Well Tom, going with the flow...

[Roger Clark]

Tom,

Hmmm..so many to choose from. I like Steve's crop if adding canvas is OK. If not then I like Rachel's crop. The eye makes the image!

Roger

[Tom Redd]

Adding the canvas to the left and below definitely helps this image. I know we focus on the eyes but just a question to consider, is there a value to leaving more of the shoulders as in the original post? It give me a sense of his size and strength while the eyes give me a gentler or more vulnerable feeling. Just curious since everyone cropped the shoulders out. Thank you all for the feedback and efforts to help.

[Andrew Merwin]

I prefer the OP. I like the face sharpness & agree that the shoulders add strength to the image by conveying the size & power of these bears. Techs look spot on. A great image.

[Stu Bowie]

One day I would like to see beautiful animals. Excellent detail and light on the head, and Im going to sit on the fence regarding the crops - they all work in their own way.

[Morkel Erasmus]

Tom the others have it right that the eyes steal the show here. I like the horizontal reposts of Rachel, Roman and Steve which was what I would have suggested had I commented first.

Tough to think that you could be "too close" to these brutes at 300mm on a FF camera

[Harshad Barve]

I am sorry Tom , neither of any crop works for me
TFS

One day I would like to see beautiful animals. .

I too, coming soon

[Robert Amoruso]

Given the face is "tall" in the image, a vertical composition is the best choice IMO. I would have like this shot vertically with more room left and bottom.

[Tom Redd]

Thank you all for the comments and the reposts. I believe Robert is correct, the vertical with more room left and bottom would be best. Again, thanks for looking and commenting. This is a great forum and I appreciate all that share their advice, opinions and expertise. BPN is an incredible value for the membership fees.