Big horn sheep

[CM Prince]

Nikon D90, 300mm, f18, 400, ISO 100,

See it my animal pictures is better than my birds pictures.

All comments welcome

Thanks for looking

[Jeff Cashdollar]

CM,

This is an interesting picture and I think the Big Horn is regal and unique. The habitat is beautiful, was this a hiking trip, how did you get to this point. Regarding the exposure a couple of things. I do not use ISO 100 because it is too limiting IMO. Higher ISO will allows more light and faster shutter and/or wider aperture. As you know, the Nikon group will support higher ISO's as well.

I like the image and would have taken it too. A few things that might make it stronger going forward. When possible try and avoid having tree lines and things of that nature intersecting with the subjects head. The shadow on the body is strong, what was the time of day. In some cases, shadows are unavoidable. The large section of snow behind the subject unbalances the frame a bit. Remember, placement in the frame is critical. A quote from the book titled, The Photographers Eye, "His central problem is a simple one: what shall he include, what shall he reject. The line of decision between in and out is the pictures edge".

Please keep em coming, this is a nice moment in nature. Wish I was there too, what a view.

[Gordon McKechnie]

Good, comprehensive advice given by Jeff. Good detail and like the pose/angle

[Marina Scarr]

Good critique by Jeff. Nice pose on this one and very good exposure. I rarely photography any wildlife or birds at under ISO 400. That is generally my starting point, and I rarely decrease my ISO unless I am doing landscapes. Too bad about the shadow but light and light angle are extremely important.

I think I would have liked to see more of a "sheepscape," with more of the environment, snow, mountains in the BG. Did you take any photographs with the sheep as part of an overall larger scene?

[Kerry Perkins]

Hello, good advice and observations by Jeff and Marina. I would have preferred a step to the right to exclude the mountains, or a step to the left to include more of them. As presented, the upper right corner pulls the eye away from your subject. The sun appears to be high in the sky and to your right, not the best lighting situation and the result is lots of shadow on the ram. Nice catch overall, did you get a series of these and are there others from different angles? Would be interested in seeing some different angles if you have them.