So Close - May Be The Closest Yet

[Barr1e]

....I felt like David Attenborough out in the wild - just me and a camera with my very able assistant by my side.

My first ever pic in the c+c.
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Regards. Barr1e

[shirley]

Re: So Close - May Be The Closest Yet

Aaw Barr1e, that is lovely. I think I would crop some of the trees, esp on RHS. You really dont want any distractions from that lovely image.
She almost looks like she has a soft spot for you, Annie had better watch out.

Was this at Ashridge? I have been several times, but I have never been able to capture any of the deer.

[Guest]

Re: So Close - May Be The Closest Yet

A very nice shot and an excellent capture.

I do wonder if it is a little oversaturated and a little contrasty - giving it a bit of the 'christmas card' look. But that is very much a question of taste and intent.

Seem to remember from a recent tv program that in order to 'stalk' deer you need to avoid washing either yourself or your clothes for several weeks, as they are very sensitive to the smells of detergent and soap. Tell me it's not true.

Nick

[Graham_of_Rainham]

Re: So Close - May Be The Closest Yet

Totally agree a cracking capture with very real connection between you (or the large one eyed you) and the creature.

I find it amazing that this was taken at 1/6th of a second.

I also agree that it needs a crop, The RHS isn't needed and a tiny bit off the left to get rid of the out of focus foreground distraction. You may also want to try cropping off the top to just below the dark branch above the deer's head, presenting a stronger emphasis to the subject.

[Barr1e]

Re: So Close - May Be The Closest Yet

Thanks for the comments so far. Is this the improvement you were looking for?

-------------------Hind - re-worked.

[IMG][/IMG]

Regards. Barr1e

[Guest]

Re: So Close - May Be The Closest Yet

Barr1e

Personally I don't think the crop helps, it leaves you with a truncated fern on the RHS which irritates me - I think the composition was right on the original - enough space to give context.

Nick

[Barr1e]

Re: So Close - May Be The Closest Yet

Barr1e

Personally I don't think the crop helps, it leaves you with a truncated fern on the RHS which irritates me - I think the composition was right on the original - enough space to give context.

Nick

Thanks Nick.

It seems the original pic posted just needs a little tweeking.

Regards. Barr1e

[DekHog]

Re: So Close - May Be The Closest Yet

Well, it is 'Looking for Perfection,' so, IMHO...

It's too saturated, too bright, over-sharpened, and the deer looks like it's been cut and pasted from another photograph... I'm sure the original pic is up to your usual standards, but the PP has let you down badly this time...

[Zuiko]

Re: So Close - May Be The Closest Yet

It's a great picture, Barrie and IMO it would be a mistake to crop it, except for a tiny slither off the left hand side to lose that OOF light tone. Regarding the trees on the left, they are actually essential to the whole balance of the picture. Not only that, their receding, progressively OOF shapes help create depth in the image.

[Barr1e]

Re: So Close - May Be The Closest Yet

Well, it is 'Looking for Perfection,' so, IMHO...

It's too saturated, too bright, over-sharpened, and the deer looks like it's been cut and pasted from another photograph... I'm sure the original pic is up to your usual standards, but the PP has let you down badly this time...

Thanks for your comments and I was getting so close to dropping the learner plates. I shall re-style the pic and print them both off as another posting in the thread agrees with some of your comments. I'm pleased to learn more each day, but will add I do like colours that show off contours, shapes and texture etc so they feel real to the touch.

Your comments re the original flatter me somewhat here is the original.

[IMG][/IMG]

and to save going up the thread to compare the one after post production.
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Regards. Barr1e

[Barr1e]

Re: So Close - May Be The Closest Yet

It's a great picture, Barrie and IMO it would be a mistake to crop it, except for a tiny slither off the left hand side to lose that OOF light tone. Regarding the trees on the left, they are actually essential to the whole balance of the picture. Not only that, their receding, progressively OOF shapes help create depth in the image.

Thanks John -

I agree out with the scissors on the left. I felt also it told the story about everyday surroundings that the animals lived in.

Regards. Barr1e

[shirley]

Re: So Close - May Be The Closest Yet

Isnt it interesting how we all see things slightly differently.
I dont think you need much of a crop at all, as you say you need to see the context. I just found that my eyes kept being drawn to the RHS. If you crop the OOF slither, as John suggested, and a small part of the larger darker tree I think that is all that is required. I havent actually done it but I have held my hand up against it on the screen and for me that really focusses my attention on the deer.
Having said that I think that most of us agree that this is a lovely image, one to be proud of , I am just nit picking.
Regards
Shirley

[Guest]

Re: So Close - May Be The Closest Yet

Yes - just a small crop on either side - just enough to get rid of the slither of light and onto the tree on the rhs - and about the same on the lhs to remove that foreground oof branch in the bottom corner. As too colours - well I've had a play and suggest lowering the contrast and the saturation a bit - so the green of the fern isn't so verdant.

(I often find that after sharpening it is worth checking contrast/saturation - sharpening can pull the image a bit apart and lowering the contrast/saturation balances that - but leaves the details).

Nick

[Ian]

Re: So Close - May Be The Closest Yet

Barr1e - you have done fantastically well to get that close. From a perfectionist point of view, I do feel there is still a magenta tint to the deer. I think this is fixable, but I think it would require a RAW file original to work with.

Ian

[Barr1e]

Re: So Close - May Be The Closest Yet

After digesting all the comments I went back to the drawing board and used 50% less power with the correction tools. I do think though I need the fern on the lowest part of the trunk, on the RHS of the animal as it looks somewhat bare.

Again, comments would be helpful please.

[IMG][/IMG]

Regards. Barr1e