Mountain Goat Kids at Mount Evans in Colorado

[terrib]

This was the first trip that I planned specifically for the purpose of taking photographs. I need to do many more to practice. I concentrate on composition and I don't look at the settings. Next thing I know, I've taken a photo with an ISO setting much higher than was necessary.

The last one, I know has a blown out sky. The first shot of this kid on this rock was without sky, but there was a car parked behind that rock that showed. So I squatted down to change the angle to get rid of the car and didn't think about the sky. I kind of like the highlights of light around his coat but have not been able to make the sky acceptable in PP.

C&C on all much appreciated!

[Muriel]

Very nice pictures. What beautiful animals.

[Lon Howard]

Hi Terri,

You caught the kids at their best, and I'm afraid you're right in that there seems to be no hope for that very hot sky. I also noticed as I was trying to work with it that the sky seemed to also add a very heavy blue cast. I didn't notice how much until I desaturated and de-lightened the blue channel (I hope the difference shows up here). The sky just presented too many issues, I'm afraid. Very nice images.

[Bobobird]

Lovely shots and Lon's did a great job on the last.

Congrats on a good day out.

[Mike Buckley]

Next thing I know, I've taken a photo with an ISO setting much higher than was necessary.

So far, Terri, all of your images that I have seen could have been taken using Aperture Priority mode, so I recommend using it. Check your camera to determine if it has an Auto ISO setting. If so, it will have two parameters: Set the maximum ISO to the ISO that produces no more than an acceptable (correctable) amount of noise and set the minimum shutter speed to something fast enough to accomodate the focal length you are using. (When you change your lens, be sure to change that minimum shutter speed setting.) Also set your camera's ISO to the lowest ISO that it provides. When you get in the habit of using Auto ISO, you'll automatically be shooting at the lowest ISO each situation allows without having to check it. I always use Auto ISO when shooting handheld.

[Geoff F]

With that last shot, Terri, you should be able to clone over that blown sky.

Alternatively, try a tighter crop at a different size ratio, for example 4 x 5 ratio. Experiment with just showing head and forelegs or just head and shoulders.

[Emmie]

Love number 4. All are good

[FrankMi]

Adorable!

[jeeperman]

How cute are those Terri, nice series.

[terrib]

Thanks everyone for your comments and feedback.

Lon, your image is a great improvement and I will try to make those changes to mine.

Mike, these were all shot with aperture priority. My camera does have Auto ISO but I will have to pull out the manual to see if I can set a lower limit to the shutter speed. Thanks for the idea.

Geoff, I'll give cloning a try. I'm not really good at large areas but this will be good practice.

[Geoff F]

Try reducing the clone tool opacity slightly then building up the density with a number of passes.