Before & after, old look.

[wlou]

I had the chance to photograph these animals up-close. I also try my hand at some post production. What do you think of the result? Oh, and yes, the little buck is in the middle. He was telling me: Am in charge and I can "charge" too.

[chauncey]

Louise, when doing critters, it's best to get close...then closer. A portrait is better than a full body shot and a full body shot is better than a whole herd.

[Geoff F]

Well you can crop a little tighter at the sides and use a different size ratio to 'zoom in' slightly closer.

But that is a fairly small image (500 pixels on long edge) so it is difficult to give a full opinion of the image.

As far as I can see it looks reasonable. You say attempting an 'old look' but that covers a lot of different techniques and a wide spread of 'mock effects' from say, 1850 to 1950.

[Shadowman]

I like it as is but you could try trimming the herd so to speak, remove a few of the stragglers and see if it changes the impact of the image.

[wlou]

I like it as is but you could try trimming the herd so to speak, remove a few of the stragglers and see if it changes the impact of the image.

John, I followed your advice of cropping, is it any better?

[Shadowman]

Louise,

I won't say better but definitely a new look and you have narrowed down your subject somewhat. I think both versions will work well together. If I were flipping through a book and saw both images I wouldn't recognize this one as a crop at first glance.

[IzzieK]

The last one is nicer, better as John said. And I agree.

[bnnrcn]

Cropped one is better Louise

[Wavelength]

Excellent; yet i am desirous of not having another deer just behind the nearest one ....

[Geoff F]

Yes, that was one of my thoughts, but it is less of a problem for me in the larger view cropped image where it is now obviously another animal instead of just a blur, as occurred with the first photo.

[wlou]

Thanks for the comments Geoff. Here he is, all by himself. I did get close with the 50mm lens, but it is about 1/2 the original size. I have one knee on the ground for this "low angle shot". I think I will forget about the "old look". What do you think. Now it would be better in the post for the close-ups?

[Geoff F]

That one looks good to me, Louise.

Old style effects certainly have their place, such as old machinery etc; but I see little to be gained by using these techniques on most animal/landscape images. Although simple B&W conversions sometimes work well.

[shreds]

I think you have nailed it this time Louise!

[bnnrcn]

What a beauty!!

[wlou]

That one looks good to me, Louise.

Old style effects certainly have their place, such as old machinery etc; but I see little to be gained by using these techniques on most animal/landscape images. Although simple B&W conversions sometimes work well.

Thank you Geoff. The idea of old style came to me because we could see the very old fence. Of course we cannot see it up close so it is not applicable anymore. I had a lot of fun taking these pictures. The pros say you have to know your portrait subject and talk to them, say things they can relate to. So I did my best imitation of the "Ruffed Grouse". And it worked, he looked at me. But I think he is saying: what the heck? Don't smell like a bird, don't look like a bird, must be a foreigner.

[wlou]

Thank you for your comments Ian and Binnur.