Great Recovery for Oskar!

[Kodiak]

I was asked, earlier this summer, to make photographs of a patient.
Really? Oskar was affected with whatever exotic illness and he/it was
in a very serious condition. After some expert treatments, and some
anxiety and patience, he/it made a fantastic recovery!

So, here is Oskar in its recovered splendour:



C&C welcomed.

[chauncey]

I find your choice of DOF interesting for it is a quandary that troubles me to no end.

Would you mind explaining the factors that go into your choices...how much is just right?

Regardless, I'm liking that one a whole lot.

[KimC]

What color, and what a face!

[Kodiak]

Would you mind explaining the factors that go into your choices...how much is just right?

I would have appreciate a simpler question… one that ends with "yes or no"
(I hate typing!). Ok, you've got a legitimate question so I'll try to articulate
a decent answer.

To anyone having a reptile like Oskar as a pet, it is common knowledge that:
• they don't like strangers
• they are light shy
• shockwaves shy
• they hate surprises
• and rather be left alone… did I forget something?

Now, Oskar spent the treatment time in exactly the right conditions. So his
convalescence condition were the same:
• they don't like strangers… etc! And if you happened to be fool enough to
have forgotten any of the "•", the fellow has some whipping power in its tail!

The shooting conditions:
• a nervous patient
• extra sensible to everything
• bad tempered
• in a dim light quarter
• …and I'm a stranger with top gear (no pun intended)!

My chosen tools:
D3X + 85 ƒ1.4 @2,8 + 3200 ISO + SS: 1/15s to 1/4s + an extra eye on the tail.

In these conditions, since I did not want to infuriate Oskar, keeping a low
profile, moving slowly and quietly, maximizing the potential of every single
shot in the minimum time was my goal. Of course, the local conditions and
the chosen settings restricted the DoF. For this, I had to pick very critical
PoFs and nevertheless tell the story.

...how much is just right? —As much as you need to tell the story given the
uncontrollable conditions sometimes!

I hope my effort helped you somehow! …I still hate typing!

[Shadowman]

Nicely captured, the DOF provides a bit of intrigue, especially following your information regarding Oskar's tail.

[Kodiak]

Nicely captured, the DOF provides a bit of intrigue, especially following your information regarding Oskar's tail.

I was very careful not to justify such reaction from his part! The fellow was 2.5m long
and since I am not accustomed to reptiles, I was quite intimidated!

[Loose Canon]

Oskar has a face that his Mother must have loved! He is indeed a handsome devil!

But 2.5 m long? Yikes!

What did you have to do to get him to smile?

[Kodiak]

But 2.5 m long? Yikes!

Tail included that is!

What did you have to do to get him to smile?

…keeping a low profile, moving slowly and quietly!

[Caddy]

...how much is just right? —As much as you need to tell the story given the
uncontrollable conditions sometimes!

i like the thinking.

[Dave Humphries]

The fellow was 2.5m long

I have seen and (I thought) shot, similar reptiles, but they weren't that big!

It suggests that since we cannot guess the scale from the photo, would it have been possible to include something in shot to give us a clue?

Perhaps that's another bullet point to add to the list

And for bonus points; how about a focus stack?
(sorry, I just read the Eden watch thread)
(the reptile I shot tended to stay still for several minutes at a time - not that I did a stack either, before you ask!)

The lighting and colouration is interesting, it almost looks like he is built of molten rock, the orange appearing to glow in many places.

C&C welcomed

I find the white bits below him rather attention grabbing.

Impressive creature,

[Kodiak]

I have seen and (I thought) shot, similar reptiles, but they weren't that big!

Someone else also remarked the 2,5m with a question mark. For my part,
when I shot Oskar, I was so impressed and alarmed by its bad mood that
I did not pay attention to its length. So the given dimension are under
reserve until the next time I meet Monika.

And for bonus points; how about a focus stack?

If 2,5 m, and at that range, a pano would have been indicated as well! ;-)

I find the white bits below him rather attention grabbing.

I still don't know what these are!!!

Impressive creature,

…and I was impressed!

Thanks for your comments

[FootLoose]

Great shot, Kodiak, I love the colours, and I think you have captured his mean-spirited nature.

[Kodiak]

Great shot, Kodiak, I love the colours, and I think you have captured his mean-spirited nature.

Thanks Greg… but I was too chicken to provoke him in any way!