Wood Chuck

[Nicks Pics]

These are shots I got of a wood chuck, (or "ground hog", or "whistle pig") taken in the yard last season.
What I have been working on most with these is simply the colors and contrast, I am trying to get the colors to look natural, not too yellow or too dull, trying to maintain the mid-day atmosphere, but for some reason the colors seem un-stable in this series.

Any comments or tips welcome! Also, feel free to let me know if you think these are a bit... under whelming.
It can be hard to know about one's own pictures, as many factors may contribute to how you value them.

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[ragman]

Nick, my first impression is the subject gets "lost in the weeds". Try less DOF so the focus is on the subject. Adjusting ISO and aperture will achieve this. Perhaps a ND filter or polarizer will bring out more colors.

[JamesScott86]

Excellent captures - well taken.

[pnodrog]

For some unknown reason I like the last one the most but I think it would be a bit stronger cropped and sharpened a bit.

Yes it is very hard to assess your own photographs. The best you can really do is make sure they are technically correct as possible and the composition works. Once I have done that I find it good to get someone else's perspective and feedback.

With your permission I would like to edit the last one to see if I can get a bit more impact from it.

[GBO25]

Each to his own I guess because I like the second one. The woodchuck (what a neat little animal) is looking at me and it's got an "old guy sitting on the porch" look about it with that piece of grass hanging out of its mouth like a pipe or something.
Nice shots of an animal I'll possibly never see.

[Shadowman]

Nicely done.

[IzzieK]

I am with Graham's club -- I like #2 for all the reasons he already mentioned. But I will add a few of my own: the cropping on the head is too tight and PP is a bit on the yellowish side. Other than that, other factors considered, I like this old man of yours...

[Brownbear]

Hi Nick,

Just to say that I think all of these are especially lovely captures! Beautiful detail, nice backgrounds (the grass works for me), and at the same level as the Wood Chuck. Very nice!

[Barbara Ponder]

Add to me to the #2 fan club! I love the "What you looking at" (in a heavy New York accent of course, at least in my head) facial expression he has.

[Nicks Pics]

Nick, my first impression is the subject gets "lost in the weeds". Try less DOF so the focus is on the subject. Adjusting ISO and aperture will achieve this. Perhaps a ND filter or polarizer will bring out more colors.

Thanks Ron, I think probably would try for a blurred BG and/or low point of view if I had the opportunity. I think your'e right. However, I probably was using the lowest aperture available with the camera I was using.

[Nicks Pics]

Excellent captures - well taken.

Thanks, Glad you liked them!

[Nicks Pics]

For some unknown reason I like the last one the most but I think it would be a bit stronger cropped and sharpened a bit.

Yes it is very hard to assess your own photographs. The best you can really do is make sure they are technically correct as possible and the composition works. Once I have done that I find it good to get someone else's perspective and feedback.

With your permission I would like to edit the last one to see if I can get a bit more impact from it.

Thanks for giving your input on these L.Paul. Yes feel free to play with the image! I'd be interested to see your ideas on a crop. Also, yes, a little sharpening would probably help. I didn't sharpen originally, these were shot in Jpeg, and I didn't take the time to sharpen in PP.

[Nicks Pics]

Thanks Graham,

I think you characterized this guy pretty well. He was pretty laid back. He would nap on the logs, come down for lunch in the grass, and go back up a nap again.



It's interesting that this is an exotic animal to you. They are common in the eastern US, there are other species of Marmots in the western US as well.

[Nicks Pics]

Nicely done.

Thanks John.

[Nicks Pics]

I am with Graham's club -- I like #2 for all the reasons he already mentioned. But I will add a few of my own: the cropping on the head is too tight and PP is a bit on the yellowish side. Other than that, other factors considered, I like this old man of yours...

Thanks Izzie. The yellowish tint was strong on these. I find pictures taken in lost of green grass and sunshine can result in bad color tints.

[Nicks Pics]

Hi Nick,

Just to say that I think all of these are especially lovely captures! Beautiful detail, nice backgrounds (the grass works for me), and at the same level as the Wood Chuck. Very nice!

Thanks Christina. I'm glad you thought they were nice. I didn't remember them as being very special, because they were very easy to get. I shot them out the window of my house. But I guess they meet the typical requirements I have for other animal shots.

[Nicks Pics]

Add to me to the #2 fan club! I love the "What you looking at" (in a heavy New York accent of course, at least in my head) facial expression he has.

Thanks Barbara. I think this guy was certainly a laid back bumpkin of his own sort.

[pnodrog]

Thanks for giving your input on these L.Paul. Yes feel free to play with the image! I'd be interested to see your ideas on a crop. Also, yes, a little sharpening would probably help. I didn't sharpen originally, these were shot in Jpeg, and I didn't take the time to sharpen in PP.

The image was a little small to edit properly but this is the direction and crop I had in mind.




P.S. I liked your photograph #2 just as much but felt this pose was not getting the attention it deserved.

[Nicks Pics]

Thanks for illustrating your idea L.Paul. I probably should be more aggressive in cropping oftentimes, to make for stronger composition.

#2 and this one are my favorites of the set, though the other has a few technical issues.

Thanks again