My first ever sightings of otters.

[Donald]

Yes indeed. I have lived all my life surrounded by them, but I have never seen them until last week.

I don't know if it applies the species generally or to just this one, but he closed his eye to better appreciate the flavour of the crab meat ... but he kept one eye on me.

I don't do wildlife, so any constructive comments will be welcomed.

[Shadowman]

Nice captures, such glee.

[Donald]

I should have added that these were taken with a Canon 5DMk4 with the 100-400 f4.5-5.6 L IS MkII and was in Auto ISO. The first one was at ISO1600 and the second one was at ISO3200.

[gramps]

Lovely to get the chance to see and photograph an Otter in the wild, although I have seen them I have never been close enough to use the camera.

[NorthernFocus]

Nice shots, Donald. They are elusive little rascals. Last year was my first shot of a river/land otter. Though I have seen many over the years.

The second image is really excellent. Great detail, eye contact, etc. Compositionally a bit more space on the right side of the frame would be preferable IMO. In the first shot it looks like your focus point was a bit off. The nose and mouth are just nipping out of the DOF while the fur on the shoulder is in sharp focus. With the animal's head moving and handholding a long lens I can't tell you how many times I've done that. The advice to "focus on the eye" is a lot easier said than done.

Overall nicely done. I even like the B/W

[Manfred M]

Nice ones Donald. It's always great to get some wildlife shots that one wasn't planning or expecting to get.

[Stagecoach]

Lucky captures Donald.

I don't do wildlife, so any constructive comments will be welcomed.

A lot of shots can be lost by spending time trying to frame too tight, learn how much cropping you can get away with when needed.

[billtils]

The second image is really excellent. Great detail, eye contact, etc. Compositionally a bit more space on the right side of the frame would be preferable IMO.

+1 to that.

[Cogito]

Otters are O.K! I find the background a bit distracting so maybe, just maybe? colour would nullify that?

Nonetheless a couple of lovely shots!

[tbob]

I don't shoot wildlife, except by poor serendipity so I have nothing useful to contribute; aside from thinking I would be content to have shoot these as they are.

[mugge]

Donald, just great. I am glad you shut these guys in black and white.
Cheers Ole

[Rita]

How exciting to see them in the wild for the first time. The facial expression in the second image is wonderful.

[rpcrowe]

IMO: wildlife photography is a two-fold project.

First is getting to see the animals/birds and getting close enough to photograph them My wife can spot animals and or fish long before I can see them. "Richard, look at the moose out there!", "What moose, where?", "Right next to the pine tree out there (as she is pointing)!" "I can see the tree but I'll be darned if I see any moose"

Secondly there is getting the shot of the animal. Good wildlife photographers will get the shot as the animal is doing something interesting. However, since I seldom see the animal in the first place, worrying about the shot is an exercise in futility for me.

That's why I don't have a portfolio of interesting animal shots.....

[Cantab]

My initial reaction when I saw the first image was that he was getting ready to attack you with his great set of teeth.

More seriously, congratulations on getting these photos. I've seen a river otter (crossing land to a rocky seacoast, nowhere near a river) but have never remotely had the chance to get a photo. How far away were you from the otter?

[JBW]

nice shots. Perhaps a lower ISO?

[Donald]

First of all, thank your for your comments.

And then one question:

How far away were you from the otter?

I think I was about 12' (3.5m), perhaps less.

And a comment that is in the form of a question:-

Perhaps a lower ISO?

Do you think the noise is a problem in the images, Brian. I let the camera give me that ISO once I had chosen the shutter speed and aperture.

[JBW]

First of all, thank your for your comments.

And then one question:
I think I was about 12' (3.5m), perhaps less.

And a comment that is in the form of a question:-

Do you think the noise is a problem in the images, Brian. I let the camera give me that ISO once I had chosen the shutter speed and aperture.

I'm seeing a lot of noise in the background. With my camera I lock in the ISO at the lowest. If I put it on auto I get noticeable noise.

[JohnRostron]

A nice case of serendipity. Two gorgeous images.

My guess about the shut eye is that is an involuntary reaction to biting hard on its crab meal.

John

[Cantab]

I'm seeing a lot of noise in the background. With my camera I lock in the ISO at the lowest. If I put it on auto I get noticeable noise.

After years of refusing to use any auto settings, I've begun using auto ISO. Especially when shooting wildlife where both a high shutter speed and a specific DOF are important, I set those and then let the camera choose the ISO (as a lesser evil than the camera's choosing an inapproprate shutter speed or aperture).