2019 P52 - 4th Qtr - Sandy(Skitterbug)

[skitterbug]

Fourth Quarter - starting already - fall type weather has begun for us - some frost has happened as well.

Week 40's image is not a bullfrog! It is a bedraggled looking opossum drinking out of what was left of the water resource from the earlier bathing activity of the backyard birds. I haven't seen him since so I hope he is okay.

Settings: f/5.6 - 1/100ss - ISO800

Opossum

[Rufus]

The ripples add a nice feature to this image and lend it a dynamic feel. It is a shame about the horizontal twig (upper left) of image; I would have no qualms about cloning/healing that away. Depending on how realistic you you want the image to be, the ground could be darkened a bit to further focus attention on the subject.

You are fortunate to have a variety of widelife visit you.

[skitterbug]

The ripples add a nice feature to this image and lend it a dynamic feel. It is a shame about the horizontal twig (upper left) of image; I would have no qualms about cloning/healing that away. Depending on how realistic you you want the image to be, the ground could be darkened a bit to further focus attention on the subject.

You are fortunate to have a variety of widelife visit you.

Hi David - We are fortunate that we have wildlife visitors. Especially since we are surrounded by farming. The nearest wooded area is about a mile away. So it isn't easy for these creatures to come to us. But they do. I'm always amazed!

Although I like my first effort, I am always interested to see how the suggestions may work! And so from your ideas - here is an edited version!

[Tom Barry]

Nicely seen and done.

[Geoff F]

I think, Sandy, if you are going to darken the whole scene you need to selectively brighten the highlights on your subject, or exclude it from the darkened area.

Probably, I would have slightly darkened only the highlights on the left side where there are some bright leaves.

Otherwise this looks like an excellent shot to me.

[skitterbug]

Nicely seen and done.

Hi Tom - Thank you for your comments! I appreciate them!

[skitterbug]

I think, Sandy, if you are going to darken the whole scene you need to selectively brighten the highlights on your subject, or exclude it from the darkened area.

Probably, I would have slightly darkened only the highlights on the left side where there are some bright leaves.

Otherwise this looks like an excellent shot to me.

Hi Geoff - Actually, I still like the first image I posted. I gave David's ideas a try and felt it changed the image in a favorable way but I still like the first one the way it is.

On my computer screen, those leaves don't stand out other than they are a little lighter than the surrounding area. It was where the sunshine was trying to come through the trees during the evening light. That light also produced the bit of shine on the ripples of the water. So it all seemed natural to me. I am wondering how a print would turn out? Would those leaves be okay or would they draw too much attention? Could be an interesting experiment!

Edited image to darken just the bright spots on the top left. And yes, I like the change it makes! Having removed the stick as David suggested and then just darkening those few bright spots does improve the image!

Thanks for the helpful suggestions!

This opossum is now well known!

[Rufus]

Your third iteration is definitely the best (IMHO), because in the second one the burning in the top left corner was a little too much.

[Shadowman]

Nicely seen and captured, you framed the possum perfectly.

[skitterbug]

Nicely seen and captured, you framed the possum perfectly.

Thank you John!

[skitterbug]

Your third iteration is definitely the best (IMHO), because in the second one the burning in the top left corner was a little too much.

Hi David - Agree with you! The third try seems pleasing to me. Thanks for the followup post!

[skitterbug]

October has flown past and I am behind with my photo development. Not sure if I'll have anything worthwhile to load from any of the images I tried capturing during October. Going back to the end of September, I found this one. I'd taken a couple of captures of these same two just sitting there and I thought I could merge them. But I obviously don't know what I am doing so this is a single frame that has been processed. It is unusual to see two bullfrogs so close and non-combative. Maybe they've mellowed....?

Week 41 - f/8 - 1/100ss - ISO400

Two Bullfrogs - rock sitting!

[Shadowman]

Week 41, a good addition to your frog series.

[Wavelength]

Lovely images... those frogs want to be friends with you, i am sure....

[skitterbug]

Week 41, a good addition to your frog series.

Thanks for the encouragement John! I appreciate it!

[skitterbug]

Lovely images... those frogs want to be friends with you, i am sure....

Hi Nandakumar - LOL - I'm certain those bullfrogs don't want to have much interaction with me. Normally, I cannot move very close to them before they leap to their safe space - the water of the pond. For them, my longer focusing lens is my handy tool.

Thanks for looking at my photos and commenting!

[Geoff F]

In a perfect world, Sandy, there would be just a fraction more space at the bottom between the lower frog and the frame edge. But real wildlife photography often means shooting first then thinking about composition when it is too late and the subject has moved.

As an alternative, I wonder about loosing a little from the top (probably with a different size ratio) so this would look like a deliberate choice of a closer scene ?

[Manfred M]

+1 to what Geoff has written Sandy. The crop at the top would also remove two light coloured rocks that compete with the viewer's attention giving you a stronger composition.

[Shadowman]

Sandy,

Have you had a chance to practice some rainy day shots?

[skitterbug]

Hi Geoff - I'll have to slow down and take another look at the two frogs. I had time to set it up but I think what I was trying to do was crop away some green leaves at the bottom of the photo. I'll check it out and thanks for the suggestions and comments.