[IanC_UK]

Ok, its been a while since i posted a shot for critique properly, so thought i would brave it with this one !



Was a bit grim so had to up the ISO and then noiseware it, had a levels tweak and a little sharpness adjustment, not cropped at all.

Camera Make: Canon
Camera Model: Canon EOS 20D
Image Date: 2005:11:29 15:02:28
Flash Used: No
Focal Length: 390.0mm
Exposure Time: 0.013 s (1/80)
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO equiv: 800
Metering Mode: Matrix
Exposure: shutter priority (semi-auto)

[Matt]

Ian,
Your spending a lot of time around zoo's and private animal collections.
Have you got contacts with someone?

This makes a good habitat shot, but it needs a little work IMO.

When I take shots like this, I try to hide the fact that the animal is in a captive enclosure.
Some times its difficult to hide all of the artifacts that might be caught when you fire the shutter, but one way to beat it is to get a tight crop on the subject.

I think this shot would be better suited as a portrait.
Crop tight as to exclude as much of the background as possible.
Keep the Leapards eyes on the vertical thirds and you could be onto a winner.

Can't fault the exposure and sharpness.

[IanC_UK]

Thanks for the constructive criticism Matt just what i needed, will have a look again at the pic and see what i can do

LOL re contacts, i wish i could take shots of these things in the wild but the east midlands isnt the place for that, its just things i really enjoy getting shots of

[Chez]

Great pic Ian

I like the composition as it is, but the fence is a little distracting.

Where was it taken?

[IanC_UK]

Originally Posted by Chez

Great pic Ian

I like the composition as it is, but the fence is a little distracting.

Where was it taken?

Thanks Chez, was taken at Cotswold Wildlife Park near Burford (Oxford'ish) along with these

[Catdaddy]

Ooooh - I'm off there with the kids on Saturday. Kind of hoping the weather's gonna hold...

[IanC_UK]

Originally Posted by Catdaddy

Ooooh - I'm off there with the kids on Saturday. Kind of hoping the weather's gonna hold...

Is a nice place, the lions and leopards are in the far corner, loads of glass walls too, crap for pics though when i went as reflections were really bad, so i ended up shooting through the fence or making my own shadow on the glass to get rid of the reflection

[IanC_UK]

Not 100% happy with it, but hows this looking now ?

[Matt]

It needs a little more space on the left, and a nice drop shadow border Ian.

[IanC_UK]

Originally Posted by Matt

It needs a little more space on the left, and a nice drop shadow border Ian.

Thanks Matt ill have another look

[IanC_UK]

just need to sort border, may also need to re adjust the proportions as its not a true crop/image size ? what do you think ?

[IanC_UK]

hows this look

[Matt]

I prefer to keep the image ratio to 3:2, and use a slightly wider border.
similar to what you can see below.



It all comes down to personal preference.

[IanC_UK]

hmmmmm yeah see where ya coming from, thats why i was a little uneasy about the pic i think, cos it wasnt a 3:2 ratio !

[Matty]

excellent processing, Matt summed it all up well, and the finished product looks very good, nice job!

[Catdaddy]

Bugger Bugger Bugger!

One of the tinies has been up all night being sick, so I'd rather stay at home looking after him - looks like I'm not going to be able to go to the Wildlife Park this weekend

[Matt]

Its everywhere Catdaddy, my kids have both been of school with flu the last couple of days.