Chhetah through wire fence - comments please

[woollyback]

Hiya,

Went on hols to Devon and had a trip to exmoor zoo - really great place.

Took these two of a cheetah who is part of the genetic breeding programme. Shot through wire fence so got a funky background in one.

Taken with 400D & 100-400.

Any comments on how to make them better would be great.

Bridie (aged 12)

208612

208613

[birdsnapper]

Two really nice shots. I'd try a bit of sharpening and adding some catchlight in the eyes in both images.

[Dermit]

Agree with birdsnapper here. Very nice images but a catchlight in the eye is very important. It helps to add 'life' to the subject. For this reason many people use a flash when shooting wildlife like this just for that reason. Not so much to add light to the exposure, but to add a catchlight to the eyes... of course you can add one in Photoshop as well, but it's always better to try and get it as right and as good as you can in camera.

[Benji]

Agreed with adding some catchlights which in PS is simple. Brush tool at about 75 to 80 % opacity and the same in hardness. Size of the catchlight is dependant on what looks good.

Ben

[bckane]

Look good but maybe need a little contrast in CS3.....here is a sample
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a276/bckane/spot11.jpg

[woollyback]

bckane,

Thanks for that - much better, sometimes it's the simple things you don't see in your own pics that make the difference.

How do you add that frame?.

Bridie

[bckane]

bckane,

Thanks for that - much better, sometimes it's the simple things you don't see in your own pics that make the difference.

How do you add that frame?.

Bridie

Frame.....was done in CS3 just enlarge the canvas, like 50 for the inter frame then 10 for the green or what ever color you want. The 50 for the outer frame. I'm thinking about putting a little movie together on frames because so many people ask me how I did that....:)
Brian

[Chalk]

Great photos - love the second. Did a bit of an edit in Photoshop. Crop, levels, unsharp mask, bit of dodging and burning. http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/9738/cheetahld4.jpg

[bckane]

Woolly back, don't get me wrong both your photos are great, the second one I did a little PS to bring out the colors,,,,in the "EYES" seemed a little dark hope you like.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a276/bckane/chhetah.jpg

[woollyback]

Love it - I will have to get to grips with this photoshop business

Thanks again for your efforts