Sunday at the Zoo

[Zqy]

Hi all,
Spent Sunday at the zoo in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Thought I would post a few of the images from the day to get some thoughts from everyone on how to improve. I am new to this obsession so please give any feedback negative or positive.

Thanks Zerah



http://www.msnusers.com/_Secure/0RwCz**IUIeG!jBy0xLmDkL*4FeuYyy9GyCo5Lf4o9qkxutIsF VFzBZEXuTe1*IH7gMKkTYKwCXzAQVER022PRoEoVMS9askWmbf SZd7Qet4/IMG_0973.jpg?dc=4675486249226270446



http://www.msnusers.com/_Secure/0RwAJAPgUluK!jBy0xLmDkGJA1xnlz0JhvSYapLCMUKRZi20V7 T*gMGXMa72qS9dtNJHEbEubP0lAlrG5wwpGptgBIn6W3DWljuR sGGRXrj4/IMG_0988.jpg?dc=4675486249238550871



http://www.msnusers.com/_Secure/0RwAAAO4UGOAuIFckb0PZ3zdC46vo6Luh870ZemkVWi9en40Y6 42FNDsSbp2b4pFKQnZYpc2ioJhPdGd9PegEItcDchKpCXX4bWM MXnEm*48/IMG_1059.jpg?dc=4675486249252644727



http://www.msnusers.com/_Secure/0RwCPHO4UGuAuIFckb0PZ38hA2wNBs3cSHN8TbavDq5Eh2sM4b Ec50M!pfSIQr8GUVmffz5PZ9z3sQ6YtgsfcAT2eXURSLgj*UnS 4x6BbcBc/IMG_1077.jpg?dc=4675486249265640980



http://www.msnusers.com/_Secure/0SwAAAMgVNzZoiW5hDm*XZeaR2vVQ0wzIfUy6VxcCjUUxxvpOW yaxnguBrkDSXn9ba6IwfujJafeIR0aWhR40smkxm*QDdudzyw3 zVoBkMIKtL23h0d*EQg/IMG_1177.jpg?dc=4675486249281405101


Thanks for looking please all comments are desired.

[Daytripper]

Nice - Pin sharp and stunning colours.

The compositions where the eye is almost central in the image don't work for me - I'd like to see a little more balance in the positive / negative space as well.

Any chance of including EXIF data?

Cheers,
Pete

[jim jam]

The snake really stands out as your best pic.nice work! :D

[Jussuff]

Zqy,

WOW :shock: , great color and extremly sharp! Would you tell us whether there is any postprocessing, and if what you have done with which tools?
The framing of no.1 could possibly be better in my opinion. But in general I like them all. Thank you for sharing!

J.

[Sailor Don]

Zqy,

Good photos. Nice colors and sharpness.

Last one doesn't look right on the cropping or framing.

[photomd]

Technically I think they're wonderful. IMHO, though, I want to see the rest of the animal in the bird and cat (cougar?) pics. Looks like a great day at the zoo.

[sGu]

brilliant shots, beautiful colour, tack sharp!

one thing though, composition. 2nd one is the best among all those shots, still i would get tighter framing, to get rid of the leaf at background, if you do that, you'll find sneak's eyes would just about 1/3 of frame, which is just right.

first one i assume you were quite close, then portrait would be the way to go, so you can include the body of the parrot.

a common problem with your framing is occupying half of it, try "rule of 3rd", you'll find images more attractive and more viewing friendly.

[Zqy]

Thanks all for the comments.

I have done some standard processing color, levels, contrast, and the obligatory USM. Other than that the photos are as they came out of the can.

I really have a hard time when framing portrait and animal shots. My instinct is to get in as tight as I can and really showcase the eyes. In doing this I go in to brain lock on where the compostion is going. If anyone cares to share I would be most interested in your mental process when framing such shots, your "checklist" so to speak.

Thanks all,

Zerah

[HJMinard]

I really have a hard time when framing portrait and animal shots. My instinct is to get in as tight as I can and really showcase the eyes. In doing this I go in to brain lock on where the compostion is going. If anyone cares to share I would be most interested in your mental process when framing such shots, your "checklist" so to speak.

Love that snake shot! As for the others, I agree with the comments with regard to composition/subject placement. I don't really have a checklist, just a constant reminding of myself not to "bullseye" the subject. It has gotten to where I mostly do it without thinking about it. I still constantly remind myself to - time permitting - check the edges of the composition for distracting, unintended objects.

[leehal]

Very nice.

Which camera & lens did you use ?

I find the cat (not sure what type it is!) a bit unnerving :roll:

[LaurentiuB]

I hate snakes but in your picture I like it. The colors are amazing.I agree with the comments with regard to composition/subject placement.

[flowe]

Hi Zqy

Really, striking colors and sharpness and some good views!

As you explicitly ask for a "checklist", I have a go and thereby hope to become less of a beneficiary here and more of a contributor. But all comment is strictly opinion. I'm always referring to your 800x600px size.

1) The bullseye has been mentioned by many - the Rule of Thirds is helpful, but not strict.

2) Cut off everything that does not contribute to content and layout.

With the parrot, that concerns the top 150px and the rhs 250px. The background is very good re colors and blurr, but the steel cable is disturbing.

With the snake, (as sGu already suggested) cut off about 80px each top, rhs and bottom. This still leaves the upper rh corner with the boring plain gray. Probably a good exercise to copy some suitable background into the pic, similar to the lh background.

With the flamingo, there is a lot to cut away, but his left foot shouldn't be. The main problem is that the focal plane lies behind the bird - a common auto focus problem. Manual focus very often is a good idea.

With the lynx, I would cut off 120px lhs, so the whole pic gets a somewhat diagonal layout. But I like his face!

Cockatoo: remove 220px lhs, 100px top and 200px rhs. Unfortunate that the beak nearly touches the bottom.

3) As you say you are new to this "obsession", I dare to suggest to consider cutting more at the time of pushing the button. The cropped cockadoo probably wouldn't grant a good big print anymore.

4) I firmly believe in forgetting aspect ratios of camera and printing paper. The picture area IMHO is entirely determined by subject and artistic opinion, not technicalities. Probably every printing interface should allow to fit the pic to the limiting paper dimension and to center in the other direction with white space. And a series of prints like that look fascinating and present an ongoing surprise and challenge to the viewer.

my 2 cents...
comments everybody?
flowe :D