Which crop?

[ibecks]

Which crop do you prefer from these two? Any other suggestions?

http://www.pbase.com/image/14923023

http://www.pbase.com/image/14923070

cheers!
Becks

[eland]

Rebecca
Personally I prefer the one with more space around it, otherwise the squirrel's head is too near the left of the image and its right paw is too close to the base.

maybe a close up with these two factors remedied is the way to go.

Two things.
I'd remove the metal brace from the fence. It's a distraction.
Also, I know why you put your copyright there but anyone who really wanted your pic could take it off anyway. It spoils your fine image where it is.
I'd suggest putting it more modestly down at the bottom.

Regards
eland

[Conk]

I'd have to agree with Eland on all points.
I do find the wire to be a little bit of a distraction but not much. However, the photo would be an improvement without it.
The dirt around his mouth is also a distraction but what can you do there? Change his diet? The depth of focus is quite precise. So precise that his head is focused and more out of focus as you look back towards his tail. I'd like to have seen the whole squirrel as focused as his head. Maybe I'm asking too much?

[ibecks]

eland wrote:
Rebecca
Personally I prefer the one with more space around it, otherwise the squirrel's head is too near the left of the image and its right paw is too close to the base.

maybe a close up with these two factors remedied is the way to go.

Two things.
I'd remove the metal brace from the fence. It's a distraction.

Thanks for the suggestions - how's this: http://www.pbase.com/image/14933328

Also, I know why you put your copyright there but anyone who really wanted your pic could take it off anyway. It spoils your fine image where it is.
I'd suggest putting it more modestly down at the bottom.


What does everyone else do about copyright protection on their images? Having had several from my website used without permission (one appeared on TV at 4 in the morning - I happened to see it and clobbered them for £250!), I'm just a tad on the paranoid side. I don't like watermarking the images either.

[Leighow]

Do not know about Copyrights.

I liked both shots. I hear the logic re allowing for the entire body to be present. If so, I would rotate about 0.3 deg CW, and crop a bit closer on all sides. In particular, I would cut to the 2nd post on the RHS.

Even so, it is the "in-your-face close-up" that finally gets my money. Even here, I would consider cropping all around. That is the way it opens in Explorer -- a face!, and that is what I continue to return to. (In that regard it is similar to your second post which is lovely too.)

You must hove doused the fence in peanut butter.

[Conk]

Check out this site about watermarking. This type of service can get pricy but if you are worried about where your photos end up this is a service where you can track your photos.
http://www.digimarc.com/

[eland]

Rebecca
Version 3 is a sure prize-winning shot. Really excellent.
All the better for having the wire removed too and the placing of the squirrel is just right.

I note the improved copyright too.
If you are worried about thieves, Digimarc is the way to go, as Conk suggests.

Congratulations on a fine image.

eland

[ibecks]

Thanks for your kind comments, guys and girls. I find it very helpful to have 'fresh eyes' looking at my pics.

I'll take a look at Digimarc - it is a bit expensive, but it would be worth it for anything I thought I had a chance of selling.