Doe with Fawn

slowpez · 07-01-2008, 11:46 AM

This was taken in Shenandoah NP. Every evening a whole lot of photographers come out to Big Meadows to photograph the deer. I felt like a small fry with my tiny lens.
Any comments/critique would be welcome.

cupic · 07-01-2008, 06:22 PM

Id have to say your example is a very good one even the fawn looks surprised.I bet you where the envy of the other photographers

Cheers

slowpez · 07-04-2008, 11:04 AM

Thanks cupic. I appreciate your comments. I would like some help in discovering how I could have improved the shot. The back of the doe has been cut off and that bothers me but it just seems to miss something. Any suggestions, anyone?

sweet bay · 07-05-2008, 03:46 PM

I think what's bothering you is the top of the back is cut off and the doe's head is turned around and not visible except for her ears. I think a closer crop would look better and make more sense compositionally. The fawn is adorable; it looks as though he was interrupted while nursing, as he looks to be sucking on his tongue.

slowpez · 07-06-2008, 07:10 AM

Sweetbay, thanks so much for your comments. I think you are right on about the crop. I will give that a try. The fawn was nursing, I did get a shot of her suckling but mom is turned in the same direction. The doe finally did a bit of fawn grooming as well and those turned out OK.
All my photos seem to lack the spark that others on the forum submit so I appreciate any and all comments.
Again, thanks for commenting, Susan

Zewrak · 07-06-2008, 04:29 PM

Originally Posted by slowpez

Sweetbay, thanks so much for your comments. I think you are right on about the crop. I will give that a try. The fawn was nursing, I did get a shot of her suckling but mom is turned in the same direction. The doe finally did a bit of fawn grooming as well and those turned out OK.
All my photos seem to lack the spark that others on the forum submit so I appreciate any and all comments.
Again, thanks for commenting, Susan

I think you might have to put a note on your camera not to go above 200mm for a while and learn to use that before you go to 300

.

The back was cut for a reason, you, just like myself when using zooms (which i never do anymore, get an urge to get as close as possible for the details. I did this all the time. What I have come to realise afterwards is that I got very much details and not very much photos.

Don't try to go for the details only, try to grab some of the enviroment around your subject aswell. Or you will miss alot of good shots. Don't worry, your camera can handle to produce cropable pictures.

I also mentioned this in your other thread, that I wanted more of the surroundings.

Anyways, since this is what we have to work with, I would crop tight around the little one. If you don't have the whole mother, you might aswell make some more steak.

I would probably do something like this (sorry if you mind me using your picture, but its only to help)

slowpez · 07-07-2008, 06:59 AM

Originally Posted by Zewrak

I think you might have to put a note on your camera not to go above 200mm for a while and learn to use that before you go to 300 .

The back was cut for a reason, you, just like myself when using zooms (which i never do anymore, get an urge to get as close as possible for the details. I did this all the time. What I have come to realise afterwards is that I got very much details and not very much photos.

Don't try to go for the details only, try to grab some of the enviroment around your subject aswell. Or you will miss alot of good shots. Don't worry, your camera can handle to produce cropable pictures.

I also mentioned this in your other thread, that I wanted more of the surroundings.

Anyways, since this is what we have to work with, I would crop tight around the little one. If you don't have the whole mother, you might aswell make some more steak.

I would probably do something like this (sorry if you mind me using your picture, but its only to help)

Thanks so much zewrak. Yours is exactly the kind of help I was hoping to get. I see exactly what you mean and you are right, I do try to get in as close as I can. Great advice.
I don't mind your playing with the picture either - it looks much better. Did you also adjust the levels? The colors look richer. Thanks again for the C&C, I really appreciate it. Susan

Zewrak · 07-07-2008, 07:01 AM

Originally Posted by slowpez

Thanks so much zewrak. Yours is exactly the kind of help I was hoping to get. I see exactly what you mean and you are right, I do try to get in as close as I can. Great advice.
I don't mind your playing with the picture either - it looks much better. Did you also adjust the levels? The colors look richer. Thanks again for the C&C, I really appreciate it. Susan

I added a contrast curve and some saturation. Glad I was of some help

. Oh I also put on some sharpness, using unsharp mask