WOLF (Warning OLD camera) Any Input Welcome

[LinzRiverBalmer]

• Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5.0 (Windows)

Hello All,

Well some people beat me, I readied this photo yesterday to post to break up all the lions and tigers..... LOL, love them all of course just wanted to add some variety in.

I will be on later tonight to comment on a million photos I promise, waiting on a phone call right now.

FULL DISCLOSURE...

This wolf is in a Sanctuary Preserve called The Lakota Wolf Preserve located at the Delaware Water Gap.

Its run mostly by Photographer Dan Bacon, who leads small groups ( I was alone) inside the preserve to photograph and give advise.

This photo is OLD, taken in 2006, with my second digital camera ever, which is partly the problem in some of this photo, the camera just didn't have the capabilities we do now.

Please forgive my watermark, having some minor issues with new programs.

Most of the PP work was done back when I took this so I don't remember most of it, wasn't much other than cloning out a log which I can slightly see now.

Also darkened up Left Corner where in the distance you could slightly make out a fence.

Yesterday in LR5 I fixed some of the highlights on the face, they were a little flat, some whites almost blasted.

Added sharpen on output through LR.

Camera and EXIF

Canon Powershot S2 IS

sorry all my EXIF is long gone.

Know I was on program mode with flash I believe.

Misty overcast day so I'm sure my ISO was pretty darn high.

Exposure was on auto under P mode.

Was about 15 feet from the wolf maybe 20.

PP listed above, and I know I had added the vignette back when.

Anyhow just posting to see about input, I just can't stand the thought of getting rid of all my "old camera" photos.

Unfortunately low res as I was saving space on disks on this trip I took, very bad excuse I know now and I got major words from Pro Dad when I got home.

 

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Linz, the look & feel of the image resembles to me, an old 'pin' camera with the added vignette/directional light. I like the inquisitive posture, but I feel the image would benefit with more space to the LHS opposed to the RHS. The detail is lacking sadly and without the EXIF data it's difficult to give more detailed tech feedback/advice, likewise PP advice. I think it might be best to keep within the ETL Forum where both you and others can learn from each other with similar learning curves and grow together with developing skills.

By all means post here, even to break up the lions LOL, but I do think you would benefit more within ETL.

TFS
Steve

PS Hope you get your watermark resolved soon.

 

[Steve Canuel]

I find the spotlight effect a bit strong for my taste but I do like the pose (all 4 legs visible) and the color of the leaves. Although its an "old" photo and we can't go back and fix the things we may not like about it now, I think there's always a place on the HD for photos that we like that may not be technically up to our current standards. I think this one would be a good candidate for some OOTB processing although I'm no good at that kind of thing myself.

 

[Rachel Hollander]

Hi Linz - In general I've heard good things about Lakota though I haven't been there. Steve and Steve have given you good comments and suggestions. Unfortunately, the shooting angle wasn't great though I like the pose. In general I'm not a fan of heavy vignettes and it does augment the spotlight effect here. Without really knowing the techs or what you did in pp it's difficult to give you suggestions for improvement. Overall, the IQ isn't there and I don't know if that is due to techs, pp or a combination of both. It has a smooth, almost painted look to the wolf but not in a good way. Sorry, just my thoughts.

TFS,
Rachel

 

[LinzRiverBalmer]

Thanks to all and now worry on the any harsher comments, but apology accepted Rachel.

I post to learn so, I know I'm always taking a chance.

I will be back in ETL, this one is just one I know I can't do much with because of both PP and the camera itself, and my skill at the time.

Going back to 2006 was a huge trip for me and I went places I will never see again, so even though I can go back now and see that my skills were lacking (still are), my camera was really lacking, and my PP consisted of Picasa I believe....

There are so many memories and photos on that trip there is no way I can trash them.

The day was bleary and overcast with sleet here and there and wandering around for 5 hours with Dan Bacon was something you won't soon forget. The position on this one if I'm remembering was a little funny as this group of wolves were a bit more up in your face friendly as such the photo whole in the fence were fewer between and farther back.

I will have to find my memory cards from this trip to get you all the EXIF, for some reason transferring my files over to new hard drives, computer etc, some of my older EXIF has been wiped off my files, I can't figure out why.

Many thanks to all and as my family says, they are surprised I have the guts to post or enter my photos repeatedly in the state fair, judging there is pretty harsh, but I've done okay.

My answer is yes the critiques can be hard especially on a photo you love, but how else do you learn.

 

[Morkel Erasmus]

Good to see you posting here too Linz.
I'm not too crazy about the whole look&feel here personally....:e3...
I'd back down on the strong vignette (I like a vignette per se, though) and try and crop a bit closer perhaps?
I do hope you can dig up some more to post here when you want a break from ETL...

My answer is yes the critiques can be hard especially on a photo you love, but how else do you learn.

VERY well said!

 

[Sandy Witvoet]

Hi Linz... would LOVE to photograph a wolf! Great experience! I also prefer images that are not vignetted (tends to look like a lens error) however,... love the wolf's face and legs and pose with the "forest feel" .... odd coloring/focus on his back and flank are quite distracting. Also, do really like the intensity of his eyes.

 

[LinzRiverBalmer]

thanks more to Sandy and Morkel.

I'm not a big vignette fan myself but back when I did the PP on this it was pretty automatic. Will have to find my original file and re-work it.