Reptiles (Zoo shots)

JohnRJohnR Registered Users Posts: 732 Major grins
edited February 18, 2005 in Wildlife
Took these the other day. All handheld with 50mm f/1.8 lens. Comments/Critiques welcomed.

15905924-M.jpg

15396186-M.jpg

15905273-M.jpg


More here:
http://louisvilleky.smugmug.com/gallery/386285/1/15905273

Comments

  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited February 16, 2005
    JohnR wrote:
    Took these the other day. All handheld with 50mm f/1.8 lens. Comments/Critiques welcomed.

    More here:
    http://louisvilleky.smugmug.com/gallery/386285/1/15905273
    Excellent. The colors and details on the first two shots are right on. The 50mm/1.8 is one of my favorite lenses.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • JohnRJohnR Registered Users Posts: 732 Major grins
    edited February 16, 2005
    Harryb wrote:
    Excellent. The colors and details on the first two shots are right on. The 50mm/1.8 is one of my favorite lenses.

    Thanks Harry.

    Didn't you like the last one? It's my favorite, actually.

    Someone told me that these photos of mine are "a bland documentary feel to them like if I was looking through a national audubon field guide to see what gaboonius viperiues is then I would see these."

    Do you think that way too? How can I make them stand out more?
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited February 16, 2005
    JohnR wrote:
    Thanks Harry.

    Didn't you like the last one? It's my favorite, actually.

    Someone told me that these photos of mine are "a bland documentary feel to them like if I was looking through a national audubon field guide to see what gaboonius viperiues is then I would see these."

    Do you think that way too? How can I make them stand out more?
    Hey John,

    They are all good but I liked the first two better. The subject stood out where on the 3rd shot he just blended in. Maybe a tighter crop may make it more interesting.


    Its hard to get exciting shots at a zoo. The animals there are fed on a schedule and they don't have to much other than to hang around and wait for the dinner bell.

    The best way to make your shots stand out is to pay attention to your composition. Try for a perspective where the main subject does stand out from its surroundings.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • Ann McRaeAnn McRae Registered Users Posts: 4,584 Major grins
    edited February 17, 2005
    I love snakes!
    The first one is really good - unusual pose, great capture of the eye, and great color. The other two show the challenges of shooting in a zoo in that you aren't really free to get the best compositions (actually that may also be true in the wild!).
    I would suggest different crops on them all - a tall, narrow presentation on the first, really tight on the snakes face on the second, and tight to the whole snake on the third.

    ann

    My Galleries     My Photography BLOG
    Ramblings About Me
  • JohnRJohnR Registered Users Posts: 732 Major grins
    edited February 17, 2005
    :) Thanks for the input you 2.

    It definately is hard to get a good composition on reptiles in cages. Especially the 2nd one..that's a Green Mamba :D

    How do these look?

    Nk1103715251a.jpg

    (for large one, click here: http://www.mac-yak.com//images/03715251a.jpg )

    Nk1103712356a.jpg

    Or..a different crop:

    712356ab.jpg
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited February 17, 2005
    JohnR wrote:
    :) Thanks for the input you 2.

    It definately is hard to get a good composition on reptiles in cages. Especially the 2nd one..that's a Green Mamba :D

    How do these look?
    Much better, these definitely capture your attention. I kind of like the first crop on the last picture better. The shot is kind of soft to do very heavy cropping.
    But these are a real improvement. thumb.gif
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • JohnRJohnR Registered Users Posts: 732 Major grins
    edited February 17, 2005
    Thanks :) I was told this would be a better crop:

    Nk1103715251ca.jpg
  • GREAPERGREAPER Registered Users Posts: 3,113 Major grins
    edited February 17, 2005
    I think you were told right. Thats nice.
    http://dehmphoto.smugmug.com/

  • wxwaxwxwax Registered Users Posts: 15,471 Major grins
    edited February 17, 2005
    Yes, the cropping helps a lot, they fill the frame much more and look a lot better. nod.gif A bigger lens would help too, get you closer to the wee beasties.
    Sid.
    Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
    http://www.mcneel.com/users/jb/foghorn/ill_shut_up.au
  • shamanshaman Registered Users Posts: 151 Major grins
    edited February 18, 2005
    The copperhead has much more 'intensity' in the middle crop, I think.
    Very nice! Were they taken at the Louisville Zoo?

    shaman
    PEACE ~ WISDOM
    shaman.smugmug.com
  • JohnRJohnR Registered Users Posts: 732 Major grins
    edited February 18, 2005
    Yes, they were shot at the Louisville Zoo.

    What part of KY are you in?
  • MuskyDudeMuskyDude Registered Users Posts: 1,508 Major grins
    edited February 18, 2005
    I really like these shots, and what you've done with them. thumb.gif Looks like a great place to shoot at! Thanks for sharing!


    AJ
    http://northlight.smugmug.com/
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