Wolf Prowling

[coupekid]

Hi All,

I would really like your thoughts on this shot.

You may have seen it before, but I am revisiting the picture (I will tell you why later )

So what do you reckon?



Thanks in advance for any feedback

Ben

[Ian]

Re: Wolf Prowling

Hi All,

I would really like your thoughts on this shot.

You may have seen it before, but I am revisiting the picture (I will tell you why later )

So what do you reckon?



Thanks in advance for any feedback

Ben

Hi Ben, it's good because a) he/she is looking straight at you, and b) although I know it's not taken in the wild, there is no evidence in the shot to indicate it wasn't in the wild.

I think for me, personally, the grey day conditions don't do the wolf justice and I can't help feeling the 'expression' of the wolf is more 'oh not you again' than 'be prepared to be prey!'

Just my honest opinion!

Ian

[Tinka]

Re: Wolf Prowling

A cracking shot, "inquisitive and somewhat domestic doggy expression rather than threatning and wild/savage, looks like he/she may lick you to death rather than eat you, However I like it. I really will have to pay a visit sometime.

[Blithe]

Re: Wolf Prowling

I like your wolf photographs, and in this one I like the composition - the wolf being square on to the camera, with the sharply focused grass at the base, but to me it seems that the upper portion is too light? (not bright). A more noticeable light in the eye would draw me in more too. Have to admit he(?) doesn't look as though he is prowling, more having a nosey around.

[cowcrzy06]

Re: Wolf Prowling

Ben,

I must Disagree with the others. To me the wolf seems to have a more of a cautious look to it and it looks like it wants to know what you are and who.I do however wish there was just a slight touch more vignette in the picture. But that is just my own personal taste. I really wish there were more background and it wasn't so tightly cropped.Goodness I sound terrible! That is however a beautiful animal!

[lumix]

Re: Wolf Prowling

Sorry Ben but I could not put in words how I imagined your wolf should look. I think a picture speaks a thousand words

[Pol]

Re: Wolf Prowling

Hi All,

I would really like your thoughts on this shot.

You may have seen it before, but I am revisiting the picture (I will tell you why later )

So what do you reckon?


Ben

It's a lovely shot, nice animal. I think maybe it might have more punch with a touch more contrast though. One other thing that might help would be to perk up that catchlight in the eye right side of the picci. The way I sometimes go about perking up a catchlight is to select the highlight very carefully ( magic wand or quick selection tool) then copy/paste it to a new layer (it'll be a tiny layer) use the "screen" blend mode for the layer and adjust the transparency to whatever you think looks about right.

I'm attaching a quickie I did to give an idea of what I mean. The catchlight was a screen layer of about 60% transparency iirc. The adjustment to the contrasts were done mainly in CS3 ACR - so you'd be able to do the same sort of tweaks if you take the picture into Lightroom. Finished off with a slight dodge and burn here and there.

Pol

[coupekid]

Re: Wolf Prowling

Well, thanks for all the replies and ideas.

My reason for posting, is that the image has been one of the top rated pictures on one forum for sometime, it has also sold a number of prints (always flattering) and has been in an e-book as a demonstration of composition.

For these reasons I decided to enter it into the Golden Gallery, sadly it was rejected, so I just wanted to get some unbiased opinions on how it could be improved, and what other people thought. I hope this doesnt sound like I am either showing off, or have a case of sour grapes, because neither of which is the case.

Its just sometimes you can get too close to your pictures, and cant see how they can be improved.

School report says 'could do better'

[lumix]

Re: Wolf Prowling

Well, thanks for all the replies and ideas.

My reason for posting, is that the image has been one of the top rated pictures on one forum for sometime, it has also sold a number of prints (always flattering) and has been in an e-book as a demonstration of composition.

For these reasons I decided to enter it into the Golden Gallery, sadly it was rejected, so I just wanted to get some unbiased opinions on how it could be improved, and what other people thought. I hope this doesnt sound like I am either showing off, or have a case of sour grapes, because neither of which is the case.

Its just sometimes you can get too close to your pictures, and cant see how they can be improved.

School report says 'could do better'

Ben it's always nice to hear that someone has done well with their work. Congratulation on your success with your wolf image. I personally believe that the hardest critic to please is yourself. You have certainly put a lot of effort in to this subject, similar to Pops with his birds, and deserve full credit for achieving recognition for that hard work. Well done.

[Pol]

Re: Wolf Prowling

Ben it's always nice to hear that someone has done well with their work. Congratulation on your success with your wolf image. I personally believe that the hardest critic to please is yourself. You have certainly put a lot of effort in to this subject, similar to Pops with his birds, and deserve full credit for achieving recognition for that hard work. Well done.

I'll second all of that.

I'd also say this to Ben. I have a contact who is into various aspects of entertainment (actor, musician and musical stage + film) as well as being a passionate photographer. His photography is mainly a hobby but he's now doing fair number of production stills which are used for the posters, programmes etc.

He always insists a successful photograph is a photo that sells and he doesn't give a toss whatever anyone else might say or think of his photo. If it sells - it's a winner.


Pol

[Bearface]

Re: Wolf Prowling

Well, thanks for all the replies and ideas.

My reason for posting, is that the image has been one of the top rated pictures on one forum for sometime, it has also sold a number of prints (always flattering) and has been in an e-book as a demonstration of composition.

For these reasons I decided to enter it into the Golden Gallery, sadly it was rejected, so I just wanted to get some unbiased opinions on how it could be improved, and what other people thought. I hope this doesnt sound like I am either showing off, or have a case of sour grapes, because neither of which is the case.

Its just sometimes you can get too close to your pictures, and cant see how they can be improved.

School report says 'could do better'

Stephen and I were discussing photo screening over coffee and pizza this afternoon, funnily enough. Specifically the selection process for the Golden Gallery and also another photo website we're familiar with.

The thing is, when you set up a gallery into which only the very best images will be accepted, the overall standard depends on the ability range of the membership and the acceptance ratio is down to the subjective opinions of those who are screening the images, although obviously there has to be a degree of objectivity on the technical aspects of people's photos. In this case I know Stephen is one of the screeners, Ian is another and then there are one or more expert photographers involved too, so it's probably fair to say that the submissions are getting a pretty fair and balanced appraisal prior to the final decision, which I'm assuming is reached democratically. However once those involved have mentally ticked the usual technical boxes, it ultimately comes down to individual opinions..........and in this case that could mean that only two screeners vs. one end up rejecting or accepting an image into the gallery.

It's also worth remembering that certain sites use a system in which the official screeners get to assess submissions initially, and then if a unanimous decision isn't reached, the image is placed in a voting gallery for the registered members to decide on it's future. Now this approach is arguably a more accurate way (as a measure of a photo's popularity, and therefore it's market appeal...) to ascertain the potential commercial value of an image, but you still have to acknowledge that a product's popularity is generally far from being an objective measure of it's quality - I mean, the world's best selling car is the Ford F-series Pick-up truck, for gawd's sake...

For me the best way to measure the standard of a photo in the context of an elite gallery........from it's composition and perspective, through to it's DOF, focusing and colours, as well as it's artistic elements and even it's post-processing......is to submit it to a panel of individual experts and let them judge it. Ok, it's not an infallible method for the reasons mentioned earlier, but what you do know is that the bar remains high and that the experts themselves are not just using their gut emotional reactions to your work (which is how retail buyers make decisions about art...), but they're also viewing your work via established standards and benchmarks before reaching a decision. Sure, it means that fewer photos will make it through, but then that's kinda the point with a Golden Gallery, wouldn't you say?

On the subject of the wolf shot, I personally liked it a lot. However to me it lacks the magic and the wild "mood" of a true wildlife image (captive animals rarely look wild, even if they're still technically, er...... wild... ). Combine this with the flat lighting (not your fault) and the slightly resigned look of the wolf and it just doesn't quite cut it, at least for me. I also have a slight issue with the crop - it looks as though his or her feet have either only just made it into the frame, or that they've been abruptly cut. None of these things are a big deal on their own, but collectively they're enough to make the difference between a good photo and a great one. This is just a single opinion however, so take it for what it's worth

[Stephen]

Re: Wolf Prowling

Many thanks for expressing your thoughts on this matter Tim, its much appreciated.

[Ian]

Re: Wolf Prowling

Many thanks for expressing your thoughts on this matter Tim, its much appreciated.

I'd concur with much of what Tim says and I hope Ben sees that it reflects the feedback provided for his image that was provided as part of the GG submissions process and my personal view publicly on the forum.

For the record, I'm not surprised it's a popular image as a shot of a wolf is always going to be evocative, plus it's a very competent shot, but the wolf doesn't quite have that wild look that Tim eloquently explained.

The Golden Gallery is looking for shots that go beyond solid competence. I feel Ben has the skill to get in there - just not with that particular shot.

Ian

[Ian]

Re: Wolf Prowling

I'd concur with much of what Tim says and I hope Ben sees that it reflects the feedback provided for his image that was provided as part of the GG submissions process and my personal view publicly on the forum.

For the record, I'm not surprised it's a popular image as a shot of a wolf is always going to be evocative, plus it's a very competent shot, but the wolf doesn't quite have that wild look that Tim eloquently explained.

The Golden Gallery is looking for shots that go beyond solid competence. I feel Ben has the skill to get in there - just not with that particular shot.

Ian

I'd just add that Stephen and I have also today discussed GG options for the future and one experiment we will have a go at is to ask if selected rejected images can be featured on the site for analysis. This way the reader can get an idea why a picture has not reached the required standard.

It does depend on the willingness of the photographers in question - let's hope some are willing enough!

Ian

[coupekid]

Re: Wolf Prowling

I'd just add that Stephen and I have also today discussed GG options for the future and one experiment we will have a go at is to ask if selected rejected images can be featured on the site for analysis. This way the reader can get an idea why a picture has not reached the required standard.

It does depend on the willingness of the photographers in question - let's hope some are willing enough!

Ian

I think it is a great idea, and its the reason wy I posted my picture here.

I appreciate everyones comments. I am always keen to improve my photography, and as such, will keep trying to enter pictures which I think are good enough for the Golden Gallery. If they dont succeed, I will of course want to know why.

I did reply to Ian to see if I could find out why it was rejected, and I think it would be rather nice not just to send a message saying it had been rejected, but also the reason why.

I am not sure what Stephen thinks about this, or even if it is possible. But posting it here has taught me a great deal about this image, which I would have otherwise not seen. So if a message saying your image was rejected for these reasons, I think it would help those taking the time to submit to see where they had fallen down, and maybe can improve upon next time.

Thanks again for all the comments, it really is appreciated