DigaPixBlog

Most people with a camera are drawn to taking pictures of animals, particularly when they have the opportunity of shooting wild animals.  These subjects are exotic, hard to come by and something you don’t see every day.  Unfortunately almost all of us don’t have  the time or we don’t take the time to study the subject and find unique ways of capturing the image.

This little fellow is accustomed to people being around and posing for the visitors.  The large wood beam he is resting on makes a good contrast to the textured rock all around.  This image does not have the look of a zoo shot even with the manmade objects in the composition.

I would like to suggest taking this shot as the photographer has done and then look for other possibilities for images that are more interesting and have stronger graphic elements.  This may be difficult if not impossible but the goal when photographing is to get compositions that are different from the norm and capture the imagination of the viewer.

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One of the benefits of macro photography is the ability to see what we ordinarily pass by without being aware of every day.  They let see how the world works.  This is very important in documenting a subject for educational and scientific purposes.

This photograph of a spider at work has excellent detail and depth of field.  The viewer can see every hair and fiber of this arachnid and its web.  The lighting, thou not dramatic, captures every detail.  The photographer’s selection of the graduated gray background is dark enough to allow the fibers of the web to standout in every detail.

This would be a prefect image to be included in a scientific journal or text book.  I can see this shot in ‘National Geographic’. The execution of this documentary image is excellent and brings the subject to life.

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This will be the last year for an event that has been attended by photographers from around the world for over thirty years. Wilma Roberts held the Rock Springs Ranch horse drive in Bend Oregon every year since the mid 1970’s.  The Rock Springs Ranch has sold to building contractors and will be closed as of the 15th of this month.  This year some percipients went home with more than photographs, they took a few of the last horses that need a home.

This photograph was taken at the Rock Springs Ranch last week.  As you can see the opportunities for wonderful western action images was outstanding.  The drives were held during the late afternoon when the light would be right to pick up the rim lighting through dust raised by the movement of the stock.  The men on horseback were attuned to the needs and desires of the guest photographers giving everyone an opportunity for that perfect image.

The Rock Springs Ranch drive has created thousands of excellent photographs over the years.  I should know I have had the pleasure of seeing may of them, thank you Wilma.

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One of the things photography can do is show the viewer contrasts; light and dark, big and small, near and far.  This allows the viewer to see the world through the vision of the photo-artist. 

The image presented here takes us into the world of contrasts.  The small spider appears even smaller when seen against the mass of the tulip’s sphere.  The photographer has captured this small creature as it is just about to move off the surface and into the void along its thread of web.  If the spider were in mid air we would not get the same feeling of contrast in mass.

Graphically I like the cropping with the curve of the surface indicating than the tulip is much larger that what we see, but we have no idea just how far it extends.  The bright green in the background highlights our subject, the spider, letting it sand out more than if it had been against the darker hues.

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It’s a rear talent to make other people smile through photography, particularly when the photographer has preplanned the setup and deliberately captured the hummer. 

The moment we see this image we get the point.  The placement of the bubble so close to the tip of the dog’s muzzle without touching tells the story of our friends questioning nose.  The photographer’s timing was perfect.  The selection of the pink background picks up the same color in the muzzle and around the eye of the dog.  I think it was a risky choice of color but it worked out very well. 

This image has great commercial probabilities.  It puts me in mind of the old RCA logo of the dog and the Victoria entitled “Hearing His Master’s Voice”.

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Little kids are fascinated with the world around them perhaps because everything is new and unknown.  Many photographers have this same child like wonder.  They find the world fresh and new through the view finder.  They are seeing for the first time in years.  What a wonderful feeling to see like a child.

This creature out of Alice and Wonderland may not be to everyone’s taste but it caught the eye of this photographer.  The focus is sharp on the subject while completely soft in the dappled background.  The photo-artist has elected to not show the entire length of the caterpillar.  This leaves the viewers imagination to determine just how long this little fellow really is.

A suggestion I would like to make is to crop the image so there is less of a horizontal feel to the scene.  By rotating the frame we could get a stronger diagonal graphic which may add a little more interest to the image.

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We can get some interesting effects with moving objects under low light conditions.  We have all seen photos of lines of red tail lights taken on the highway at night.  This same principle can be used to make moving objects appear transparent.  The effect is caused because a stationary object receives all the light while the moving portion is only partially exposed.

This example of movement under low light exhibits this translucent quality.  We get the feeling of movement in the flapping wings while the head and body appear to be stationary.  The single point light source has been exposed for the torso of the bird and the wings being light hues reflect enough color to illustrate their movement through the image.

I like the placement of the subject against the black background in such a way that there is room in front of the bird for perceived forward movement.  This is a very effective use of light and movement.

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Record shots are excellent for text books or showing our friends and neighbors where you have been.  But as photographers we need to photograph the exotic in ways that makes the uninvolved viewer interested in our images.  The art photograph does not just tell us what the photographer saw but rather how he saw.

This aquarium shot displays an interesting species of jellyfish.  It shows good detail of the creature in motion.  I like the placement of the subject in the lower right one forth quadrant which keeps it from becoming stagnant.  This is a nice specimen shot.

If we are going to get photographs of aquatic creatures without getting wet we need to make sure that there is nothing in the image to indicate the picture was taken through glass, such as reflections.  In the lower left hand corner there is indication of a water spot on the glass.  This could be removed with just a little computer cloning.  Better still try to catch this sort of thing before taking the shot.

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An aquarium like the zoo is a good place to capture images of wildlife without the bother of going out into the wild.  The trick is to take the shot that does not appear staged our taken in a manmade environment.  This requires isolating the subject in as natural a scene as possible.

When I first saw this photograph of these Pacific Sea Nettles (Chysaora Fuscescens) I thought the photographer had inadvertently sent the picture in upside down.  Not knowing anything about jellyfish I thought they just floated near the surface with their ball in an upright position.  I contacted the photographer and he assured me the orientation was correct.  Now that I look at it I can see that the light in the water is brighter at the top.

What strikes me about this particular image is the complementary colors of orange and blue.  These hues always work well together.  The exposure is right on and the photo-artist has avoided any reflections that would have indicated that this was shot through glass.  If you look closely you will see an ‘S’ curve to the flow of the pattern of creatures.

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Capturing the personality of the subject in a formal portrait setting is the responsibility of the photographer or in some commercial situations the art director.  What is important is that the person behind the camera gets the subject to relax and feel comfortable with the unordinary situation of having a large glass eye pointed at them. 

This subject appears to be relaxed and comfortable in this studio shot.  The expression on the subjects face and look in the eyes asks the viewer to relate to the subject on an anthropomorphic level.  The pose with the foot over the prop demonstrates that the animal is alert while at the same time it is relaxed.  This pet is clean, healthy and well cared for.

The lighting appears to be a single source from the left with reflection form the right.  The selection for background hue blends nicely with the color of the dog’s coat.  I feel that the horizontal cropping was a good choice with just enough space between the subject and frame.

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People are often so enamored with their subject that they turn a blind eye to any imperfections in resulting photographs.  This is frequently true of wild animal photographs where the subject is exotic or difficult to capture but the resulting photo did not result in an interesting image.  This can also be true of people and animals we love.

This photographer wanted to get the feeling of their new puppy at rest after a long walk.  I like the way the photographer got down low, at the level of the subject.  This makes the image much more personal.  The clean background helps the viewer focus their attention on the subject. 

I would like to recommend improving the lighting conditions.  This image is to muddy and under exposed.  It does give the shot mood but not much in the way of interest to the unenvolved viewer.  We always have to keep in mind that the audience knows nothing about the subject or the history of the taking on the photograph.

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Some photographs are humorous without any effort on the photographer’s part.  The subjects just strike our fancy and we see them as funny without them doing anything but be themselves.  Animals in particular can have personalities just in their expressions that remind us of people we know.

This subject reminds me of my eight grade English teacher.  It’s something in those all knowing, half awake, eyes that brings bake memories of someone I once knew.  The photographer has managed to keep the background simple and out of focus.  The lighting is flat but gives good detail.  I like the cant of the head.

I would have like to see a little more of the long muzzle in focus but often that cannot be helped with the relative distance from the eyes to the tip of the nose, particularly in a subject with these proportions.

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It is difficult to keep an open mind when photographing people or things we love.  In our mind we see them through rose colored glasses.  We know their personalities, their likes and dislikes so well we can only see them as wonderful.  When presenting images to dispassionate viewers we have to ask ourselves is this an image that would appeal to them.  If we think so, be honest and ask “why?” 

The dog in this photograph has been photographed against a simple dark background with nice texture.  The exposure on the subject is excellent, giving good detail throughout the highlight to shadow range.  There is a good catch light in the eye giving the viewer the feeling that he is looking at us.

The only objection I have, as a viewer, to this image is the exposed gums and underside of tongue.  I’m sorry but I just don’t find this appealing.  The photo-artist as always is the one to make the final judgment about their image, but I find this angle of view unappealing.

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Snap shots are not hard to take.  That is why ninety percent of all the images taken fall into this category.  Quality photographs require thought, persistence and experience.  This is particularly true when photographing animals.  To get that award winning wildlife image the photographer will have to start early, stock his subject, wait for the right moment and then take lots of images.  Even then only one in fifty images will be a keeper. 

The photo of this Harring has been placed in a setting that does not have any distracting background.  I like the patterns of shadows in the water in the upper left hand corner.  There is a nice feeling of movement as the bird takes a step forward.

I would like to make the following suggestions.  Number one, get in closer to the subject.  The photographer was attracted by the bird so make it the center of attention.  This will either require a telephoto lens or the photographer has to get closer to his pray, just like hunting.  Number two, when composing and image you will normally want to keep the subject off the center of the composition.  By placing it on the one third line the layout will have more balance without cemetery.  And number three, when photographing a moving subject leave room in front so it can move into the frame.

One last thing for the photographer to be aware of, the best light for photographing is the first hour after sun rise and the last hour before sun set.  The sun is low in the sky and this creates wonderful lighting.  This is called the golden hour by photography.

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Cropping an image can make a big difference in the graphics of a composition.  There are times we want to change the location of the subject or remove unnecessary or unwanted details in the illustration.  It is best to do the cropping in the camera but when we are editing the images the first question should be is this shot worth keeping and the second is how can I improve this photograph. 

This zoo shot has a nice natural feeling to the environment.  The photographer has captured the bear the moment before he is about to leap into the emerald green water.  It almost looks like if he were to lean forward just a little more he would fall in rather than jump.  The exposure is excellent keeping detail in most of the whites and dark shadows.  The subject is placed off center with room to move into the frame.

I would like to suggest a little tighter crop, not to just remove unnecessary information but also to accentuate the precarious posture of the animal about to tip into the pool.    The image is a little soft.  It can be sharpened by using a computer ’sharpen’ filter.

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One in a thousand photographers is born with the eye.  They have a natural ability to see images.  For the rest of us we have to acquire this capability.  This can be done a number of ways; taking photo classes, self education thorough reading about photography and composition or getting feedback and seeing other photographers work.  The purpose of this blog is to give honest feed back and let you see other people’s compositions with an eye to what works and what does not.  We all have a lot to learn by seeing the images of other photographers and deciding what to take away from the experience.

This scene of a young lady feeding the geese has a lot of potential.  There is a nice inner action between the girl and the birds.  I like the placement of the main subject off center with the birds entering the frame from the right. 

I would like to make some suggestions.  On the left edge of the frame there is a person’s hand entering the frame from nowhere.  This can easily be cropped out.  In the background we see a portion of a building which takes away from the natural environment of the scene.  This would be difficult to crop and still keep the same composition but vegetation can be cloned in over this distraction.

There are two other things that can be improved on the computer.  The image appears to be a little overexposed and shifted to the light side of the spectrum.  The last issue is a little more difficult to change.  There are too many overlapping people in the frame which makes for a confusing composition.  These can be reduced using our old friend Mr. Cloning but it will take some time to get it just right.

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What is the proper placement of the subject in a composition?  Some will tell you it should be on the one third intersections of the scene but I am here to say that the placement of the subject depends.  It depends on the subject and the desire of the photographer.  If the image consists of a symmetrical subject (see ‘The Courthouse July 8th) it is natural to center the illustration.  There are times when placing the subject at extreme edges or corners adds drama to a composition.

This composition works very well because of the subject placement and the feeling of diagonal movement.  This photo-artist has created a work with the subject in sharp focus while the rest of the scene is in blurred movement, quite unexpected.  You would normally think of the bee moving and the terrestrial flowers stationary.  It’ like we are seeing the world through the perspective of the insect.

The foreground flower is placed at a sixty degree angle which leads our eye naturally to the pollinating insect.  The suggestion of motion in the blurred background is also at sixty degrees.  This reinforces the feeling of movement.  Note that the background behind the subject is simple without distractions.  The photographer has also avoided starting the stem of the flower at the corner intersection.

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Graphics play a large part in the composition of any work of art.  It often takes more than an interesting or exotic subject to make an image more than a text book shot.  That is to say what may be of interest as a specimen will not always be artistically strong to the viewer.

This photograph of a sea anemone(?) was apparently taken in an aquarium under UV or black light, thus the blue-green hues.  The depth of focus is well done starting with the tips in the foreground and getting softer as the depth increases.  The photographer has managed to fill the frame with the subject to eliminate any distracting elements.

This is a good photograph of this specimen however I wish there were something of more interest going on such as a small fish swimming among the tentacles.  But I suppose if a food source such as a fish entered the area it would be history in no time.

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Animals, domestic or wild, don’t take direction very well.  They do what they want to do and the photographer has to capture the moment when the opportunity arises.  The moment passes so fast that if you are not ready the opportunity will be gone.

The image of the running horse was captured at the right moment.  The animal was in at play, racing around the field.  If the photographer had waited one second more they may not have gotten the shot.  There is good action in this composition; two legs are off the ground while a cloud of dust indicated that the horse is moving fast across the arena.

One of the rules in photographing a moving subject is to leave room in front of the subject to give space for it to move into.  This composition breaks this rule leaving only a small amount of area.  However I think this layout works quite well perhaps because the horse seems to be making a turn to the left.

I also like the soft high key background.  This gives a dream like quality to the photograph.

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Shillowets require enough detail to tell us what they are and at the same time be simple enough to be understood at a glance.  At the same time they normally need delate in the rest of the composition. 

This photograph taken at the aquarium uses the shillowet to its fullest.  All the lighting is on the inverted seal and the background grotto.  The source of light is such that none falls on the boy, the colors of the seal look natural while the background has the aqua blue of an underwater scene. 

This is a very simple photograph with hummer and heart.  The viewer gets the feeling of the seal showing off and playing with the child from another world.  Almost like ET.  The boy’s head is turned so we can see just enough of his  features to see he is looking at his underwater friend.

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On camera flash has destroyed more photos than anything I can think of.  The light set over the axis of the lens creates harsh shadows, red eye, flat images and washed out colors.  Other than that it works pretty well.  If we do use the on camera flash it should be used as a fill light or for special effects such as stop motion shots.

The photo presented of this toucan has a natural looking background even though it appears to have been taken in an aviary at the zoo.  The photographer was able to get some detail in the black feathers of the bird.

However the on camera flash has given us a very flat image almost two dimensional.  The single point source light created very dark shadows on the surface of the tree that looks very unnatural.  The animal is exotic and colorful but perhaps the photographer would consider looking for a way of interpreting the subject in a more interesting way.

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Not all subjects are beautiful or even pleasant.  Some are true and disturbing.  This does not take away from their quality or our need to be shocked and surprised provided the photograph is done in a tasteful way.

No one can say that this disturbing image is pleasant.  But it is true.  The graphic of the fly in the tear duct tells a story we all know and may not want to think about.  But it is true.  The composition is well done and the photographer has reduced the image to show enough of the subject to tell the story.  It’s like a theatrical performance with a really bad villain.  The more you hate the evil character being portrayed the more you have to admire the performer’s abilities to act.

There is one suggestion I would like to mention.  The light area on the forehead is over exposed, blown out.  This can be improve a little by using the burn tool on the computer or in the darkroom but there is not enough information in the original to completely bring out the detail.

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A few weeks ago I went to a local art show that is held every year.  An old acquaintance has been showing and selling her work there for the past few years.  She is a good photographer, good enough that she sells her work regularly.  But I have noticed something interesting and disturbing.  She has gone commercial.  She only shoots one subject, the one that sells.  I have seen the same images in her booth for the past three years, nothing new.  Most of the work on display compositions of horses.  You may ask what’s wrong with that?  Nothing except that’s all she does, the same subjects photographed in the same way, she has lost her ability to be creative and experiment.  This lady has become a one trick pony.

The portrait of this magnificent animal reminds me of one of the caricatures in the old paintings of dogs sitting around a table playing poker.  This shot brings out the personality in the animal.  Give him a bowler and a five cent cigar and he would fit right in.  The photographer has managed to keep the background simple and the focus on the eyes. These are two important requirements of portrait photography.

I would like to see a little more depth of focus so we could get the face sharp from the tip of the nose to the tip of the ears.  This can be done by using a larger f-stop or a shorter focal length lens.

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When we present photographs we need to ask ourselves what makes this image interesting to others, why would they be inspired.  The photographer has the disadvantage of having been there at the time the image was shot and knows the story behind the picture.  But the viewer does not.  The photographer may even have an emotional attachment to the subject.  But the viewer does not. 

This photo of a dog in the water holding what appears to be a deflated ball has some interest in the fast shutter speed used, the exposure as frozen the water where the toy was plucked off the surface.  The background is simple without unnecessary distractions.

I would suggest that is particular animal is not shown at its best in this composition.  The color of the water and the hues in the coat of the dog are not particularly appealing to the non involved viewer.  This is an image the dog’s owner would enjoy but people who know nothing about this pet may not have the same positive reaction.

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You know the old saying ‘you can’t tell a book by its cover’.  That is true for dogs as well as people.  Until you know the animal you can’t determine their personality by their appearance.  Different breads have reputations for being smart or dumb, genital or fighters, but until you have spent some time with the individual you can’t know who they are.

The subject in this photo looks like an alpha animal, an animal that can take care of itself and control other dogs in the pack.  He has that strong determined look that comes from self confidence, the boss, the godfather.

The hues of brown and gray in the background are consistent with the colors found in the subject.  However the background is light enough so the subject stands out.  There does appear to be a strange green tone under its mouth and along the right side of the face.  I can’t tell if this is actual color on the fur or a reflection from some source such as grass.

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It’s difficult to get nature to cooperate, if it is aware of the camera it’s gone, if it’s oblivious to us it does what it wants not what we wish.  This image must have been very difficult to get.  These little creatures are fast and have the uncanny ability to disappear just as you press the shutter. 

I like the placement of the subject off center in the frame rather than bulls eye in the center.  The focus is excrement keeping the subject in fine detail while giving the background a nice soft effect. 

Extremely dark subjects are difficult to photograph because if they are against a light background the camera does not have the latitude to capture both the darkest darks and the lightest lights.  Either the whites will be blown out or the blacks will block up.  In this image the photographer came up with the best exposure possible but still lost much of the detail in the black.

In the distant background there is a strong graphic element passing through the image.  This is a distraction from the subject.  The photographer may want to consider cloning this out of the composition.

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It was not so long ago that only black and white photographs had any chance of being called art.  Color was just a gimmick and any true artist worked in shades of gray.  Today judges are open to color because there is so much really good work out there and some images cry out for color.

This stunning composition falls flat in black and white.  The color gabs and holds the viewer’s attention with hypnotizing power.  You have trouble taking your eyes away once you are engaged with this image.  The color is what does it and gives the power of those eyes.

The shot is sharp as a tack.  This is even more outstanding when you consider it was taken with a long 400mm lens.  The cropping is perfect giving us only the information necessary to tell the story.  At the same time the background to the left is black while there are dappled hues of tan along the left frame suggesting night and day, a subtext of this story.

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Have you ever wondered why a pet rabbit won’t go fetch a ball?  In mammals play is an important way for infants to experiment with adult behaviors necessary for survival.  Predator infants will pay at stocking, pouncing and biting while pray animals infants will amuse themselves by running, leaping and kicking.  As young social animals play also helps establish social ranking.

You can see in this photograph how play skills could be adapted for survival of the fittest or the pack.  This image is a good commentary on the behavior of our pets.  The photographer has captured the action of her dogs participating in a game of who can take.  This is a contest that would be necessary for their ancestors to learn in order to survive.

As a photograph the exposure on the subjects is good but the background is way over exposed.  I would like to suggest coming in a little closer and leaving a bit more room at the top of the frame where the action is taking place.  The cropping should be used to focus our attention and can be done in a number of ways.

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Why do we take and keep photographic images.  Because the photographer or someone likes the shot or feels there is a use for the image.  A nonpartisan viewer may not know or understand the photographs presented, that is not what is important.  What is important is that the photographer places value in the shot.

This macro shot of an ant trapped in a spider’s web is a very unusual subject.  The photographer has captured some interesting detail in this creepy subject.  As a viewer I personally find the subject to be a facet of nature I would rather not observe up close.

One of the issues with macro photography that has to be overcome is depth of focus.  In this image a smaller aperture may have allowed the entire subject to be in focus.  I would suggest trying to get more detail in the spider web otherwise the ant looks like it is suspended in midair.

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One of the things we try to avoid when photographing is placing the subject to near the center of the composition.  This is called setting on the bull’s eye.  This makes the subject static and often creates a boring composition.  Thats not to say it does not work sometimes but generaly its a good idea to avoid it.

The photographer has captured this seagull backlit so the wings are nicely highlighted during its glide through the thermals of air.  It makes us think of how wonderful it would be to be able to sore with ease and see the rest of the world below. 

I would like to suggest that the photographer place the subject off center to avoid the dreaded bull’s eye.  This was a difficult exposure with the backlit subject. You will notice that some of the whites are blown out particularly around the bird’s head.  This does not give us good definition for the animal’s features. 

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