Buck in Fog - Image Critique

[dddenton]

This was taken in September on my first trip to Cades Cove in GSMNP. It was taken at the back of the loop road near the Visitors Center just after sunrise. I follwed him along for a while and have some that are more close-up but this seems to be my favorite.

Just curious what others think. All C&C welcome. thanks!

Deede

[jckegley]

I like the fog and the open field. I also think the deer is positioned in a great spot within the frame. In other words the framing is excellent. Rarely do I do good with framing like this, I usually center the subject then crop to frame the subject left or right of center. When I do this it usually doesn't leave much playing room in the photo. You framed it wonderfully with the deer.


I do wish the deer was looking at the camera, though not really noticable. And am not sure about the white of the sky, but not sure how to handle that considering you were in a fog. Also the photo might could use just a tad of levels adjustment and bump up the shadows to give it a little more contrast, but that's more a matter of taste.

[Idlewild]

I would agree with the above poster regarding more contrast but you'll quickly realize that's a personal favorite with nearly ALL of my photos. I like this image a lot. Great job.

[Steve_E]

I like this shot a lot Deede. Great mood, very peaceful feeling. That's an impressive looking buck you found.

[Squatty]

Joe give some good feedback and I would agree with what he has suggested.

I keep looking at the shot and keep going back and foruth on one thing about the framing. Not that what you have is bad, I'm not saying that at all. If you left it as is it's a fine shot. But what I keep coming back to trying to decide if you could use more room at the top of the shot (more sky) above the mountains and take a little off the bottom to compensate. I don't know like I said I keep going back and fourth on that :confused:

[dddenton]

Thanks guys very much for the comments. All are very helpful. I'm still learning the ins and outs of photoshop and when I tried adjusting the contrast before it went too far and the foreground and buck ended up too dark. I'll probably try again. (Sooo much to learn!)

Joe, this is one of the first I took as I walked down the road. The others where I was further down and the deer is looking more at camera don't work as well for me - he looks a little like a legless torso in long grass from that angle. :o

Squatty, I do have a bit more sky in the original image but not much - I cropped slightly and removed some because it was just so white. I'll have to play with that.

Again thanks to all! I do appreciate it.

[Squatty]

Yea that's what keeps me thinking it's better as is. If the sky were more blue or less blown out then I would say most definitely have more but with the way it is I think it's fine. See now you see why I keep going back and fourth on it. :D

[jckegley]

Joe, this is one of the first I took as I walked down the road. The others where I was further down and the deer is looking more at camera don't work as well for me - he looks a little like a legless torso in long grass from that angle. :o



Deede, that deer IS look toward this side of the camera! When I viewed earlier I could have sworn the deer was looking toward the woods. And I looked at it over and over.

I think I need to get some sleep. My eyes are playing tricks on me, been staying up too late for the last 4 nights. I have looked again 'over and over' and now can't make the deer look at the woods behind him like I thought he was doing.

Does anybody know a good mental place I can check myself into?

[rkemmerlin]

I like the fog and the deer in the lower 1/3 of the frame. This would make a nice large poster.