South Lakes Wildlife Park - 5 shots

[staffitaxi]

I like this park as you can get quite close to most of the animals without fear of getting fences in the way.

Trying to put a portfolio together at the minute for my course so sorry guys these are the rejects.

It was my first proper session with my new Nikon D40 so was fairly pleased with the results being as I didn't a have a clue what I was doing. I was using the 55-200 lense. It was an incredibly dull day.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d158/staffitaxi/Zoocat11.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d158/staffitaxi/Zoocat11-1.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d158/staffitaxi/Zoocat11-2.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d158/staffitaxi/Zoocat11-3.jpg

The next one I've tampered with in Paint Shop Pro. The lion was really dull looking so I removed the lion and surrounding wood and brightened it. Not sure it really works as it looks a little odd around its back area. Saying that it was taken through mesh so I guess I was lucky to get any sort of shot at all.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d158/staffitaxi/Lion800across.jpg

Thanks for looking, please feel free to give tips for improvement.

Andrea

[CT]

Nice shots, but with the exceptions of the penguin and the emu they're looking a bit on the soft side?

I sharpened the parrot shot...


http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/530/Zoocat11-1-2.jpg

If you look closely, you can see that his near claw has sharpened more than his eye which indicates your point of focus was more on that area than where it needs to be ... ideally on the eye. The beak is still looking a tad soft.

I find the best way to photograph critters is to set one single AF point - usually the centre one - and servo auto focus. It's critical though to get that AF point over the eye of the bird - if the eye is in focus then the shot will look OK even if other parts of the bird aren't in focus due to the limited DOF. There's no real substitute for humping a tripod around for these shots as it makes focusing on a tiny area so much easier.

Don't forget that when you reduce an image in size for web viewing it loses a little definition in the process and will always need re-sharpening anyway.

Nice shots though - let's see you sharpen the others. :)

[oldgit]

Not bad them.

1 (baboon) looks like it could handle some more sharpening.
2 (parrot) OOF on the head
3 Its a penguin... nothing doing
4 Thats a good capture (if a bad hair day :))
5 A lion.. nothing doing

[staffitaxi]

Hi CT

Thanks v much for all the help.

I'll have a go over the weekend with the other photos. Only have PSP at work although I only have photoshop elements at home (not the real deal) so will just have to see what I can do.

Point taken about tripod. I do have one, I'm just lazy!!

Paul - Your right on all counts after seeing some of the other photos being posted on here. However the Emu was having a better hair day than I was.

Thanks

Andrea

[Dan Leach]

Hallo Andrea :)
Didnt recognise you with that nick :D
Great shots, i love the first one (baboon?) and the closeup of the evil emu :)

[CT]

I'll have a go over the weekend with the other photos. Only have PSP at work although I only have photoshop elements at home (not the real deal) so will just have to see what I can do.



I do pretty well all my processing with PSP7. You really don't need anything else for 90% of photo processing.

[PaulBoy]

Some good shots there :thumbs: & plenty of helpful advice from the experts here - I learn something new everytime I login!
Paul ;)