The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
Newts were everywhere in the Florence Tarr Nature Preserve in NH, so I got to commune with these tiny juveniles for most of the day. They are less than 2 inches long and so bright you can’t help but notice them all over, which is good since no one wants to step on one!
I was hampered by a couple of things - no macro lens and no tripod, so I had my hand directly on the ground trying to be steady in the very dim forest floor. The canopy obscured a lot of the light which wasn’t much since it was raining off and on all day. But they’re so wonderful and I just never seem to find them in Wisconsin that I had to have a try. My minimal kit came through since the 12-35mm focuses very close. Judging by the edges I didn’t have the extension tube attached.
Specific Feedback
Crop ok? How’s the environment hold up? Too much? These guys are so small and nearly always in leaf litter.
Technical Details
Handheld as per above
Lr for almost everything - lowered highlights and blacks a bit, raised shadows and whites. Used the denoise AI function and added some sharpening. Used some linear and radial masks to bring out our newty friend. Also messed with the yellow and orange channels in the HSL panel for more realism. Ps for some distraction removal. Then in Lr used a bit of texture.
Very bright little critter, Kris. I think you did extremely well with no macro lens and no tripod. I think the environment works. You got it oof both in front and behind, so not too distracting, and it places him where he lives. Nice job.
Kris, you did really well with that lens! You got the whole creature in, I like the crop and I agree with @Shirley_Freeman that the environment is not distracting. One tiny point: I might try to remove that very faint piece of leaf between the rear leg and the large bit of leaf falling over the body, if you have the time or inclination! It’s a most beautiful newt.
Nice look at this little beauty. Looks like you had the right lens for the job at hand. The oof leaf in the foreground is just the tiniest bit distracting to me, but not enough to try to remove it. Nicely done.
Thanks @Shirley_Freeman, @Mike_Friel, @Jens_Ober & @terryb - these guys are irresistible at this stage - this is a juvenile. As an adult it will change color to more or less olive green and live permanently in water, even changing its tail to be broader and flatter for better swimming. In this orange phase they are known as Red Efts. The eft stage can last up to three years and the coloring is a warning that they have a neurotoxin concentrated in the dark red spots. They keep these as adults and are safe from most predators as a result. I love them to bits and have a few more shots to process - some on lovely green moss!
