The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
Yesterday evening I came across two otter cubs fishing in the river. One cub swallowed its fish while swimming, the other kept one for a long time before chewing it up. They swam to a submerged rock where they were joined by their mother. Then they put on a great show of clowning like only otters can. In the first shot, the recumbent mother and one cub are playing a game of “If I put my paw in your mouth, you mustn’t bite me”, while the other cub is toying with its supper. After a few minutes of hijinks together on the small rock, they went through a bit of bonding (mother on the right in shot 2). Then, as the light faded, they dispersed and headed for their holt in the bank just below me.
Specific Feedback
I wish I’d been closer (I was about 50 yards away), but then they might have spotted me. With the light starting to fade, this was as sharp as I could get, hand-held.
Technical Details
D500 + 150-600mm 1/640 (1) and 1/500 (2) f10 ISO 2000
Major cropping - tonalities in LR, Denoise, then local adjustments in PS, incl. Nik Viveza.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Mike - I’m not sure how I missed this - sorry! - I love this! Playful otters are fun to watch - but they are NOT nice little things. Here in the US, on the west coast, small groups of river otters are attacking people. An adult women and a 10 yr old, as I recall.
At any rate you captured some excellent behavior here. I especially like the 2nd image, with the excellent positioning of the otters.
The water is beautiful, with it’s contrasting blues and browns thata mimic the otter’s colours. The otters are all in great positons, interacting, and with eyes visible! the ottersare verysharp.
However, IMO, the water competes with the otters. For that reason, I’d suggest darkening the BG with whatever program you use, and perhaps add a bit more canvas on the left, so the otters are not so centered.
This is a great image, and a bit more work would make it exceptional.
Wish it were mine!
Thanks @elizabeth and @SandyR-B. I agree, Sandy, otters can be really aggressive. I once saw one attack a cormorant. They were both going for the same fish underwater, I think. The upshot was the demise of said cormorant. I’ll certainly darken the water in both images; though I rather like the classical pose in the center in the second shot, so may retain that. Glad you like these shots - I rarely get to see fairly close activity like this, so was enchanted by it.
you captured some excellent behavior here. I especially like the 2nd image, with the excellent positioning of the otters.