Critique Style Requested: In-depth
The photographer has shared comprehensive information about their intent and creative vision for this image. Please examine the details and offer feedback on how they can most effectively realize their vision.
Self Critique
I love Red Foxes and they’ve always been good to me. The dry grass is a little busy, but you don’t always get to pick your back and foregrounds! I tend to like more saturated colors, but chose to process this one the way that it is.
Creative direction
This was late October in Yellowstone. It was cold (in the 20’s I think) but very little snow. In processing this, I wanted to accentuate the sort of dry, barren look that we get up here in late fall before the snow really arrives. For animals like the canine’s in the Park, snow actually makes the hunting better. I think this one was eating frozen grasshoppers. The Sun was behind very thin clouds, allowing for some shadows but was also somewhat muted. I’ve intentionally de-saturated the colors to help create the look I was after.
Specific Feedback
I’m always open to all feedback. Do you wish the colors were richer, or does the “look” I was after work for this image?
Technical Details
Nikon D850
Nikon 500mm f/4 (had to rent this one!)
ISO 320, f/4, 1/3200
I’ve created masks in Lightroom to enhance the sharpness of the Fox, but soften the grasses.
This image is a considerable crop from the full image.
Description
I visit this spot whenever I visit the Park. I was hoping to get a Bison on the ridge behind where the Fox was, with the ever dramatic Baronette Peak in the background. I saw this Fox before we were at this pullout though, and jumped out excitedly to get some shots. I set the tripod up as low as it would go and sat on the ground, leaning against the wheel of my vehicle. We watched her for close to an hour, hoping she would also get up on the ridge in front of the mountain, but it was not to be!