The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
After getting home from work, I noticed a black object in one of the weedy flower beds in our front yard. I decided to check it out and discovered that a little striped skunk was hunting for grubs. I retrieved my camera and took several shots. After a few minutes, I decided that I must get a portrait so I approached as closely as possible and fired away. I was able to crop quite a bit and get a nice shot of the cuteness that skunks seem to possess. I did not get sprayed and the skunk went on its merry way in searching for grubs.
Specific Feedback
How do you like the crop?
Technical Details
Z9 180-400mm f4 with 1.4x TC engaged (DeNoise, Crop for Comp, Levels, Shadows & Highlights, Brightness & Contrast…Jim
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Jim, a really fun look at this skunk with this portraiture take. He or she looks fairly young. At least to this novice like me. Cuteness is the upside here without being sprayed as a model’s fee so to speak.
btw: years ago I saw two people enter a reserve without honor paying. I was disappointed to see it but went about my work with a macro lens under a group of trees.
Within a half hour I heard screaming and when I came out to see what was taking place a skunk had sprayed the pair who had not paid…Totally made my day.
What a lovely find. I’d love to have one of these little fellows eating grubs in my backyard.
It’s a wonderful portrait; good subject and well captured. Black and whites look great with enough detail in the face to bring on the cuteness overload.
Love this, Jim. I’ve seen relatively few skunks over the years, and nearly all my luck has been in South America. What I’ve found is that it’s very difficult getting clear views of the face. You did a wonderful job here.
Cute – in a snurffly sort of way! You captured a good look in the beady eyes that suggests “Peace, bro.”
We used to see them fairly often but there have been fewer in recent years. (More neighborhood dogs? The fences out here only contain horses.) I never tried to photograph one but it’s a good idea now that longer lenses are hand-holdable.
@Paul_Breitkreuz, a huge smile for your skunk story!! Sometimes there is justice!
Yes, a wonderful portrait with nice tight crop and the low angle. While cute, the expression you captured seems like they are intently watching you. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you @Paul_Breitkreuz , @glennie , @JRajput , @Max_Waugh , @Diane_Miller and @Bill_Bromer for checking out my stinky little friend. Paul, I guess the skunks know when someone doesn’t pay when visiting their home. I guess they paid for their sins . The secret to working with skunks is to move slowly and always watch for behaviors that indicate if the skunk feels the need to defend itself. I was on the ground at about 10 feet away and this is the only look that I got from the skunk. It was hungry and I never interfered with its hunting for food. …Jim
Ha! Glad the dogs were not out!
Very sweet portrait of this little critter. The sharp face and eyes are especially compelling.
We have a couple that come around occasionally, but never when the camera is ready.
Great catch!
Same here…I’ve watched them in the yard, but it’s always been too dark for a photo. Love skunks though. They have such floaty tails and those faces. Nice and tight with excellent focus and I like that you got all the way down. A tad more room at the top maybe? Very engaging.
Thank you @SandyR-B , and @Kris_Smith plus an additional thank you @NPN_Editor for the EP. We have been fortunate that in 20 years of living out here that there was only a single case of one of our dogs getting skunked…Jim
ps.: I will work on some of the suggested edits before printing this one up!
. The secret to working with skunks is to move slowly and always watch for behaviors that indicate if the skunk feels the need to defend itself. I was on the ground at about 10 feet away and this is the only look that I got from the skunk. It was hungry and I never interfered with its hunting for food. …Jim