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 capturing the squirrels doing different things. They are so predictable! I like the softness of the image though I am a little bothered that the squirrel’s feet aren’t in the image. I am also unsure if the foreground grass is an issue. I have several similar images, some with the squirrel’s head buried in the
Creative direction
I wanted it to have a painterly look and have a softness to it, so I shot it fairly wide open and edited in Topaz Studio.
Specific Feedback
I am interested in the concept and any technical improvements that I should make.
Technical Details
Nikon D850 70-200 MM lens f.2.8-3.5, Processed in Lightroom, Topaz Sharpen (just the face of the squirrel) and Topaz Studio for the painterly look
Description
Sometimes I go out to practice photography without a plan. Other times, I have a vision and often write it down to try sometime. This is one of the images I had bouncing around in my head for a while. I set up the tulips and set up my camera on a tripod and remote controlled it.
2 Likes
Do you have a shot where the feet area is included? It would be interesting to see it. I really like everything about this, but would like to see the squirrel a bit higher in the frame, even if blades of grass intrude (they don’t bother me). The painterly effect - including the ghostly BG leaves - is super, and the way the paws-on squirrel’s nose is just at “smelling-distance” make this a winner for me.
1 Like
Really cute photo, Lisa! It is a shame that the whole squirrel isn’t in the frame. If it were mine I would do a pretty tight crop to make up for that. Then it would be more like a portrait where we don’t expect the whole body to be there. Have you ever seen the work of Geert Weggen? He’s a squirrel photographer from Sweden. This makes me think of it. Nice work!
1 Like
This is really cute, Lisa. I like Vanessa’s idea of a tighter crop if you have the pixels to support it. Perhaps something like this?
If it were mine, I’d probably also try getting rid of the out of focus green patches that are coming into the bottom that I didn’t mess with.
4 Likes
@Mike_Friel @Vanessa_Hill @Dennis_Plank
Thank you for the feedback. I do not have one with the whole squirrel in it (this time) though I may try this again in the future. I do like the tighter crop as Vanessa suggested, and Thank you for taking the time to do the edit Dennis. I think I will just have to try to use the weed wacker around the area I plan to shoot next time to eliminate the blades of grass!
1 Like
An attention grabber for sure. I like the story it appears to be telling. I think the cropped version works. I like the softness of the background and the flowers. Very nice work.
1 Like
