The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
Sometimes I am lucky to see, and capture some river otters at a local wildlife refuge. Here’s a pose I got of one taking a look at me as they were working the canal for fish.
Specific Feedback
I decided to mostly center the guy in cropping it. Does it work for ya?
Technical Details
Z9, 180-600 lens, Nikon 1.4 TC, hand held, f 8.0, 1/3200th, 750mm, ISO 2500, cropped to 3422 x 3592.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Dave, you’ve caught the otter’s typical curiosity beautifully; it seems to be at full stretch as it checks you out. Great title too. I might just remove the dark shadow in the water above its head. Unless, that is, you see it as the otter’s halo! Not that they’re the saintliest of creatures. Centered crop works for me very well; overall, love it.
Did it give you that strong little huff they do? I love that. Often I hear it before finding them when I’m out in the kayak. The halo doesn’t bother me at all. The frozen motion of the water is a nice little stage for it to be on…says so much about their fluid oneness with the water. Nice portrait.
Excellent behavioral capture. I tend to agree with Jagdeep’s vertical suggestion, but even if you don’t crop in from the sides I think it’s important to crop in from the bottom. The reflection isn’t really distinct enough to add anything to the frame, and it sort of drags our attention away from the great pose here. I think you could take it in to just below the thick ripple (which extend to the right edge), and you’d be fine.
