Gotta love the zoo-- opinion please?

[Original Moments by aj]

So, this is my first time ever photographing any animal other then domestic or insect.

And opinion would be great.
I used my DSLR ( as per usual) and I created a sepia colour through playing around with the colour balance in my personal settings.

I was wondering if the head shot worked or not, I had another photo ( of a rhino) thats a full body with some landscape.. And I'd like to make sure that a head shot still had some character to it..I was hoping to submit one of the 2 to my school's jurried art show this fall.

Giraffe image;

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel XSi
Lens: 70-200mm
ISo: 200
Focal Length: 200mm
Exposure Compensation: +1
Aperture: f/ 13
Shutter Speed: 1/ 250

Rhino;
Lens: 70-200mm
ISo: 200
Focal Length: 173mm
Exposure Compensation: -1
Aperture: f/ 13
Shutter Speed: 1/ 400

--- Keep mind, I do not do post process work on my freelance images. so Just give me advice on what to do better next time ahah, or, what I could have done.. thanks

[Preeb]

I especially like the head shot - it even looks a bit whimsical, like the giraffe is talking. It gives it a bit of liveliness. The rhino almost looks like a statue. It's a good photo, but it doesn't hit me like the giraffe does.

[photog1107]

I am not sure I would go with the sepia or even a monochrome approach with wildlife unless you are trying for something a little more abstract/artistic than these straightforward compositions. Also, it looks like you took these on a bright sunny day--as the shadows are pretty dark and the contrast looks fairly unmanageable under these conditions. You have lost a lot of detail due to this, which is a little bothersome, especially with giraffe. I'd try to reshoot on a cloudy/overcast day to really bring out the detail better, and process in color. Keep shooting!

[NgaiHill]

I like the giraffe shot too, I also got the impression that its talking, so well spotted there.
Agree with the above poster also on the sepia. Personally I wouldn't set the sepia in camera but would change in in post. I know you said you don't do any editing of your photos but you'd be surprised by how just a little tweaking could improve your shot. Also if you decide later that the giraffe would've looked better in colour or b&w you have no option to change it if you set the camera to sepia.
As an example the rhino shot is a little flat and he looks a little isolated. You might have got better context if he was in colour. Also given the rocks to the right of him a bit of a crop off the left hand side of the frame would make this a more aesthetically pleasing shot.

[Original Moments by aj]

Originally Posted by NgaiHill

I like the giraffe shot too, I also got the impression that its talking, so well spotted there.
Agree with the above poster also on the sepia. Personally I wouldn't set the sepia in camera but would change in in post. I know you said you don't do any editing of your photos but you'd be surprised by how just a little tweaking could improve your shot. Also if you decide later that the giraffe would've looked better in colour or b&w you have no option to change it if you set the camera to sepia.
As an example the rhino shot is a little flat and he looks a little isolated. You might have got better context if he was in colour. Also given the rocks to the right of him a bit of a crop off the left hand side of the frame would make this a more aesthetically pleasing shot.

Thanks for the critique, and I would like to say thank you for actually giving reason .. ( politely) to your opinion..

Anyways, on a different note.
When it comes to the sepia; I'm looking at it now, and I agree about the rhino, The giraffe however I actually think characterizes it, I consider Sepia to be as influential as B & W actually.
But as for PP, I've been contemplating it alot recently, and I'm still not sure where I stand on the subject. I am not a fan of doing post process, but I'm also very aware of how it can inhance a photograph, I think my concerns would have to be that people often excuse PP work on a photo for being Photo editing art.. and the line between the two gets very blurred and I see it.. as sad that the art form ( Photography) has lost some of its definition.

.... Buuutttt, I still haven't decided, When the Giraffe is sharpened a little, and brightened slightly. It looks absolutely amazing, ,.. But i still have some thinking to do yet when it comes to my freelance work. .. I do PP on the portraiture for clients, because They as of it-- they want to look their best. So we'll see... hahah, perhaps my way of thining will waver soon. I take pride in an original Photograph, but at this point I'm just a ranting artist...