Hi i'm new so all advice on how to improve is welcome

[Gem]

Nikon d80 f/5.6 1/250 sec ISO 400

[stevoarnold]

Hi Gem,

What a nice image, I wouldnt have known you were new to photography from that effort.

I personally dont see a lot wrong with the shot, here's what i see:

Positive:

• Really nice isolation from the background with the use of depth of field
• Nice and sharp considering the focal length
• Really good job with the exposure given that you have taken it in what looks to be harsh sunlight
• You caught a nice pose by the little fella, looking right at you inquisitively
• Good job with the post processing to achieve a natural looking shot

Negative/Suggestions

• The shadow areas appear a bit noisy, but possibly unavoidably so given the need for high ISO to keep it sharp without blowing the highlights
• I might have tried a closer crop myself, as there is not much going on in the back/foreground/edges of the frame etc.
• Closer crop would also eliminate a bit of the blown out chunk on the right side, which I can't decide whether it is distracting or not.

In all honesty though, my negative points really are just nit-picking. Overall I think its a really nice picture

Hope thats of some use to you!

Steve

[Gem]

Thanks for taking the time to offer your thoughts

[KansaiGreenie]

Hi Gem,

I agree with Steve. I wouldn't have known that you were a beginner based on this shot. It's well done.

I like the crop because it gives a bit of context, but I do think that the bright area on the right is distracting. People always say that your eye moves to the brightest spot in an image and my eye goes right to the right. I think you could knock it down in Photoshop. Either using the burn tool or layering.

Still, a wonderful shot.

KG

[Gem]

I will have go to fix that bright spot I'm just learning photoshop, I did try to fix it but didn't seem to work to well.

[kgb224]

Welcome at DPS. Considering the time of day you capture the picture i would say you did very well. Would have liked to see some more of the eyes of the animal.

[Gem]

Glad to be part DPS thanks for the welcome and your advice

[Sterling]

The main thing I see that could be improved would be the time of day chosen to shoot. It looks like the sun was directly overhead which tends to produce the worst light possible for photography. The result is harsh shadows and blown out backgrounds. In general, shooting in cloudy conditions and before sunset and after sunrise will give you more pleasing light. Having said that, sometimes you just have to take what you are given and make the best of it.

[fortunato_uno]

i like the shot. i really do but since you asked,
first thing that comes to mind when i saw your settings was to try f11 1/30 and iso of 200. i don't know if that would work but it is what comes to mind.
in all honesty i wish i could have seen the little guys eyes.
.

[windrider86]

First of all, welcome to DPS!!!
I'd like to invite you to take a peek at the guidelines so for your next post you'll know to try and ask something a bit more specific.
The best way to do that is to decide what it is that you dont like and ask for help on how to improve on that