The Chameleon query

[dimitrz]

Hi Gang,

Would be interested to get your feedbacks on which photo is better, what could have been done to improve on it technically & otherwise.

Ofcourse apart from the above would appreciate answers on these two questions

How is the focus? do you think its Sharp enough, in the right spot?

Is this photo interesting? What would make it more interesting?

This query is ideally to assist me in case of any future oppurtunity with creatures likes these.

Ps: As the focal length suggest the subject was kind of far and sitting on an isolated ledge of rock just above Grand Canyon Like terrain – so don’t suggest I should have got closer - because I couldn’t have without killing myself


Chameleon 1



Sony DSC H2
Exposure time 1/400 s
F-number f/4
ISO speed ratings ISO 80
Exposure bias value 0.00 eV
Metering mode Center weighted average
Focal length 72 mm
White balance Auto white balance

Chameleon 2



Exposure time 1/320 s
F-number f/4
ISO speed ratings ISO 80
Exposure bias value 0.00 eV
Metering mode Center weighted average
Focal length 72 mm
White balance Auto white balance


Ps: Since there are two pictures here I didnt place this in the critque section
Cheers

[clockdoc]

I prefer the first image with the lighter background as it is not as distracting as the second one with the darker bands. I would also consider cropping out and foreground that is soft and out of focus as it tends to acts as a barrier to get the viewer into the image. I also like that the creature is facing to the left as that also tends to keep me in the frame.

[private]

I like the first one better. It seems to stand out more, maybe b/c the background is more of a solid color? The focus is OK, the foreground is a little blurry and I wish it was clear, but I love that the background is blurred. I also wish that you had the whole tail of the subject in your frame and it was more colorful, but I guess its sitting on a "boring" rock, so what can you do? LOL

And yes, it is interesting, because I kept looking at it. But, maybe if you cropped out some of the rock at the bottom?

[PhotoNewt]

I think technically you did a great job, the focus is very good.

The foreground is blurry do to insufficient DoF, a smaller aperture may have brought some of it in sharper focus but cropping as suggested above will make the image stronger.

I would suggest a cropping line that cuts only the out-of-focus portion of the rock and leaves the rest of the photo intact.

Good job Dimitrz!

[wulf]

I think the first image works better for showing the chameleon integrated with its environment and the second makes it stand it out better; it is down to the contrast between the colours of the creature and the backdrop.

However, in both pictures, a crop to a wider format would be advantageous, both to avoid the large block of blurred foreground and also to stop the foreground / background division being set so near the mid-point of the image. Aim for putting the "line" about 1/3 of the way up from the bottom as a starting point.

Wulf

[dimitrz]

Thank you guys.

Had probs with my PS so this took a bit of time.

Is this cropping that you guys had in mind ?



Cheers

[clockdoc]

Yes, you are on the right track by eliminating much of the out-of-focus foreground. This allows the viewer to get into the subject much more easily.

[PhotoNewt]

Much better composition.

[wulf]

Originally Posted by dimitrz

Is this cropping that you guys had in mind ?

I would have gone for a bit less sky and a bit more rock:

sky
sky
rock

rather than

sky
sky
sky
rock

but I think it is definitely improved.

Wulf

[subrataofkris]

Since the colours of the subject almost merges with the rocks, you might try to dramatize the shot by selective desaturation. I would like to to keep the rocks and sky B&W and keep the reptile in colour or even push up the color saturation. This can be an experiment.