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11/01/2008 11:22:37 PM |
Hello from the Critique Club!
As you already know, I thoroughly enjoyed looking at this photo during voting, and was impressed by it - I am pleased it came up for me in the CC so that I can give it another in-depth view.
Firstly the subject - an excellent choice for a Wildlife challenge, giving most viewers a glimpse of an animal they are likely to see only rarely in their lives, but that has been immortalised by Beatrix Potter in the form of Squirrel Nutkin.
Composition - the log on which the squirrel sits provides a good sense of scale, reinforcing how small the red squirrel is. Initially I was unsure about the inclusion of the tree to the left, but on reflection I feel it was important, providing an anchor; the branch acts as an arrow pointing to the main subject - if I was to be very picky, I might prefer it was a bit higher in the frame but that is perhaps being a little ultra pernickity!
Depth of Field is spot on; the squirrel and tree stump stand out well from the background, with the gorgeous bokeh providing a perfect foil, whilst still retaining enough definition to provide the necessary environmental context. Colour rendition is excellent, with a super autumnal feel which suits the subject perfectly. A couple of comments have mentioned the textures, and this is something that I didn't consciously register in my first viewing - now I see how clear they are, i believe that they are completely integral to the photos success.
All in all, a photo you should be immensely proud of, and certainly one to blow up for framing! |
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11/01/2008 05:56:45 PM |
| Amazing details and lovely bokeh... |
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10/29/2008 05:26:37 AM |
| This shot would be better if this were a relocated squirrel, sporting some neat mutations. Congrats on the PB. :-) |
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10/28/2008 01:52:33 PM |
| Congrats on a great finish Susan. I gave this one a 7! He is cute. |
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10/27/2008 06:42:11 AM |
| Awesome photo! Congrats on the PB! |
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10/27/2008 04:46:13 AM |
| Thiswas one of my few 8s in the challenge. Wonderful image. Congrats on the PB. |
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10/27/2008 04:11:16 AM |
| Great shot and fantastic score. I'm happy for you. The DOF is absolutely supurb. |
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10/27/2008 04:05:10 AM |
| Congrats on the new pb, nice bokeh and composition here, very well done. |
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10/27/2008 02:52:45 AM |
| Congrats on new PB. Nice squirrel. Like how the vertical lines in the tree and background go nicely together. |
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10/27/2008 02:05:47 AM |
| Wow, congratulations on the PB, and what a great score? But especially what a beautiful photo. Love the colors and DOF. And I like the point of view -- the squirrel looks very small on that big stump. I think it is good that you left the surrounding environment in the shot rather than cropping down to the squirrel. Oh, I forgot to mention how much I like the focus and texture. |
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10/27/2008 01:46:47 AM |
| Terrific, Susan! Really excellent clean, crisp image! Congrats on a fine entry and finish! |
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10/27/2008 12:55:00 AM |
| He is cute! I really like how the background sparkles. Congrats on a great shot and a fantastic score! |
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10/26/2008 10:19:40 PM |
| I am so glad you went with the squirrel - I have enjoyed viewing this photo immensely, and shall continue to do so now it is in my faves! |
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10/26/2008 08:35:08 PM |
| Huge congrats on the new Personal Best!! Love the light in this shot, and the background is lovely - really shows off your widdle wed squirrel very well! |
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10/26/2008 08:08:11 PM |
| I thought this was adorable and a great catch. Wonderful clarity and DOF. Congrats on your new PB! |
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10/26/2008 08:04:03 PM |
| congrats snaffles!!! whoo hooo! |
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Comments Made During the Challenge  |
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10/26/2008 01:13:16 PM |
| cool......maybe a Formby Scouse Squirrel? 9 |
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10/26/2008 09:06:16 AM |
| I love red squirrel shots since there's so few of them left in Scotland, I never get to see any in the wild. This one is very cute, the focus is really clear, especially on the tail. Good composition too. |
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10/26/2008 09:05:37 AM |
I long to see a red squirrel - here in England the red squirrel population has been decimated by a virus brought in by the alien grey squirrel. Ironically the grey squirrel, whilst a carrier, is immune to the virus allowing it to become by far and away the dominant species.
Back to the photo - this is a lovely study. Your choice of doF is spot on, isolating the squirrel whilst still showing enough of the woodland background to provide environmental context. I am really pleased you didn't crop or zoom in too close. |
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10/24/2008 03:59:55 PM |
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10/23/2008 09:19:23 PM |
| Perfect DOF. Great focus too. |
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10/23/2008 05:29:02 PM |
| awesome focus and shallow DoF. outstanding job |
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10/22/2008 11:36:43 PM |
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10/22/2008 09:04:18 AM |
| Exquisite capture. Only little niggle would be the intrusion of the bit of branch and leaf into the frame on the left hand side. |
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10/22/2008 06:32:52 AM |
| Adorable stereotypical squirrel pose, and his red color stands out nicely on the gray stump. I'd crop/clone out the closer tree bits on the far left. |
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10/21/2008 11:06:34 PM |
| Love the way you have captured the brown/tan tonings. Well done. |
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10/21/2008 11:02:45 AM |
What a wonderful Squirrel !!
The colour palette on this is magnificently Autumnal, and he is given a perfect sense of scale and proportion by the tree trunk.
There is also a delightful amount of texture in this shot - from the soft fur of the squirrel, to the gnarled old wood on the tree, and the soft shapes of the woods and leaves in the background . .
(This isn't a German Squirrel by any chance is it ? )
I would love to see this on the front page. |
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10/20/2008 03:11:11 PM |
| Awww, he's cute! I love the muted colors in this one -- definitely feels like fall. Beautiful bokeh and sharpness. My only suggestion would be a tighter crop -- the stump seems more of a focal point than the squirrel does. |
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10/20/2008 12:34:52 PM |
| This shot made me smile! It's wonderfully shot, the dof is great and the colours are so natural. Really great shot! 9 |
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10/20/2008 12:02:46 PM |
| well I assign 10 to this photo but,but, there is a but! why you don't clone out the little distracting element on the left? the image is fantastic and the texture of trees on the background is perfect for this image. |
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10/20/2008 10:27:48 AM |
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10/20/2008 10:15:44 AM |
| I wish that one dark tree on the left weren't there... it messes up a really beautifully composed image. Well done... I might have cropped the tree out, though. :) The background is fabulous. |
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10/20/2008 09:03:55 AM |
| So sweet, nice to include a bit more environment. Perfect pose, and light. |
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10/20/2008 08:47:59 AM |
| lol funny little squirrel. nice capture |
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10/20/2008 06:59:41 AM |
| Very good treatment of a mundane animal. You made him look interesting. Near perfect background and nice framing with the stump. |
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