Reflections

"I'd like to know more about the sharpness in this shot, is it the eyes that make the whole shot seem sharp or is it something else?"

 

From what I remember, I just used the standard Sharpen option in PS across the whole image and not just the eyes.

 

"100-400mm zoom lenses generally aren't known for their sharpness either are they?"

 

I don't know, the 100-400mm Canon L Series is one of the better lenses out there - I've had very good results with it in regards to the sharpness, and the IS works well too.

 

"Have you done anything special or is it just "standard" autofocus/post sharpening?"

 

I had the camera on autofocus for this shot, with IS switched on - and then just the standard sharpening I mention above. I made a few other tweaks too such as adjusting the levels and colour balance slightly. To be honest, the lighting on the day was perfect, and I did take loads of pictures on my visit. Would love to go back there some day...

 

Thanks for commenting,

Gav

very intense portarait! and nice reflections in the eyes

Although this photo does not have any effect on me (which is a matter of taste) and does not attract me, I have to admit that technically is almost perfect. I agree that the crop of the hand maybe is not correct and a better crop maybe can be found. Nevertheless, I think it is a minor detail.

Thanks Vasilis, appreciate the honest and tactful feedback :0)

 

Gav

Wonderful shot. I shoot with a D300 and I do little preplanning on shots. Their are some of us (Pro or not) that capture the moment with little adjustment. I would not put myself in a class of a pro or even somone that is a good photographer, but sometimes with good eyes and quick camera good things happen.

The crop of the hand doesn't really bother me; but something about the top of the pictures does. There's that bit of exposed skin on the upper left (I assume from the mother?) and it bugs me because it seems out of place and I don't know what part of the body it is. I guess it just seems kind of detached and distracting to me. Even though it doesn't relate to the photograph I keep looking at it; trying to figure out what it's attached to. If I scroll it on my monitor so the picture is cropped off right at the top of the babies head (maybe even cropping off the very top) I like it much more.

 

Great picture BTW.

 

Alan

Gorgeous photo!

 

This photo is the epitome of great nature photography to me. To get such a wonderful subject as this is rare and to have the subject stay posed well enough to make the shot is rare indeed.

 

About the crop- again, I hate to pick on portrait photographers who I gather are accustomed to having complete control over every last hair on the subject- for the life of me I cannot read such a comment with a straight face. I think the photographer's response was perfect. "It had to be cropped somewhere, didn't it?" Absolutely right. I also appreciate a photo that has not been photoshopped into oblivion. I have become use to photos such as this that are mouseclicked to the point where the baby monkey becomes King Kong swatting biplanes from the Empire State building.

 

Fantastic shot. A photo like this is my ultimate goal. If I never manage to get a monkey in a studio I hope I can come close to what you managed to do here.

 

Bravo.

Gavin, maybe you could post the original and then let people decide for themselves where they would crop it. As far as I am concerned, cropping is very nearly a fine art unto itself, and I don't find that this crop detracts in the least, forcing one to home in on the eyes as it does.

 

I am tempted to get an IS (or VR) lens myself after seeing results like this. Wow!

 

--Lannie

Very communicative. Lovely color and texture. I wonder what I'm seeing of the mother, in a perfect universe this shot would show more of the context of the mother, but I'm quite happy to be shown this shy face and those incredible eyes.

Brilliant image, very evocative - should have won DCMAG nature phot of the year...

Very moving image, makes my mind wander... Brilliant in every aspect, thanks for sharing ES

Well, I'd say this is not a keeper for the way you cropped the hand, you say you chose to crop it but I still think you should have tried to frame with the hand not cropped.

 

I don't like super sharp and contrasty portraits as well, and I don't like pictures that "humanize" animals... that's because everyone else is doing pictures like this, so I feel like the photographer is trying to please the viewer more than achieve something he has in mind.

 

So, sorry about being so harsh... you can come in my portfolio and leave some harsh comment on my pics as well if it'll make you feel better, I'd actually appreciate it :)

 

Simone

"and I don't like pictures that "humanize" animals"

 

What makes you think that it is the photograph that is humanizing the animal? I think it is more the unmistakable similarities between this animal and the human animal that creates this effect. It's not something that has to be done intentionally.

"Well, I'd say this is not a keeper for the way you cropped the hand, you say you chose to crop it but I still think you should have tried to frame with the hand not cropped."

 

I have another version in my portfolio if you care to look, that crops in closer. I still happen to prefer this crop however, and am not bothered by the hand being cropped. If I leave the hand in and still want a square format I would need to include more of the image in the other dimension - which actually disrupts the composition even more. I had to give something somewhere, and at the end of the day I'm happy with it and that is what counts :0)

 

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"I don't like super sharp and contrasty portraits as well, and I don't like pictures that "humanize" animals... that's because everyone else is doing pictures like this, so I feel like the photographer is trying to please the viewer more than achieve something he has in mind."

 

I happen to prefer wildlife shots that are sharp, unless I'm trying to get some movement into them. There wasn't much movement in this one though and the idea was to capture the moment - which personally I think I have done (and the reflections in the eyes remind me of my walk up the steps up to the Batu caves at the top). As mentioned above, I haven't deliberately tried to humanize this macaque - this is how it looked and aren't these creaturs quite similar to humans anyway (I can't see what I've done to the image to make it look more like a human!!!)? I really don't understand that comment. In regards to only trying to please the viewer, again I don't understand where you are coming from. I took the photo because I love animals, love the expression on its face, and had the added bonus of the reflections in the eyes. This was actually taken on my honeymoon, and think it's a great reminder of my trip to Kuala Lumpur - something that's very personal to me and has nothing to do with 'pleasing the viewer'. If other people happen to share my own opinion and enjoy the photo too then that's good. Likewise if they don't like it, that's up to them - not everyone is the same and has the same ideas as to what makes an appealing photo.

 

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Thanks,

Gav ;0)

Nah, don't disparage other animals by comparing them to us. They are so much less petty. If they destroy us, they typically are just hungry. We humans have to make all of our injuries so very personal.

 

Again, great post and riposte, Gavin.

Here is what I saw on the home page. The monkey just looks natural without makeup.

I would prefer a portrait crop for this... generally not a fan of square crops unless it is vital to the composition. In this case it's the baby's face that is the obvious center of interest. If there is more to work with on the right (I saw the references to the hand), I might experiment. Otherwise, would give some thought to reducing the area to the right, and a bit on the left. All personal preference of course. I've seen a number of square crops recently, and feel that the rectangular presentation adds something (kinda vague, but there is a reason that movies are widescreen... dramatic effect?)

 

It's a nice photo, and that's how baby monkeys are held. If it looks somewhat human, well... :) Congrats on POW! -Greg-

It's a perfect shot. Cropping is subjective, and who is the ultimate authority to say what's right and what's wrong?

 

Keep up the excellent work you're doing, and do it the way you like it.

:-)

A

shot is simply beautiful. the part of the skin on the top left of the composition looks little distracting. actually there are less hair and the dotted skin so it looks like a seperate part of the composition. i d like to see more from the bottom. his knee and hand too.. if they would be more visible, the 'monkey nature' would be openely exposed.

Well Done btw.

 

U.J.

When I first saw this picture, I too was struck by the reflections in the eyes of the little one. Not having read your explanation of them, I thought they might possibly be the bars of a cage. That wizened little face, so obviously belonging to a youngster, looks as though it has seen and experienced too much in this sometimes big, bad world. Hence, to me, the expression bacame one of fear, laced with separation anxiety, colored with just a touch of terror.

 

So, having bestowed these emotions on an animal's face, have I marginalized this monkey, or put him into a human framework so that I can more easily view him? To those who feel that pictures like these "humanizes" animals, I'd like to counter that upon viewing this I was forcefully reminded that we humans are of the animal persuasion (and I haven't seen a lot of evidence that we have evolved too far past animal instinct). Perhaps it is in our arrogance as humans that we fail to recognize that emotions and the need for familal reassurance are not confined to the human race. Sure, animals cannot communicate those emotions to us through speech, but they do manage to convey them to their own species without speaking a single word. I'm not so sure that we are so very superior to apes, just different.

Nice one ! I'd be curious to see this POW before it got cropped. Possible ?

The present crop seems a bit unfortunate about the hand, but otherwise still works ok for me, because the expression is truly great and does hold our attention. Well done.

Gavin - absolutely excellent work.

 

 

Simply that you have recognised the similarity between this shot and the common images that surround us of 'humanity' we are all familiar with (family, nurturing, devotion, care, tenderness etc etc), so perhaps it is fair to say that in that respect it has been very very 'successful'.

 

Is it any surprise that our near neighbours exhibit simialr traits?

 

I think you might do well to read (as only two examples) Eugene Marais' work on baboons or even Chadwick's book on elephants.

 

Many animals have more in common with us than we realize, and to deny that fact is to diminish their worth.........and ours.

Original crop for those who asked :0)

 

Thanks for all the feedback, very much appreciated.

 

Thanks,

Gav

Gavin, it is certainly a much more compelling photo with the tight crop, in my opinion. Good work.

The expression says it all. Great capture!