Sea Lion 14

Comment, ratings appreciated on portrait of elderly sea lion

6/7 I like the tones (though I wonder how it would look just a little less yellow) and the expression of your "model". Good composition. This is a fun shot, he looks soooo relaxed.

He takes all the decisions, he`s the master :)

Good one. Made me smile and thats always good.

Good 'character' shot!

Bob, I love this guys expression. It looks like he's winking at you. I also like the composition and your treatment (sandwiched?). The "softness" gives him a more cuddly look. Although it would be a bad idea, This makes me want to pet him!

 

His bright muzzle and eyes put the viewers focus right where it should be. I like the warm toning but,I might prefer a little less. Here's an option for your consideration.

 

He sure looks well fed!

Laurie, thanks for your comment--I agree about the toning. I've been struggling with exposure with these guys. For the most part they are black with very shiny, often wet fur/skin. There seems like there's always hotspots on them when I shoot, so I tried to hide the hotspots by sandwiching. I thought the effect was ok. This particular old guy was laying by himself at the end of a dock. I took a series of shots, each a step closer--he'd bark and rise up at each step, then lay back down. This was from about 10 feet away. Next step I took he really reared up and I back pedalled, then he dove into the water. I wish I had a little more guts, stood my ground and took a shot when he growled at me!

Bob, I certainly have no suggestions on how to handle the contrast in this situation. I suspect overcast days are better than bright sun. Of course, you still have to balance shadow detail with the reflecting wet fur. I think what you've done is a great solution.

 

Ten feet is pretty dang close! It's prbably best you backed off when you did. Otherwise, he might have chosen "fight" over "flight". I think he'd win. He certainly has the weight advantage. What would make a great shot is to be the photographer photographing you as you photographed him growling. That's a shot I'd like to take!

As for this picture, I like the way one gets a feeling of old age, and I like the way the tight crop with nothing more than flesh all around gives the idea of the dimensions of this fella.

 

Conversely, the cuddly feeling is best left to squirrels (eventually in glasses), so the post-processing is not really my cup of tea, here.

 

On other matters: I want to see the roaring shot! I took a few roaring shots, a couple of years ago, and I remember two details. The first is that a 20mm lens (the only I had on the camera while taking landscapes when I casually met one of these guys on a beach) was not great. The second is that their breath was amongst the worst things I ever smelled. I still remember it.

 

As far as I know, from a few planned and casual meetings, if you are not between them and the sea, the roaring is an affirmation of some territorial pretense, but you should not be in big risks... still, younger males can be amazingly fast and just run you over without even realising something was in their puppy-playing run.