Singapore Zoo

szeping · 14th February 2008

Shot using D70 + Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 in Singapore Zoo. I'm still trying to figure out how to optimise the ISO with Aperture... Will it be too "soft"? Or shall I increase the ISO for better colour?

C&Cs are welcome ~

Thanks!

scarecrow · 14th February 2008

The colour, sharpness all looks fine to me.

BUT no WOW factor.

I'm a noob BUT I believe a good composition would appeal to anyone.

kebeye · 14th February 2008

but looks like you went quite down to the water level scary haha

twistedzero · 14th February 2008

I'm not sure, but since maybe the croc seems to be on his way down, it lessen the impact for me.

raptor84 · 16th February 2008

I think composition wise the line that the crocs body forms leads you nicely to the mouch but it kinda ends abruptly after that as its facing the border. Also the refection in the picture doesn't really help with the composition much. Also the picture looks kinda underexposed overall and the flat lighting doesn't really help here.

I guess what I would try is to have it taken with the horizon straight with the corc and the reflection in the lower 1/3 of the pic with the bamboo wall in the background occupying the upper 2/3's of it (in portrait orientation). Or have the croc in the middle third, reflection in the bottom third and background in upper third. All these are just suggestions and you should try experimenting with other different approaches. to see what works best.

night86mare · 18th February 2008

nice shot, but if you realise after a while, most of the time, reflections work by themselves, or with the horizon straight. it is to your benefit to do so because of the presence of symmetry, surreal (reflection) versus real (subject), so on and so forth.

i also find myself tilting my head, so the tilt does not work here, i.e. it is not dynamic and it subtracts from the picture, rather than add to it.

it is a nice moment though.

szeping · 23rd February 2008

Thanks to all the sifus ~ In fact I had another horizontal shot before I took this shot. Well, I think I should bring out the "omph" from the crocodile next time.

iRaphael · 23rd February 2008

would have prefered a straight picture, and maybe a tighter crop.

nonetheless, a good sharp picture. and i like the reflection from the water.

since its opening its mouth, maybe could shoot from an angle which will show more of its mouth?

pyrique · 23rd February 2008

iso wouldnt really affect the colour, white balance would. the general rule is to keep the iso as low as possible, but high enough to keep your shutter speed high enough to prevent hand shake. i feel a closer crop would work better of just the head and it's reflection without the tilt

14th February 2008	#1
szeping Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 286	Singapore Zoo Shot using D70 + Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 in Singapore Zoo. I'm still trying to figure out how to optimise the ISO with Aperture... Will it be too "soft"? Or shall I increase the ISO for better colour? C&Cs are welcome ~ Thanks! Last edited by szeping; 14th February 2008 at 09:52 PM.

14th February 2008	#2
scarecrow Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 185	Re: Singapore Zoo The colour, sharpness all looks fine to me. BUT no WOW factor. I'm a noob BUT I believe a good composition would appeal to anyone.

14th February 2008	#3
kebeye Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Tampines Posts: 279	Re: Singapore Zoo but looks like you went quite down to the water level scary haha

14th February 2008	#4
twistedzero Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 61	Re: Singapore Zoo I'm not sure, but since maybe the croc seems to be on his way down, it lessen the impact for me.

16th February 2008	#5
raptor84 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 4,280	Re: Singapore Zoo I think composition wise the line that the crocs body forms leads you nicely to the mouch but it kinda ends abruptly after that as its facing the border. Also the refection in the picture doesn't really help with the composition much. Also the picture looks kinda underexposed overall and the flat lighting doesn't really help here. I guess what I would try is to have it taken with the horizon straight with the corc and the reflection in the lower 1/3 of the pic with the bamboo wall in the background occupying the upper 2/3's of it (in portrait orientation). Or have the croc in the middle third, reflection in the bottom third and background in upper third. All these are just suggestions and you should try experimenting with other different approaches. to see what works best. __________________ Pet Portrait Portfolio Stock Photos for sale

18th February 2008	#6
night86mare Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: in your mind Posts: 19,242	Re: Singapore Zoo nice shot, but if you realise after a while, most of the time, reflections work by themselves, or with the horizon straight. it is to your benefit to do so because of the presence of symmetry, surreal (reflection) versus real (subject), so on and so forth. i also find myself tilting my head, so the tilt does not work here, i.e. it is not dynamic and it subtracts from the picture, rather than add to it. it is a nice moment though. __________________ Gallery \| Dreamscapes 09 Pentaxian 伪君子之所以更可憎

23rd February 2008	#7
szeping Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 286	Re: Singapore Zoo Thanks to all the sifus ~ In fact I had another horizontal shot before I took this shot. Well, I think I should bring out the "omph" from the crocodile next time.

23rd February 2008	#8
iRaphael Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Jurong West Posts: 284	Re: Singapore Zoo would have prefered a straight picture, and maybe a tighter crop. nonetheless, a good sharp picture. and i like the reflection from the water. since its opening its mouth, maybe could shoot from an angle which will show more of its mouth?

23rd February 2008	#9
pyrique Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 160	Re: Singapore Zoo iso wouldnt really affect the colour, white balance would. the general rule is to keep the iso as low as possible, but high enough to keep your shutter speed high enough to prevent hand shake. i feel a closer crop would work better of just the head and it's reflection without the tilt