Animals in the landscape

I liked this image a whole lot. I like the blurred snow and BG, and the sharp image.

The green too is unusual, and very interesting.

All in all a wonderful and beautiful image. Thank you for entering the animals in landscape contest!

Dave

I like this because of the sharpness, and seeing the animal and the landscape.

I have to be honest- this is a HARD contest to judge. With wildlife, there is not a whole lot for me to critique. Its either good or not.

I REALLY like this image, and I did want to say that to you, too.

Thank you!

Dave

Dave

A very nice image! Well put together. The composition, the exposure, its all very good!

I think its a wonderful image. Great time of day and light

Thank you for entering this and showing it to all of us-- !

Dave

I thought this was drone at first. Not that it matters.

Just a cool, different piece. It makes me think of cave paintings somewhat.

I love that you have to stare at it for a second to get it- I like the mystery and the discovery inherent in this image.

Thanks for a cool shot!

Dave

This was a tough one.

Technically, there is a LOT wrong with this image. Personally, I could never put an image like this out there.

But I guess the rawness of the image is what appeals to me, too.

I LOVE the contrast between the hotel and the bird..

I honestly dont know why I picked this image as a winner other than it just speaks to me. Is there anything more a photographer should do?

Thanks!

Dave

First off this view just impressed the hell out of me. I love the idea that the view is across climate zones.

The color contrast across the zones is very appealing, too- the blue vs the green looks so cool! Then we also have the contrast of jagged peaks VS soft plants is also a great thing.

the look of the llama off camera left works well... and keeps your eye in the image.

This is just one of those pictures that fires on all cylinders- it has a story, visual appeal and an exotic landscape. All combine to make a fulfilling image!

Thanks!

Dave

This one I liked for the feel of it. It just has a very cool feel.

I cant really critique anything. Nothing much I would have done different, nor do I see anything wrong! Good job on this!

Thanks for entering the contest!

Dave

This is such a pretty image!

Very different from most of the images, and that makes it stand out.

I love this time of day and the great colors you can get from the light.

Excellent image and one of my favorites from this contest!

Dave

Wonderful minimalism.

Nothing more needs to be said. Simple, direct and to the point.

As here sometimes a little says so much more than a lot. Very hard sometimes to back away and just show a little, but it can be so powerful when done well.

Here, this is done well!

Congrats!

Dave

First I LOVE the color in this. That is what grabbed me. Then there is that graceful S shape going up the dune.

The tree and the oryx play counterpoint to each other.. They ground the dune, which just lifts us up and away into the sky.

This is an image where the landscape and the animal add to make the image complete.

Just love this image!

Thank you for entering!

Dave

LOVE the Tetions! Really nice capture here. I love the haze in the sky that really pops the distances involved. Color is nice, and focus is very tight- love it!

The lone buffalo in the field is just a great american image- Thank you for entering in the contest!

Dave

O I do love this.

The exposure is just wonderful... and that look is just incredible. I love the moss.... and the layer of leaves above- just a cool place. I understand and agree with why you went wide on this!

BTW: The owls are not what they seem....

:)

Dave

What a fun image- I am so glad you shared it.

I have to be honest- this is a HARD contest to judge. With wildlife, there is not a whole lot for me to critique. Its either good or not.

I REALLY like this image, and I did want to say that to you, too.

Thank you!

Dave

Wow you captured a real great moment!

That look is great, too.

I like the wide open aperture on this so you focus on the cheetah not the BG.

Really well put together and thought out image! thank you for entering this!

Dave

Oh wow, this is just an amazing picture. Probably one of the best if not the best I have seen ion this contest. I just love the color and the feel of this piece.

I would love to know more about it. How was it shopt? Where was it shot?

Dave

Hey- thanks for entering the contest!

I want to commend you for trying something VERY hard. Compositing can be real tough. And the fact that you are trying says a lot. But I think there are some problems in that composite.... and I hope to help you get better composites in the future.

The most obvious problem, and the easiest to fix- is the color. It does not look natural. For a variety of reasons. Its a little too strong. The quality of the light does not match across the image. The colors you have added in one area are not seen reflecting in others (which helps bind the image together). I would say dont push the color this far... stick with more normal, accurate and real coloring until you know how to fake it a bit better.

I also dont see the feel of the image matching across the image. Some areas are super sharpened, and some have chromatic aberration or are soft.

Pasting in the swan is the centerpiece of the image... but again just looks pasted in. Especially the reflection. Just flipping and masking in the swan does NOT make a natural looking reflection. Natural reflections fore-shorten (use Transform!), You also removed all the water effects in front to make the shadow... because you used a normal blend mode. Try other blend modes so the reflection is layed ON TOP of the waves, rather than smoothing out the waves.

When you are trying something like this, I suggest you have some real-world examples of the effect in front of you while you work. Look at things like light or reflection, and see how they manifest themselves in the real world. See what they REALLY do. Light, for instance, should have the same quality across the entire picture (generally).... if you have purple shadows on the far shore, then your shadows on this shore will also be purple.

Look at real world examples, and figure out how to copy them!

Again, I think its great you are trying, and that is why I commented. I want to see you succeed in this, and I hope I have given you some places to look to make this work better!

Keep on it!

Dave

What a wonderful view. Just a wonderful picture!

Thank you for entering the Animals in the Landscape contest.

I wanted you to know that you were one of my finalists. That means your image caught my eye, and that I really liked it.

While it did not make the final 10, it still impressed me enough to put it on my short list!

So thank you for entering and sharing your nice image!

Dave

Just a beautifully framed and composed image!

The light gives this a special feel... and the harsh background make a great contrast to the horses.

Great solution to the problems, too. No clouds? Frame less sky! Works very well!

Thank you!

Dave

This is a very nice image.

Crisp and clean.... sharp and in focus. Good place to start! The BG is subtle and not overpowering.

Framing is unusual.... and 100% totally correct! You obviously know what you are doing, and it shows in this image. I love it!

Dave

I really like the colors in this- very pretty.

the exposure choses you made here work really well. Love the out of focus background. It works. Both foreground and BG really.

Tpuffin is very cute too!

Thank you for entering!

Dave

Just a perfect capture! The colors and mood just mesh so well here!

Thank you for entering the Animals in the Landscape contest.

I wanted you to know that you were one of my finalists. That means your image caught my eye, and that I really liked it.

While it did not make the final 10, it still impressed me enough to put it on my short list!

So thank you for entering and sharing your nice image!

Dave

Wonderful Capture!

What a coll and unique image! Just stunning.

I just think you nailed the exposure and the shutter speed is just perfect! Clarity and focus is crisp and the image pops because of it.

Thank you very much for entering the contest!

Dave

A very interesting and fun image!

I really like the shallow depth of field- the deer is out of focus but still recognizable. Really creative there!

I did not see the ducks at first, but there they are!

Thanks for entering this image- it is really cool!

Dave

I just love the color here.

Turtles are cute, to be sure. This is an awesome capture. We see the animal in his/her environment.

Lighting works really well, too.

Just an overall wonderful image, and I am so glad you entered it!

Thanks!

Dave

Like most of my choices for winners in this contest, this tells a story.

Its a good image, to be sure. Well exposed.

the composition--- YOUR choice in the composition add the MEANING to the image. Had the birds been centered, there would be no story. YOU made the story.

Lesson here- YOU are responsible for the image. And you can make something more than the original image.

Good job!

Dave

I almost blew past this image. What a shame.

The image is so subtle you dont notice the beauty if you go by quick. This image needs to be looked at. I just LOVE it now!

What can I add? You KNOW what you are doing. You do it well. Great shot!

So why is this #1?

1. Emotion. Look at the raw power of the water, the explosion of water- the storm.... and the bird in transition. This is so much more than a picture of a duck.

2. Exposure. Is the the duck or the watter blurred? Not at all. The pose of the bird is at the height of movement. The water is exploding. It is all timed perfectly.

3. Lighting. So subtle and so beautiful. Mist light and shadow all play together beautifully..

its a simple. powerful image that just grabs you when you let it.

I love it!

Dave

Just wonderful light here! Great capture.

Thank you for entering the Animals in the Landscape contest.

I wanted you to know that you were one of my finalists. That means your image caught my eye, and that I really liked it.

While it did not make the final 10, it still impressed me enough to put it on my short list!

So thank you for entering and sharing your nice image!

Dave

Wow what a great story and what incredible luck. I sorta think this stag loves having his picture taken

Anyway, He looks great, and the light is really nice. But the overall piece has a weird vibe to it. Like the image is a composite. The clouds are unusual to me. Dont get me wrong- I composite all the time. Compositing can really make an image.

Dave

This image sure caught my eye!

I think it is funny! I really love the treatment. I usually go bright colors, so this is totally opposite of what I do.... but it works so well here!

Such a great image! Thank you for entering!

Dave

DAMN FINE IMAGE!!!!

Beautiful control of exposure and shutter speed. Just incredible lighting.

The detail of the dirt getting kicked up just adds to the overall image.

Very strong and emotional, I really love this and think it is an outstanding image! Thank you very much for entering!

Dave

When it comes to the basic title of this contest, this is the concept I think of. A good wildlife image hanging in a magnificent landscape. This image hits all the bells for what I am looking for, and this image is very good, too!

Love it!

Dave

Very nice image. I love it! The framing and comp is wonderful, the color just awesome.

The dust gives a great atmosphere and feel to the image. And the mother / kid thing works really well.

Thank you for entering thew contest!

Dave

I do like this image. I think that I like the most is that edge light provided by the sun behind your subject. That works really well and helps separate the animals from the BG... that and the shallow depth of field.

Thank you for enter the contest!

Dave

Hey- thanks for entering the animal/landscape contest.

This is a good composite. I see one or two problems with the mask, but really a good mask.

The problem I see is the second imag. It really does not match the main image. Most off I think this the contrast....

the light on the upper birds is closer in color, but the wave image color is way off the background.

Your best bet for pulling this sort of thing off is to shoot all the layers at the same time and combine them. That is not always possible.... but you do want your components to be as close as possible is color contrast and feel.

Also, if you have a shallow depth of field on the water, your sky NEEDS to be out of focus too. Lenses just dont work the way this image is.

So good try, just work on matching your components better. I commend you for trying- a lot of people dont even do that! | Dave

Hey, Thank you for entering the animal landscape contest.

I am going to go risky here and be a bit critical here. Is that OK? I DO mean this in the nicest way.... but I will be critical. Just stop now if that is a problem!

In my opinion, you are a bit heavy handed on the editing here. The masking is a bit loose, too. Combined and it just pints out all your editing.

I know you want the deer to stand out. But they need to be in the same light as their surroundings. Here they look like a sperate image just pasted on top of another picture.

I commend you for trying- that is a real posotive. But pull back a bit on what you are doing. I sometimes take a 10 minute breather away fro the computer and come back and look with fresh eyes. If its obvious you are changing stuff, its too much.

Thanks!

Dave

Hey!

Thank you for entering the Animals in the Landscape contest.

I wanted you to know that you were one of my finalists. That means your image caught my eye, and that I really liked it.

While it did not make the final 10, it still impressed me enough to put it on my short list!

So thank you for entering and sharing your nice image!

Dave

I LOVE the color and tone of this image. Shallow depth of field works well here, and draws your eye exactly where it should be.

Beautiful light and soft colors are just wonderful.

Thank you for entering the animals and landscape contest, I teally like your shot!

Dave

Hey!

Thank you for entering the Animals in the Landscape contest.

I wanted you to know that you were one of my finalists. That means your image caught my eye, and that I really liked it.

While it did not make the final 10, it still impressed me enough to put it on my short list!

So thank you for entering and sharing your nice image!

Dave

Jeez! This image KILLS!!!!

Great light and wonderful composition!

You know the "rule" about not centering your subject? You prove them 100% wrong- EXCELLENT!

Centering this MAKES the image!

I love the softness of the BG too!

Thank you so much for entering the animals and landscape contest!

Dave

I like this image. I like it a lot.

I think it could be better.

In MY opinion (and I could be very wrong!), it is too linear. All the interest is in a straight line right up the center. I think this makes a flat image.

To make this mroe dynamic,. I would suggest a simple step to the right. 2 feet. Starfish would have been in a power position ion the lower left third, with a complimentary power poibnt upper right with the hoodoo and sunset.

Thanks for entering the contest!

Dave

Now that is a lazy seal! :) Very cute capture!

Thank you for entering the Animals in the Landscape contest.

I wanted you to know that you were one of my finalists. That means your image caught my eye, and that I really liked it.

While it did not make the final 10, it still impressed me enough to put it on my short list!

So thank you for entering and sharing your nice image!

Dave

Really a very pretty image.

I love the soft feel and just gentlness of the image.

Very pretty and laid back- just what I want to see in this contest.

Thank you for entering the animals in the landscape contest and thank you for sharing!

Dave

Wow- GREAT light!

this really shows an animal in the environment. You captured a wonderful moment and a great light. I just love this! The leaves and branches above in the foreground help frame this wonderfully,m too!

Thank you for entering the animals in the landscape contest and thank you for sharing!

Dave

MAJESTIC is right!

That is majestic lighting. Looks just incredible!

So was this lit. or how was it made? I al;so real;y like the negative space around the lion. Great job!

Thank you very much for entering the animals in the environment contest and sharing your image!

Dave

This is an incredible image. As a photographer, I have to wonder if it was set up, or you came on this and was able to shoot it? I am curious....

Regardless it is a wonderful image and really well crafted. I love the shallow depth of field.

Thanks for entering the animals and landscapes contest!

Dave