Inspiring Photo: You Lookin' At Me? #12022172

You Lookin' At Me?

Uploaded: July 27, 2011 | Entered: March 23, 2016 12:58:17

Description

Exif: F Number: 5.6, Exposure Bias Value: 0.67, ExposureTime: 1/200 seconds, Flash: did not fire., ISO: 100, White balance: Manual white balance, FocalLength: 300.00 mm, Model: NIKON D200

Comments

Susan M. Reynolds July 27, 2011

Taken at Skunk Hollow along the American River Parkway close to Salmon Falls Bridge @ 6:38 a.m. (Sun had just risen over the foothills onto the river casting a nice golden light)
Manual Mode, SS 1/200, f/5.6, ISO 100, 70-300mm lens, tripod used. Focal length 300mm, no flash, Metering mode/pattern...not sure what this means, will need to look it up. It's usually set to Spot Metering. #1396442

Aimee C. Eisaman July 28, 2011

I really like the background bokeh, but I'm not sure I'd keep it for this shot. Maybe a square crop? Boy I've been saying that alot lately. Maybe I'm turning into a square peg...just hope I don't need to fit into any round holes. There is some blue/purple light on the eye and on the highlights going towards the front of the face. You'd have to play with a hue/saturation layer and find out color channel gets rid of it. :~) #9560338

Dale Hardin July 28, 2011

Boy Susan, he has his eye on you. I agree with Aimee on the bokeh. Very nice. And think she's also right about the square crop. Should work very well with this image.

I would suggest selecting the bird and cloning in the background from the upper left into the lower right to give some contrast between the bird and the background in that area.

Opening the shadows and slightly reducing the highlights while adding just a touch of sharpening would help also. #9560762

Rita K. Connell July 29, 2011

susan I love this shot, and the lighting is awesome. I happen to like the empty space with the bokeh in lovely. but I would like to see the suggestion I am known for changing my mind....LOL

oh by the way congratulation on the EP #9564916

Joan E. Hoffman July 29, 2011

I love the Bokeh! I like the idea of a square shot, but I would keep as much on the right as possible. The one thing that doesn't work for me is the softness of the extreme end of its beak, with the colours it just fades away. Not sure what you could do, but am sure someone will have a suggestion. #9566120

Anthony L. Mancuso July 29, 2011

Great title Susan, matches his expression perfectly! Agree with all of Dale's suggestions..I see Joan's point but the OOF beak doesn't bother me too much. If you had used a smaller aperture for more DOF the bokeh would've been adversely affected, and I think the image works despite the beak because the eye is in focus. #9567321

Susan M. Reynolds July 29, 2011

Thanks for all of your input Phellos, believe it or not, Dale, "Opening the shadows and slightly reducing the highlights while adding just a touch of sharpening would help also."...I had already done all of this before posting & had opened the shadows as much as possible without having the right shadowed side of his face turn to a blue cast that looked pretty bad. I also noticed that when I opened the shadows too much, it lost the look of the early morning shadows as opposed to the golden sunrise. I did try the square crop, but forgot to load and am now on my laptop, so will have to wait till I get back to my desktop to show the difference.
I finally got some decent bokeh, but the beak is not in focus, but hey the eye is, (thank you Tony!) This guy wouldn't stop staring at me, so finally panned over to him and focused on his eye, thus the blurry bill. Will post some more from this tomorrow if I have time...things are hectic now with moving week and extremely emotional, forgive if I forget to load the square crop with additional high pass filter tomorrow ~ but will try
#9568022

Peter W. Marks July 30, 2011

Canada geese! One of Natures prolific manure spreaders. Just be careful where you are stepping!
I too would like to see the square crop and maybe Dale's suggestion; as for me the bottom right corner detracts from the image.(I refuse to wax lyrical about the Japanese "b...." word as it's way over-used and I really cannot see what it adds to the image inspite of Joan's enthusiasm.
Having said that Susan, I do like this bird's hypnotic stare and his look of defying you to come closer.
And thank you too for telling me where you captured this image as now I can google-earth the location and add a whole different dimension to it.
And Susan, 'chin-up girl' we understand how you must be feeling about the move and all it implies for you. #9568493

Carla Capra Anderson July 30, 2011

Congratulations on your EP, Susan.
This is an amazing portrait. There is so much to admire here. The eye focus is spot on and tack sharp. The way the hard light emphasizes his profile. The soothing blend of tones and colors. I'm tipping my ball cap to you, girlie!

I too, noticed the other minor issues mentioned by our Phello Phriends. My final thought before reading their comments was, good to go.

I'll be looking forward to seeing any edits you decide to submit.
;) CC #9568768

Jeff E Jensen July 30, 2011

Yeah, congrats on your EP!

I agree with the crop, perhaps even an 8x10 would work. My only other thought is that it feels a bit cool and could be warmed up just a bit. Otherwise, well done. #9568784

Debbie E. Payne July 30, 2011

Here I am, late to the party, Susan. I like him. Congrats on the EP. I am one of the "keep the bokeh" people. I so understand about getting the eyes sharp but the nose is off - happens nearly everytime I try to get a picture of Sampson with his long snout which is just too far away to get both the eye and the end of the nose in focus. Probably could have done better in that aspect with a smaller aperture but then you'd not have gotten the bokeh and shallow DOF in the background. And perhaps the darkness hides that fact so it may be a positive thing and don't brighten it up anymore. #9568827

Susan M. Reynolds July 31, 2011

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions. I couldn't bear to pack yesterday, so I worked on some old photos for a while from the same day I took these all up and around Skunk Hollow and all allong Salmon Falls Road. I think I tried everything that wsa suggested for the goose photo and then added some more of the hollow and river area with some stuff I just shot for the heck of finally being out with a camera for the first time in months at the end of June. So I'll load five at a time.
This will have to be it till we get done moving. I'm going on 4 days with no sleep, so after this I'm going to just go lay down and just "be" or I'll go stark raving mad! I won't be commenting or posting again till the move is completed with transfer of internet service no happening till end of mid week if we have everything there and hooked up for comcast by Wednesday - fingers crossed...but I'll still camp out here at nights till they force me off our property. My Ghost will haunt our little House of Dreams forever cuz no one will ever love this old little home like I do....so here goes for my edits of the goose and additional photos from that day.
Love you all and thank you for being patient with me through thick and thin and the complete earthquake rocking force that is my world right now! You're all the best...and I mean that from what is left of my heart...here goes nothing ~ #9571252

Susan M. Reynolds July 31, 2011

Did another round of high pass filter on all photos to just for Dale, but not sure if I'm doing it right, I'll explain how I do it later when we're moved and Dale if you'd be so kind to tell me if it's correct.
So here are 5 more. Stocking up since I won't be on for a while, (all from the same morning's shoot so I hope I don't get booted out for posting too many in one thread. #9571283

Susan M. Reynolds July 31, 2011

5 more...whew! I trul love the tiny dewy sticker burr..It makes me feel like I'm looking at Christmas Ornaments in July! Think this is my favorite of the 2 B&W's but can't think Straight #9571334

Debbie E. Payne July 31, 2011

You've been keeping yourself busy, Susan. I especially like the "Before His Morning Bath" and the last black and white edit on the snowflake looking blossom. Very nice! I also like the one where the boys were fishing on the edge of the lake. I think it could use some selective brightening but the lighting is very nice and certainly creates the right mood. #9572065

Rita K. Connell July 31, 2011

I really like the new attempt of a sq crop with the cloning done. that one is my favorite out of the original.
i really like "Before His Morning Bath" also. and I see why you stopped with that beautiful light.

I hope you get some sleep and I hope your move isn't to painful. my thoughts will be with you. Hang in there! #9572463

Teresa H. Hunt August 01, 2011

Wow, you have been busy!

Congrats on the EP :)

I like the square crop. I also like the new attempt of a square crop. However, he looks like he's peaking in around the edge of the photography . . . if that makes sense. :)

I think overall this is a great shot. #9572894

Aimee C. Eisaman August 01, 2011

I'd have to say the newest square crop is the best! :~) Wow you really have been busy. I like the bw of that sticky plant too. #9573929

Susan M. Reynolds August 01, 2011

http://edcapps.edcgov.us/surveyor/hpgn/ac9241.htm
Website for Peter's benefit that shows the entrance to Skunk Hollow Recreational Area from Salmon Falls Road. This is part of the Folsom Lake/California State Park Recreational Areas.
No, I wasn't busy, I was avoiding packing. Move in is supposed to start today and I'm no where near ready, so I'll be gone for a while. #9575029

Peter W. Marks August 01, 2011

Ah Susan! I am still laughing over your Skunk Hollow link picture showing a piece of highway and a large red arrow pointing to some sage brush. But your link did provide me a few hundred words from the NGS data Sheet vers 7.85 which included the following-:

" AC9241.The Laplace correction was computed from DEFLEC09 derived deflections.
AC9241
AC9241.The ellipsoidal height was determined by GPS observations
AC9241.and is referenced to NAD 83.
AC9241
AC9241.The geoid height was determined by GEOID09.
AC9241
AC9241; North East Units Scale Factor Converg.
AC9241;SPC CA 2 - 623,290.984 2,083,814.825 MT 0.99992935 +0 36 29.2
AC9241;SPC CA 2 - 2,044,913.84 6,836,649.14 sFT 0.99992935 +0 36 29.2
AC9241;UTM 10 - 4,293,456.512 670,663.430 MT 0.99995867 +1 13 50.1
AC9241
AC9241! - Elev Factor x Scale Factor = Combined Factor
AC9241!SPC CA 2 - 0.99998118 x 0.99992935 = 0.99991053
AC9241!UTM 10 - 0.99998118 x 0.99995867 = 0.99993985
AC9241
AC9241 SUPERSEDED SURVEY CONTROL
AC9241
AC9241 NAD 83(1992)- 38 46 24.00068(N) 121 02 07.57566(W) AD(1991.35) 1
AC9241 ELLIP H (06/13/97) 120.032 (m) GP(1991.35) 4 2
AC9241 "

Wowser! I learn something new every day!
Where else would I find a sentence that included 'ellipsoidal height'?
I used Google earth which was a trifle more entertaining as I could then see the actual river.

#9575321

Susan M. Reynolds August 01, 2011

I was looking for links to satellite views of places, but everything I tried wanted me to download stuff that my anti-virus software said wasn't safe...that link was the only one I found for Skunk Hollow! Glad I gave you a laugh...though it was exactly what the entrance to S.H. looked like.
What is the link you use for Satellite Images of particular addresses?
#9575372

Peter W. Marks August 02, 2011

Good morning Susan. You know of course that I was teasing you! The link for satellite images of just about anywhere in the world is at
http://www.google.com/earth/index.html
You have to download the program but it is so worth saving for anyone who has even the tiniest bit of curiosity about places. I will warn you though that it is a terrible time-waster as I find myself zooming in on satellite images of my old schools; the houses I grew up in; the farm fields I played in; places in the daily world news etc etc etc. This is why you will have seen me implore folk here to state where an image of a landscape was located. It is a personal thing of course but when I see someone's image of, say, a fascinating old and dilapidated red barn and they tell me where it is it adds a hugely more interesting dimension to be able to see it on Google Earth in the context of the surrounding countryside.
You shouldn't have any trouble downloading the program as it is Google not some dodgy russian rip-off site. Get back to me if you have a problem loading it but I understand that you have way too much on your plate at the moment. Only wish I lived close by so that I could give you guys some help with the moving and some encouragement.
Although of course it was under rather different circumstances it takes me back nearly twenty years when I had to pack up fifty years of my life into a huge shipping container for transporting to Edwardsville, USA. Now I am not sure I shall ever re-read 'the Zen of Archery' but I still have it just in case I take up target archery again! #9576249

Beth Spencer August 03, 2011

Susan, I hope your are surviving the move. My thoughts are with you and wishing you the best.
I really like all your pictures, the new square crop is my favorite of the goose. My other favorite is Golden Opportunity with the man and boys fishing. Great light and what a story that one tells. #9579779

Susan M. Reynolds August 03, 2011

Hi all, thanks for the suggestions, I need to take a break from sorting/packing (Charlotte & Josh are already moved to new place except for their 35 bins and frig on our back porch. - but I'm not anxious to leave so I'm taking my time savoring each last moment as I tenderly pack our memories away with each item don't think I'll unpack my stuff except bare necessities cuz I don't wanna be there! Maybe I'll leave Will's bed only & camp here till they bodily drag me out-which could still be up to several months) so I decided to take a break & at least enter a photo in the contest.
I'll enter the square cropped/cloned beak, goose in a few months when they forget the orignal, but for today, I'd like to enter "Golden Opportunities" tho' some had mentioned the shadows were too dark, but it WAS still dark in the hollow with the sun only just then peeking up over the hill (as Peter says it, "that's the way I saw it!" :) So I tried to selectively lightened just the family/geese, & added a slight gaussian blur to the far shore line of trees up the hill. Do you guys like the blurred far shore or the one in full focus & did lightening the family/geese help? #9580472

Susan M. Reynolds August 03, 2011

This one's "Just for fun"...Remembered I'd Shot this one out my car window farther up the road...was too good to pass up. Wonder if Peter can find this one on Google Earth since it didn't match the leaning "real" street sign. Posted one exactly as I saw it out my window, and version with the leaning pole cloned out; however, the leaning pole reminds me of how funny it was that the owner of the property didn't care too much for the county road sign and wanted the original name of the road posted and so did it his own way. Part of the amusement of the shot. Guess it'd have been a good idea to do a vertical POV including the county sign's name, which now I can't remember ~ #9580518

Susan M. Reynolds August 03, 2011

Would help if I uploaded the photos!
p.s. Also adding a photo of my Gratitude Journal where I'm learning to write down all the gifts of beauty and life that I'm given each day to help me think more positively...I'd put it on a picnic table close by (at Skunk's Hollow) while I was shooting a leaf fell just above the wooden carving of the mother and child ~ The leaf just looked so natural there it felt as if William had just dropped it straight from heaven to remind me that his love and memories remain with us forever...even when we're alone. So I just snapped it to keep that gift of the ability to remember safe in my mind (and in my journey to live a life of gratitude for even the smallest gifts!) #9580548

Susan M. Reynolds August 03, 2011

So I did enter them but BP keeps logging me out. I'll try once more than back to work ~ #9580551

Michael Kelly August 04, 2011

Way late and it took a while too read trough this one.

Remember Susan they are in our hearts and no move or change can effect that, though I know the feelings you are having.

I like the Jeff 8X10 warm up the best. #9581969

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