Inspiring Photo: Spirit of the Wolf #8562385

Spirit of the Wolf

Uploaded: June 27, 2009

Description

Took the shot of the trees from the road to the Oregon coast from Corvallis. The wolf was captured at the wolf sanitary near Chehalis, Washington using a 200mm lens. He was behind a chain link fence.

Used cloning on the fence and then blended the two images in PSE7

Shutter speed: 1/160.00 F-stop: 4.5
ISO speed: 160

Exif: F Number: 4.5, Exposure Bias Value: -0.70, ExposureTime: 1/160 seconds, Flash: did not fire, compulsory flash mode, ISO: 160, White balance: Auto white balance, FocalLength: 52.50 mm, Model: DSC-R1

Comments

June 27, 2009

Nice shot it and very creative, Dale - well done, #1146887

Dale Hardin June 27, 2009

Thanks a lot Walter. #7684269

Liz blahh June 27, 2009

Beautiful image, excellent artistry! #7684529

Dale Hardin June 27, 2009

Liz, thank you so much. I took a cursory look at your gallery and must say that I will be back. (made it a favorite) Your body of work needs more time to peruse properly. #7685211

Laura L. Gonzales June 27, 2009

Hi Dale! This is so cool! I have not yet tried blending to images yet. Still very novice in my editing skills. Still learning what all the tools can do! LOL! You are very good at it! Great work. Laura #7685226

Colleen Farrell June 27, 2009

Wow, fabulous composite, Dale! Great idea and wonderful execution. #7685291

Christine Czernin June 28, 2009

Very creative and a bit scary,Dale.
Looks like a cover for a Stephen King book. Very well done. #7685347

Dale Hardin June 28, 2009

Thanks Laura. I'm still learning also but have the luxury of being retired so can take some time to experiment. You wouldn't believe all the attempts that have gone wrong along the way.

You're very kind Colleen. Thank you.

Thank you Christine. It makes me think of a scene from one of his movies when Jack's head comes through the door and exclaims, "I'm Back!" #7686524

Joan E. Hoffman June 28, 2009

Great image Dale! You are very accomplished! #7687132

Michael Kelly June 28, 2009

Very cool Dale. This is a great composite. I love all of it.

Have you seen any of the art that this reminds me of? Can't think of the artist but he hides American Indians, Deer, and wolves in trees like this only much harder to see. #7687141

Dale Hardin June 28, 2009

Thank you Joan.

Michael, I was inspired by Margarette Fields paintings on this one. She created images that have Indians in the back ground. I have about 5 of her prints. This is my favorite and all were hand signed by her at her studio in Santa Rosa, Calif about 20 years ago.

http://www.margueritefields.com/eyes%20of%20the%20medicine%20wolf%20sept.GIF

Check it out. #7687183

Michael Kelly June 28, 2009

Thanks Dale I did and that is very interesting. You did a fantastic job - I like your's better.

My wife informs me that the artist I was remembering is Bev Doolittle. Check these out. While the current catalog does not have the one your shot reminded me of the one called Doubled back is similar just with different trees. Look close on the left when you bring it up.

http://www.bnr-art.com/doolitt/doolitt1.htm #7687312

Ellen H. Robertson June 28, 2009

Love it!!! #7687413

Debbie E. Payne June 28, 2009

You are right, Michael. I've admired Bev Doolittle for a number of years and have a couple of signed in person prints from her! That was kind of exciting! Met her at a gallery in the Springs a couple of years ago. Wish I could have afforded more. We only have so many walls, you know!!!! And yes, Dale, this image is rather reminiscent of BD's work. This is wonderful...but another idea just popped into my head. Have you thought about having the trees more transparent and maybe some fog effects? #7687769

Dale Hardin June 28, 2009

thanks for the link Mike. I'll check it out

Ellen, thanks so much and Debbie, the idea of softening and adding fog (a tough one to look real) is a great idea and one I'll probably try. Actually I was thinking of re-doing this one anyway because I want to reverse the wolf so he is looking the other way. #7687822

Debbra Bailey June 28, 2009

Dale, I have seen Fields' prints, and I thought of them immediately when I saw this image! Very cool representaion! Great work! #7687933

Jeanine M. Bailey June 28, 2009

Very creative Dale!! :) Great work on this as usual!! :) #7687943

Aimee C. Eisaman June 28, 2009

I'm now curious to see what it looks like with the wolf facing the other way. My mother in law would love this...she has a painting of wolves in her living room. And I love it too! The title fits it perfectly. I can't see fence anywhere in this or the clone marks from it being there. Wonderful PP work in the DD! :~) #7688029

Rita K. Connell June 28, 2009

Dale I find this creative. I to love Bev Doolittle I will have to check out Margarette Fields paintings sounds like you have a winner here, I am with Aimee curious to see the wolf facing the other way. Great job #7688065

Dale Hardin June 28, 2009

Thanks so much Debbra, Jeanine, Aimee and Rita. Guess I'll actually have to make the changes now that everyone agrees on the reverse look. Gotta learn to keep my mouth shut 'cause this was a long hard one to do with all those branches.

Still..... I want to see it also. But will have to wait awhile so I can finish processing the rest of the images from our trip. #7688164

Dale Hardin June 28, 2009

How fast time passes. I went ahead and made the changes, including the softer look and with the fog added as well as reversing the wolf.

Tried a new technique with this one and saved a BUNCH OF TIME on the twigs and trees in front of his face. My opinion on the fog and softer look is that I like the bolder rendition better.

However, I think I like the reversed wolf better. After I hear your opinions I can easily (relatively) change the second version to a bolder look without the fog. #7688252

Michael Kelly June 28, 2009

Dale both versions are good and have a Little magic of their own. Definitely the wolf flip is the way to go. I prefer the bolder look also, but the fog one works well too.

I was just complaining of having to do more clone work to change mine and you just whip out the more complex stuff. #7688278

Vicki Snow June 29, 2009

Love the 1st one Dale...the eyes are so compelling! This I could see hanging on my wall. Very creative and beautiful!! #7688944

Aimee C. Eisaman June 29, 2009

The first one really grabs my attention with the rich color of the eyes and the dark feel to it so I like that one better, but thats just a matter of personal taste because both are good! :~) #7688981

Anthony L. Mancuso June 29, 2009

Excellent job here Dale...I think I would like the first post with flip in place best... #7689363

Dale Hardin June 29, 2009

Thanks everyone. This has been a fun experiment. I learned a few tricks and got some good insight into alternative views. My bottom line is that I agree with Tony's assessment that the first post look with the face reversed would be the optimum look for this shot.

However, it's a little tricky to do so will let this one go for now and concentrate on some of the other images from my tip. Thank you all. #7689751

Robert B. Eaton July 22, 2009

Appears to be inspired by a robert Bateman painting "midnight Wolf". good but Bateman is better. #7767679

Dale Hardin July 22, 2009

Hadn't seen that version Robert. As I mentioned in the text above this was inspired by Margarette Fields paintings.

#7769259

Kathleen K. Parker July 22, 2009

A wonderful image and super good work, Dale!
kk #7771484

Dale Hardin July 22, 2009

Thanks so much Kathleen. #7772451

Cary Rogers July 23, 2009

Very cool and creative image, Dale~! and big congrats on the Digital Darkroom feature!! #7775006

Bunny Snow July 23, 2009

Wonderful image and well done photoshop work.

I hope the wolf is in a 'sanctuary.' That is, a refuge for wildlife where predators are controlled and hunting is illegal.

On the other hand, 'sanitary' means of, relating to, or used in the disposal especially of domestic waterborne waste.

With your capture, I hope the wolf was in a sanctuary protected from the anniliation of (former) Governor Sarah Palin-R-Alaska; the Bush and Obama Administration death sentencing. #7775097

Anthony L. Mancuso July 23, 2009

I was wondering why this image was suddenly getting comments again! Congrats on the VERY well deserved recognition of your editing skills my friend... #7775218

Dale Hardin July 23, 2009

Thank Cary for the kudos.

Hi Bunny. This was taken at a wolf sanctuary in Washington State. Here is the link.

http://www.wolfhaven.org/

thanks so much for keeping up with this post Tony. I really value your opinions and support. #7775305

Donna La Mattino Pagakis August 04, 2010

Very creative Dale, nice darkroom work! #8806503

Dale Hardin August 04, 2010

Thank you Donna. By the way, loved your "Andy's drop knee 360" Perfect timing for a priceless shot. Well done! #8806712

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