Mjmagee
Active member
Got this shot of a cougar in the early morning, would appreciate any input.
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Close up of a Cougar Nikon D500 200-500 1/200 f7.1 iso 1100
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How did you get that close? Even with a 500mm lens on a crop body…that's pretty close to the cat. My question aside…really great shot although I would have used a little deeper DoF to get some of the body in focus as well. It almost looks like it was shot through something…or was it just a foggy morning?
It's a beautiful cat and a great composition.
Can't say I'm a fan of the milky soft focus look. It works pretty well because you nailed sharpness on the snout and one of the eyes and I suspect you either shot or processed for that kind of dreamy look but personally I'd at least want to see both eyes crisp and I find the lighter toned foggy sides of the image a bit distracting as it looks a lot like lens flare.
It's definitely an artistic look and some may love it, but it's a bit too washed out looking for my tastes.
Nice! Is this the famous Mercer Island cat?
Kathy G
Well-known member
Like Dave I really like the composition but the foggy atmosphere takes away from what is a beautiful photo. If the cat was in the fog, then I guess there is not much you can do. If you added the fog effect, then I would really like to see the photo without the effect.
Mjmagee
Active member
Thanks for the feedback. It is not the Mercer Island Cat, but we did have a sighting just a few days ago so he/ she is back. I have attached another shot without the fog, but I think I went processing happy. The lack of depth of field is user error, I certainly see how that would have added to the shot.
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bajadreamer
Well-known member
I agree with DR. I like a less milky, dreamy look. Although it would have been nice to have had both eyes in sharp focus, as close as you must have been, that would have been difficult. Even if you had raised your aperture to f/16 your DOF would have been very narrow. With the difference in color (because of reflection) of both eyes, it might not work, but this is one I would try Topaz AI Sharpen and would mask the eye/right side of face to apply to only that area.
Kathy G
Well-known member
Much better for me. I don’t mind the shallow depth of field - it helps keep the viewer focused on the head. I’m not sure about the rock on the top. You cropped it out on the first photo. Did you try to crop it out of this version?
They’re both excellent...just different excellent.
JP Onstwedder
Well-known member
I prefer the first version as it looks natural, and looking at a wild animal through grass or fog doesn’t bother me at all. Great shot!