WPC 1438 - Hide and Seek CRITIQUE: bbirch has volunteered their WPC Entry to the Photo Critique Forum* to find out what could have done to make it better. Be nice, but be honest as...

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

bbirch has volunteered their WPC Entry to the Photo Critique Forum* to find out what could have done to make it better. Be nice, but be honest as this will help everyone with their craft. Thank you everyone!

From WPC 1438 - Hide and Seek RESULTS http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/photo_contest_ratings.jsp?pcnum=136

* If you are new to the Photo Critique Forum please read the Section Rules http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-159520-1.html

Peek-a-boo! After paralleling a male lion in Botswana we circled to get in front of him and were then startled when he came out of the brush right by our Land Rover.

(Download)

Graham Smith Loc: Cambridgeshire UK

This would be an excellent portrait of a lion showing how it's colouring blends with it's surroundings, but, and it's a big but, the lion is badly out of focus. The cameras AF has focused on the grass not the lion.

Graham

bbirch Loc: Frederick, MD

Thanks. I can see this but the photo opportunity was a split second. What could I have done to prevent this?

Graham Smith Loc: Cambridgeshire UK

bbirch wrote:

Thanks. I can see this but the photo opportunity was a split second. What could I have done to prevent this?

I understand completely about only having a split second to make the shot, manual focus would be better in a situation like this.

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

Graham Smith wrote:

I understand completely about only having a split second to make the shot, manual focus would be better in a situation like this.

I agree with Graham; MF is the only choice under the circumstances.

Dave

BrettOssman Loc: near Tampa, Florida

Uuglypher wrote:

I agree with Graham; MF is the only choice under the circumstances.

Dave

Would a faster auto-focus help, and one with more focus point options.

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

BrettOssman wrote:

Would a faster auto-focus help, and one with more focus point options.

I think you are still risking it going for the grass.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

St3v3M wrote:

bbirch has volunteered their WPC Entry to the Photo Critique Forum* to find out what could have done to make it better. Be nice, but be honest as this will help everyone with their craft. Thank you everyone!

From WPC 1438 - Hide and Seek RESULTS http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/photo_contest_ratings.jsp?pcnum=136

* If you are new to the Photo Critique Forum please read the Section Rules http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-159520-1.html

Wonderful animal, but your camera's autofocus did you no favors here, it decided to focus on the grass in front of the lion (which is tack sharp) but left this magnificent animal blurred.

I usually keep my camera set on SAF+MF and one focus point for this reason. That way my camera focuses on what it thinks I want based on that one focus point, but I can check it and adjust in a split second with the MF adjustment. Sometimes the blurred stuff in the front still impairs the shot, but at least you've got a fighting chance if the thing you wanted in focus is indeed in focus.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

That's usually what happens to me. AF is programmed to get what's in front, no matter how small and insignificant it is. Trying to get it to focus on something else is a bear. And I'm far too slow for manual focus to ever get it done. My shot would have matched yours, most likely.

As far as the contest is concerned, I think perhaps the lion is too obvious to fit the intent of the contest. As I look at other entries, the ones that I would have voted for are far more subtle.

bbirch Loc: Frederick, MD

Thanks to all for great advice. I think I probably would have been too slow to get the shot with manual focus so it just may be one of those times you can't get the shot you wanted. Fortunately we followed this lion for an hour and I got another shot that was published in Shutterbug magazine. You win some and lose some. Great new ideas here for me that I want to try though.

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

bbirch wrote:

Thanks to all for great advice. I think I probably would have been too slow to get the shot with manual focus so it just may be one of those times you can't get the shot you wanted. Fortunately we followed this lion for an hour and I got another shot that was published in Shutterbug magazine. You win some and lose some. Great new ideas here for me that I want to try though.

XXXXXXX
Hey, bbirch; you are a published photographer!
lose a bit...win a lot!

Congratulations!

Dave in SD

Nightski

I have to agree with Graham on this one. The blurred lion is a shot killer for me. Love the light, the colors, the crop ... it's just too bad that the focus wasn't on the lion. He is the subject.