mdorn Loc: Portland, OR

I focused this guy directly on the eye, but in a B&W rendition I created, it appeared to be on the owner's sleeve (according to a few critiques). I use a single focus spot on my camera for shots like these, and I centered it on the eye. However, perhaps I need to make a micro adjustment? What do you all think? Thanks. -M

Please compare with:

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-304162-1.html

Brazilian Rainbow Boa

(Download)

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

Now one see what a magnificent creature Roy actually is.
Much better in colour my man.
Still not keen on the very shallow DOF the sleeve out of focus is not great but the main attraction in all his glory makes it livable.

mdorn Loc: Portland, OR

Thanks Billy... I have edited part of the owner's sleeve out in another version based on your feedback. I'm a little concerned with the focus. To your eye, is the sharpest focus on the eye or the sleeve? Thanks.

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

The eye has it my man

Frank2013 Loc: San Antonio, TX. & Milwaukee, WI.

This color version is much better than the b & w. I'll differ with Billyspad on the dof, I think you did a good job isolating just the head for focus.

Armadillo Loc: Ventura, CA

Mark,
Looking at this image at 100% the eye and the sleeve below the eye at rein the same close focal plane, the difference some may be seeing is in the contrast of the elements in each area. There are more contrasting elements in the sleeve weave than around the eye.

Your composition has a good start; it can be improved with another capture. There is another part of image composition that comes into play with this type of capture, focus tracking. Guiding the eye to the subject and eliminating focus distractions. Where the sleeve enters the frame from the bottom right corner, and guides the eye to the top left corner, the focus should also guide the eye toward the center point of interest. It is okay for the bottom-right-corner sleeve to be soft focused, but this should become sharper as the Human eye moves to the Snake eye. From the eye the sharp focus should continue to the far side of the head, and from there drift into softer focus.

This is all food for thought on your next snake-handling outing. For me, I wouldn’t have any part Roy on my arm.

Michael G

Nightski

I see the sharpest focus on the sleeve right in front of the eye. I like the thin plane of focus, but it has to be on that eye.

mdorn Loc: Portland, OR

Thank you Michael. Regarding the focus, this is exactly the case. It may perceptually look like the sleeve is in sharper focus, but I have the focus spot in post to prove it is in fact directly on the eye. Of course, my camera could need a micro adjustment, but since I don't see an issue with other images, I'm going to leave this one and not chase after a perceptual thing.

Furthermore, Dave (aka Uuglypher), who is a Veterinary Pathologists, informed me that this reptile has a pretty serious problem with its eyes (thank you Dave!!). The skin around the eyes failed to completely shed (it looks like more than once), which has caused some serious damage to this snake's eyes. Such a shame. The owner of the snake has been notified and he said he will take Roy to the vet immediately. I hope all will turn out well for the snake, but according to Dave, it sounds doubtful. But I digress...

This further supports your contrast argument as the eye has a layer of thin cloudy skin covering it. Nevertheless, the camera's contrast autofocus mechanism is not foolproof, so if some see OOF, I won't argue this point. They see what they see. I can only say that the autofocus was locked on the snake's eye when I clicked the shutter.

Again, thank you for your insights Micheal. Hopefully, I will have another opportunity to practice focus tracking as you suggest. -M