minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Let's talk about wildlife and how to capture their beauty!

This month we will critique a fine art wildlife image by Modern Master Richard Bernabe, a National Geographic photographer whose work you may have also seen in Outdoor Photography, Pop Photo or others. While many of us make images of animals, we often struggle not only with the logistics of the capture but also with composition of wild creatures, light and environments over which we have limited control.

Bernabe is an internationally renowned landscape, wildlife, and travel photographer and widely published author. His passion for adventure has been the driving force behind his life’s quest to capture the moods and character of the world’s most amazing places, from Africa to the Amazon to the Arctic. Here’s what he says about his work:

“In 2003, I left behind a pointless corporate life to pursue a passion: To share with the world my love for wilderness, wild places, and the creatures that inhabit them. Photography just happened to be the most natural way I could personally express what I saw and how I felt about the things and places I loved. It is often said that art should say much more about the artist than it does about the subject. If this is true, and I do believe it is, than each of my images contains a little bit of me and how I see the world.”

We ask you to share your impressions of this image, and, if you wish, to share one of your own best images of animals in the wild for further discussion of the successes or challenges you experienced.

When posting your thoughts, think about some of the major elements of any good work of art –Light, Color, Moment, Composition, Distance and of course the Subject. Here’s some more questions to consider:
What do you see?
How does it make you feel?
Do you like it, why or why not?
Do you agree or disagree with the artist’s statement that is in italics above? Why?
If you could, how would you change it?
Without knowing its value, would you put it on your wall?

For some information about critiquing nature photography:
http://www.naturephotographers.net/je1001-1.html

Here are some links to learn more about the photographer and his work:
http://photography.tutsplus.com/articles/richard-bernabe-my-best-work-is-done-when-i-am-alone--photo-13661
http://www.richardbernabe.com
http://precise-moment.com/2015/08/13/richard-bernabe-uncovers-the-spirit-of-africa/ (free ebook)

Light Flight by Richard Bernabe from http://www.richardbernabe.com/blog/tag/patagonia/

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Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Wowsa, Minnie, talk about visual impact!

First, I do agree with the photographer's statement. I recently added another quote to my signature line which helps explain my position. And I think it's GWR100 who has, "If you don't feel it, don't release the shutter."

One of the greatest compliments I've received on UHH was that my critter photos show my love and respect of wildlife.

YES - I want it on my wall! It has much of what I love in an image: yummy backlighting, great drama, and a very unique viewpoint. Who of us will ever be in a similar situation?!

The drama comes from not only catching the one zebra in mid-flight, but the dust around the less distinct shapes of the others, all packed at the edge. You feel like some are going to change their mind or be pushed over (maybe I saw that in a wildlife show once as a child :) ).

Sylvias Loc: North Yorkshire England

Wonderful image, fantastic light, composition and tension. Will the rest of the Zebra follow? It must have been thrilling to experience, imagine the sound and the dust flying!
I too agree with the statement. Taking wildlife shots I find my feelings come to the fore making me want to capture the beauty and life of either animal or bird. I have not been fortunate to capture action shots to-date, but I certainly hope to be in that position one day.
Yes I would hang it on my wall in an instant with the greatest of pleasure.
I am posting this shot, not my best but very memorable. I spent a day with a Ranger again in Africa and we found this Caracal running up and down the trees, peeping through the branches at us. We watched him for an hour or more, goodness knows how many times I tried to take a shot. Then he suddenly stopped, looked straight at me, I smiled and said 'I've got you' and took the shot. He looked as though he was smiling back at me. :D

One of my favourite shots

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Dave Chinn

Sylvias, you say this is not your best ? Wow, I would like to see what you consider your best is. This is an outstanding image. I do hope it is hanging on your wall. I don't have enough positive words to say about this image. Very nice capture !!!
Dave

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

I see a scene I don’t quite feel. Pushed a bit to far for me if it indeed is suppose to illicit the feeling of a natural wildlife scene.

I feel the artist has invoked plenty of himself in this image….which is fine if that’s the intent.

Not particularly. The primary subject is crowed on the left. I would like to see at least a portion of the bottom of the abyss. Post processing elements are visible and some almost seem unreal.

I basically agree with the artist’s statement. I think there is a bit of us in each of our shots.

Eliminate the ability to see some of the post processing efforts.

I don’t think I would go out of my way to do so.

He has some outstanding work no question, his elephants, bears, or goats for instance, I just feel this in not one of them.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I love this image, Sylvia! Wonderfully expressive face as you stated, along with a fantastic setting. Terrific you could capture the full cat - you can even see claws :) I hope it's hanging on your wall as a very large print!

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

I want it on my wall too! This is our kind of light, isn't it? One of the strengths of this one is the uncertainty of what's gonna happen next!

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

He does look like he's smiling! I noticed that even before I read your post. He seems almost smirking at you! Wonderful image, very beautiful languid portrait of this creature.

Thank you for your critique and especially for your excellent contribution!

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

American White Pelicans visit central Washington in the spring and summer. I was able to capture these two in bright early morning light as they cruised down the river in the canyon.

90% of the wildlife photos I've posted to UHH were shot with the super-zoom bridge camera, Canon SX50. I would not be able to afford an SLR lens with that kind of reach, let alone be able to carry it :)

The challenges for me when shooting wildlife are not being able to control where an animal is relative to the light, and whether the setting is interesting or distracting.

I've come to accept that just being able to witness the amazing sights I've seen is the greatest reward (eagle triplets growing from dinosaur-looking babies to taking their first flight), and any photo I can capture is dessert.

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Sometimes a super-zoom isn't called for.

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Sylvias Loc: North Yorkshire England

Thank you for your generous comments Dave I appreciate them very much pleased you enjoyed it. :D

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

I do love the white pelicans and these are very nice in the warm light. Our pelicans (which might be the same as yours:)), arrived last week. The scouts came the week before, and staked off their territories, then the big flocks arrived and set up housekeeping.

Agree that it is so challenging to find creatures in the right light, with the right surroundings, and then doing something interesting. Most of the time I'm just watching, enjoying seeing them. Every once in a great while, I get a decent shot. Not often.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Thank you Frank for an honest appraisal! It is not easy to go up against the Masters:).

I agree that he put a whole bunch of himself into the Africa shots, and seems to rely a lot on the processing of the light effects. I suspect he was taking this further than reality for the effect. And so we come back to the question of how far to go in order to achieve our vision...

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

It is really not that hard minniev. If you take the back story or photographer or whatever out of the equation and just focus on the image your true opinion will come through. I often think folks get overwhelmed if someone is famous and pretend they can do no wrong. While they may be very good at what they do, they are after all.......still human. Some but not all of what I said is personal taste for me.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I didn't read anything about the photographer before looking at the shot (of course I did see the title suggesting "masters..." :) ) and still haven't looked at the links for his other photos.

So my own response was just to the image and it was an immediate WOW. I admit I didn't look closely enough to see the pp issues you mention, Frank. So in that regard, I was probably responding to the "can do no wrong" syndrome. Interesting point you make.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

You are right that much of it is personal taste. I love the Bernie image; it is dreamlike, yes, but that is part of its appeal for me. If I were ever lucky enough to get such a shot, I'd push it just that far. The dynamic nature of it, and the fact that you don't know what happened next contribute to the appeal, for me too.