Prairie Dogs - Cotswold Wildlife Park

[LukeGrayson]

Hello all,

This is one of my Prairie Dogs from the Cotswold wildlife park. I went here early on this year and got a few nice shots.

Prair Dogs by LukeGrayson2401, on Flickr

[Tigger]

Re: Prairie Dogs - Cotswold Wildlife Park

thats a fat old dog ... nice shot

I would have lost some of the left hand side and would recommend you reading up on "rule of thirds" especially as both are looking outward of the shot so this would work well - Also I don't know what your using for PP but I would have lost the chicken wire

[LukeGrayson]

Re: Prairie Dogs - Cotswold Wildlife Park

Sorry when you say PP what do you mean?

I agree I should have cut some of the left hand side off.

Thanks

[Tigger]

Re: Prairie Dogs - Cotswold Wildlife Park

PP = post processing

[LukeGrayson]

Re: Prairie Dogs - Cotswold Wildlife Park

Cheers. I have the newest photoshop and lightroom but don't really use them. Need to learn a bit more about PP first.

[Stan]

Re: Prairie Dogs - Cotswold Wildlife Park

Its well exposed just needs re cropping and removing the food which is easy to do in Photoshop CC just using the spot healing brush set to content aware

Stan

zz1edit.jpg

[Tigger]

Re: Prairie Dogs - Cotswold Wildlife Park

Cheers. I have the newest photoshop and lightroom but don't really use them. Need to learn a bit more about PP first.

better start reading up, although I would start with LR first as it will ease you into PS

right on the money Stan

[LukeGrayson]

Re: Prairie Dogs - Cotswold Wildlife Park

Thanks guys. Will have to start reading up then I think.

Good to see what other people think.

[LukeGrayson]

Re: Prairie Dogs - Cotswold Wildlife Park

Guys this is another one that I think is a little better but you may not like the fact it has food in it.

Prairie Dog by LukeGrayson2401, on Flickr

[Tigger]

Re: Prairie Dogs - Cotswold Wildlife Park

the first cropped one does work a lot better - whilst the second is a nice image the food doesn't help - but with PS or LR that could be gone in a few clicks

[LukeGrayson]

Re: Prairie Dogs - Cotswold Wildlife Park

Ok well good to know that I am getting the right kind of shots just need some gentle editing.

Thanks Tigger. Dee was telling me today you are very good and know what your talking about.

So again thanks.

[Bhuna]

Re: Prairie Dogs - Cotswold Wildlife Park

Luke, they are good shots but as Stan has pointed out, the food doesnt help.

What I learnt from this forum (and I hope I get this right) is that the food is doing one of two things to the picture - first of all it distracts your eye from the main focal point of the picture (the prairie dog) - as you are drawn to bright orange carrots or green lettuces, secondly and one that probably trumps the first one a bit, is that it is always best to try to picture wildlife in its natural habitat or a scene as close as possible so if you remove the food the scene looks a little more wildlife rather than a captured environment.

[LukeGrayson]

Re: Prairie Dogs - Cotswold Wildlife Park

Completely get what you are saying Bhuna. That is great advice. Not sure if you seen my other posts but only just starting out so feed back like this is gold dust.

Appreciate the help from everyone. All very friendly.

[Bhuna]

Re: Prairie Dogs - Cotswold Wildlife Park

Im only just catching up with posts :) - but one thing I would suggest Luke is to look for Lightroom tutorial videos. Tim Grey (or Gray) has some excellent ones - they are long but well worth the watch as you will learn a hell of a lot from them. In particular, a good one to look at is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbKTQeM105I

Using Lightroom and Photoshop together.

[LukeGrayson]

Re: Prairie Dogs - Cotswold Wildlife Park

Thanks Bhuna will check those out over the next few days.