-- James Fazio (triathlete@vt.edu), September 18, 1998

Answers

-- James Fazio (triathlete@vt.edu), September 18, 1998.

Shot was taken right at sunrise with a Sigma 75-300 @ 300mm f5.6, 1/30s on Fuji Provia pushed two stops to ISO 400. I tried to get the colors to match the slide, but I am still learning this digital stuff. Thanks.

-- James Fazio (triathlete@vt.edu), September 18, 1998.

I like it for the morst part. I won't comment on the colors since I don't know what the original slide looks like...

It's a nice wildlife/habitat shot. It appears to be plenty sharp where it counts, and the all important catchlights in the eyes. I don't think it would make it as an "art" print, but as a wildlife portrait it's very good, although a tad too centered.

OK, I lied about commenting on color: why is the water that color? Is it simply the surrise reflecting on the surface? It seems a tad too magenta but that could be an environmental factor (pollution?).

Cheers!

Keith

-- Keith Clark (ClarkPhotography@spiritone.com), September 18, 1998.

PS: I'm having trouble seeing the entire image. The bottom keeps getting cropped off. Can you check the file to be sure it's not corrupt?

-- Keith Clark (ClarkPhotography@spiritone.com), September 18, 1998.

The color of the water is due to the sunrize, and it was taken in Northern Virginia so some of the color could be due to pollution. As I said, I wasn't able to get the colors to exactly match the slide, but they are close. Here is my problem, if I tone down the magenta, the green in the leaves goes fluorescent green. Thanks for your help, and to all who respond. I am learning so much from this forum.

-- James Fazio (triathlete@vt.edu), September 18, 1998.

Nice color correction, Jim! :>

Try "Professional Photoshop" by Don Margulis. You might also subscribe to "Electronic Publishing" (it's free), because his articles in there are very good also.

http://www.electronic-publishing.com

Keith

-- Keith Clark (ClarkPhotography@spiritone.com), September 18, 1998.

I think it's a good nature shot but it does have some technical problems. It seems to me to "hotspot" in the center. The corners are dark. I wouldn't have expected vignetting with that lens, but that's sure what it looks like.

The color is a bit on the magenta side as others have commented. On my system it does look better with a slight green shift and the leaves don't go too bright. Minor nit-pick anyway as we are all probably looking at different colors!

-- Bob Atkins (bob_atkins@hotmail.com), September 18, 1998.

Where in Northern Virginia did you take the photo? I live in Arlington. I would love to find where this was taken.

-- James Tarquin (tarquin@erols.com), September 19, 1998.

James,

I really appreciate this photograph. The composition is fresh and suggestive. The 'hotspot' is not entirely in the middle, because the plants are as important for the image as the beaver. Apart from the vignetting, this picture 'works' for me.

Can you show us some more (excusez) beaver shots?

Greetings,

-- Albin Hunia (a.hunia@dlg.agro.nl), September 21, 1998.

AHA! NOW I know what's been clipping the pickerelweeds on our lake!

-- Rose-Marie Burke (rmbehr@istar.ca), September 21, 1998.