direction wanted

[chauncey]

I like this picture of this young stag in the woods but am unsure how to turn it into an object d'art.



Here I've played with curves and what not, but it just doesn't have it yet.



Any suggestions out there?

[Polar01]

I do not know what you applied to the back ground, whatever it is I personally do not like the effect, my eyes are drawn to it trying to figure it out making the stag secondary to the overall image.
That is the way I see it.

Cheers:

Allan

[Stagecoach]

Chauncey,

I would suggest giving up. Whatever you do to the background you are still going to end up with an image of a stag looking at the camera head on.

[chauncey]

It was shot in a heavily wooded area, the background is woods being OOF, not very attractive bokeh.

[Glenn NK]

Chauncey:

Don't give up - help may be closer than you know:

http://www.naturescapes.net/forums/v...e168c54568c0f3

Glenn

[kdoc856]

Hi, Chauncey. Are you saying this has not had a filter applied? It's a really peculiar bokeh if not that I've not seen before.

[Alandb]

Think about what you don't like about this picture and take it as a learning experience. Yes, the stag is nice but everything around it is a distraction. Learn to look at the edges of the screen to see how the composition works as a whole.

[Polar01]

Wait a minute I now believe that it must be that new Canon bokeh I read about somewhere.

Cheers:

Allan

[GrahamS]

It would be interesting to know which 300mm lens you used, Bill?

[chauncey]

The lens is a 300mm f/2.8, circa 6-08, no filter, mounted on my 1DsMkIII. Settings>ISO 400, 1/30, f/2.8. I shot through a "window" of dense foliage, kinda like layers of chain link fencing.
I could crop it as the image is almost 20x16...had to merge to include the entire deer or, select it and change the background. Am unsure as of yet.

[rudi]

Hi Wim,

I would try blurring the background, and lighten the stag's face/chest somewhat.
But that's probably not the 'object d'art' you are looking for.
Kregards, Rudi

[James G]

Chauncy, Given it's a nature shot, but you want a style to the image I'd suggest :-

1) Blur the background a little
2) make background monochrome
3) consider a faded border

The closest I have come to trying such a style was a couple of years ago when I was trying to present a group of fungi images.

[GrahamS]

The lens is a 300mm f/2.8, circa 6-08, no filter, mounted on my 1DsMkIII. Settings>ISO 400, 1/30, f/2.8.

I can see all this from the EXIF data. My question was, which model / make of lens? Hanimex......