-- Joe Cheatwood (cheatwoo@ufl.edu), July 14, 1998

Answers

Just so you know the data:

This was shot with: Nikon N70, Sigma 70-210 (at 210), and a big reptile.

It was handheld, daylight (~5:00pm), f11.

-- Joe Cheatwood (cheatwoo@ufl.edu), July 14, 1998.

Joe,

I find the composition a bit "noisy". The aligator seems lost in the composition. I think this still might have worked if the eyes were more prominent. This would give it real drama as we realize in looking at the photograph that would appears at first to be inanimate is suddenly realized to be alive. One other note, it may have helped to use a polarizer. This would have increased to saturation of the plants and made the water black. Also I sense a slight fuzziness. Perhaps a little sharpening after the scan can take care of that.

-- Paul Lenson (lenson@pci.on.ca), July 14, 1998.

I think the shot is very, nearly perfect -- makes a very strong statement about the habits and habituate of the beast. When first examining it, a moment passes before the eye finds the predator lying in ambush -- perfect...

Composition takes perfect advantage of the eyes tendency to begin scanning a picture from the upper right -proceeding to the center. Leaves on left and bottom frame the center of interest and move the eye back into the composition.

Has definite stock photo marketability.

-- Lester LaForce (102140.1200@compuserve.com), July 14, 1998.

There seems to be quite a bit of glare off the foreground leaves and the alliagtor itself. A polarizer should help quite a bit.

-- Shun Cheung (shun@worldnet.att.net), July 14, 1998.

The composition bugged me a little at first until I realized the scan is full frame.

A standard "8x10" proportion cropping (cropping off the left portion), would easily place the eyes in a very pleasing place.

I'm sure that's what Joe had in mind as he composed this. As it stands, the composition leaves room for cropping and also leaves open possibilities for stripping in text with ghosting (as in a stock use).

I almost didn't see the 'gator at first. I think the shock value of the huge critter just beneath the surface is powerfull.

The only negative I would add is possibly the saturation could be better, but it looks like more of a scanning issue and is easily fixed in printing.

The diagonal lines of the reeds are a little distracting...gee, Joe, why didn't you straighten 'em (laughing :>). But they also help hide the 'gator... I sure wouldn't have waited around long!

Nice shot Joe.

Keith Clark

http://www.spiritone.com

-- Keith Clark (ClarkPhotography@spiritone.com), July 14, 1998.

A big "Thank you" to everyone who has replied. I am really just getting started in photography and I am working hard to shoot interesting images. I will take the advice of most of you and buy a polarizer. If anyone else has anything to say, please do so. Thanks!

--Joe

-- Joe Cheatwood (cheatwoo@ufl.edu), July 16, 1998.

Joe,

I have to give you credit for taking time to focus and compose AT ALL. It's not like you were photographing Bambi in Nottingham Forest. Gators can move pretty fast - although they prefer not to move at all. Excellent shot considering you were eligible prey (however a polarizer would have made this perfect...)

Craig

-- Craig Bradley (cbradley@telespectrum.com), July 23, 1998.