-- Tait Stangl (taits@usa.net), September 19, 1998

Answers

I like the minimal color pallette. My only gripe is the top framing. It seems to cut off just a tiny bit of the seals back. I would either crop down more or show the arch of his back. Either he's in or he's out. But a great face!

-- Mike Green (mgprod@mindspring.com), September 19, 1998.

Another great shot by Tait.

How long was the lens?

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

Thanks for the comments thus far Mike & James. The focal length of the lens is 70-200mm, shot at 200.

-- Tait Stang (taits@usa.net), September 19, 1998.

I think this shot would be better if the seal were "awake" with its eyes open.

-- Shun Cheung (shun@worldnet.att.net), September 20, 1998.

Any other ideas for improvement?

-- Tait Stangl (taits@usa.net), September 21, 1998.

Hi!

It is a very nice shot. The above comments are right about the cropping, but no other photographic improvment is needed.

I'd have a minor suggestion on digital presentation. The drop shadow is a pleasing frame, but it's almost competing with the picture. The lightsource for this shadow should be placed to a very unusual position, it would burn out the top left corner. If you reduce the offset and pick up a semi-dark color from the picture for the shadow instead of black, it might give a more natural perspective.

But the photo itself is very cute!

-- Gabor Avasi (avasig@hotmail.com), September 21, 1998.

I like it. The only problem here is compositional focus. It is the face (eyes closed ) and body position ( laying down ) with the head against the "rock" pillow that says "I'm asleep". With this in mind, cropping in on these essentials is enough. I'd crop the top third off ( midway down the rock behind the pillow rock) and just below the whiskers. This emphasizes the face and the prone position whilst eliminating the distracting light and unfocused elements at the top.

-- Paul Lenson (lenson@pci.on.ca), September 22, 1998.

Paul I like your idea of cropping the image alot but I think I would need a different perspective for it to work well. I see this as a better image the way it is. Thanks for you comments every one.

-- Tait Stangl (taits@usa.net), September 23, 1998.