The Encounter

Critiques [Translate]

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• Heaven (7912)
• [2009-10-31 6:27]

Dear Niek!

You had a wonderful encounter, and you share it with us in a very pleasant way: your narrative notes are captivating and interesting, and the picture is very beautiful. The low light and the tiny reflections on the animal create a particular effect.

Kind regards

Markus

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• cobra112 (43366)
• [2009-10-31 6:47]

Hi Niek. Ottima silouette in controluce. Afafsicnati i colori caldi e i riflessi sul mare. Bella compo.

Roberto

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• Alex99 (23735)
• [2009-10-31 11:35]

Hi Niek.
Nice story and very attractive meeting. You have met an impressive animal and have pictured it at wonderful pose. I do not know if the colors are natural but scene at whole. Combination of sharpness of the beach and animal and light blurriness of the water surface is fine. I also think composition of the image is spot on. My kind regards and TFS.
Alexei.

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• nglen (36145)
• [2009-10-31 12:11]

Hi Neik. this what you call luck to have seen this. Not the best time of day with the light but you have done a fine job. Even more interesting with your notes. TFS.
Nick..

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• PaulH (13882)
• [2009-10-31 12:19]

It is beautiful Niek, a wonderful portrait using the late light to it's full advantage. I think the composition and crisp clarity combined with the wonderful hues and tones help make this a very endearing image, well done!
Paul

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• pablominto (14563)
• [2009-11-01 0:01]

Hello Niek,

This is a fine composition!
Elegant simplicity, nature at its best...
The animal is so well recorded in a typical pose, and the atmosphere on the beach is captivating!

Greetings,
Pablo -

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• horia (16656)
• [2009-11-01 15:06]

Hi Niek

A very nice close-up from you, my friend! I t was definitely worth changing your mind in the last minute and taking your camera :)
You did a really stunning job here - especially in terms of POV and exposure. The POV is excellent since it gives you that brighter sea and foamy waves as the perfect BG for this scene while the exposure is absolutely perfect in my opinion because it retains excellent details from the the darkest shadows and the highlight. I'm guessing this was metered evaluatively?
Further more, the pose of the sea lion is gorgeous and the fact that you have nothing else than fine pristine sand in the FG also helps concentrate all you attention on the subject, without any distractions.
If i were to be nit picking, i'd say that the head of the seal is a bit too centered and it would have probably looked a bit better if it were on the right...but this is a little element and i'm also guessing you left it there for better focus purposes (this lens not being that accurately as your 70-200 most likely).
Anyway, this is a lovely shot and i'm very much looking forward for the ones to come :)

Bravo and have a great week
Horia

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• amanengone (2113)
• [2009-11-01 16:17]

Hello Niek.

Nice effect of the animal in the sunshine, close from the sea. Lovely colors from the sea, good contrast. Good effect of the light on the skin from the animal.

Thank you for the sharing.

All the best.

Philippe.

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• meyerd (7531)
• [2009-11-03 13:44]

Hi Niek,
it was a privilege to have your critique on my first landscape shot. Of course you are right, I should leave my safe corner, the macro shots with flash, and seek greener pastures :-) But then I'm aware of the standards here on TN, your portrait of the Harbor seal is a good one to judge. It takes a lot to do this one right. I don't have to enumerate the elements that make the shot a memorable one; you know your stuff indeed. You added this thought on your intro to TN: "Got a particular enthusiasm? Flog it to death". Maybe that's for me. But then there is Markus ....
My best regards
Dietrich

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• lovenature (6391)
• [2009-11-05 17:48]

Hi Niek
Good thing you brought your camera on your walk. It's so exciting when an animal just shows up unannounced and your camera is right there. The Sea Lion gave you a nice pose and the waves are a nice textured contrast to his sleek coat. Well done Niek.
TFS Janice

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• boreocypriensis (9571)
• [2009-11-07 22:04]

Hi and Good Morning Niek,

This one is utterly amazingly beautiful capture of this cute sea lion in a fine pose. The dynamic BG also stand out it well.
TFS this beauty and have a nice Sunday!
Cheers,

Bayram

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• NinaM (4077)
• [2009-11-17 5:48]

Wow! that's a wow photo, Niek! What a pose.

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• chrisruth (213)
• [2010-01-18 10:46]

Hello Niek

Well done on the capture of this wonderful sea lion.
As you enjoy sunset photography this one must have been special to capture in these lighting conditions with the sunset colors on the water.

I really like the clarity of the picture in these difficult conditions for photograpy.

Well done and TFS
Kind Regards
Chris