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Grey Seal Lounging


Grey Seal Lounging
Photo Information
Copyright: James Parker (Jamesp) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1369 W: 9 N: 6334] (18906)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-06-09
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon 1D Mark II, Canon EF 300mm f2.8 USM IS
Exposure: f/3.5, 1/400 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): workshops photos with minimum 3 points [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-06-13 8:43
Viewed: 4759
Points: 38
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I took this shot from standing in the boat - which was rocking. Conditions were misty.

The Grey Seal (Halichoerus grypus) is found on both shores of the North Atlantic Ocean. It is a large seal of the family Phocidae or "true seals". It is the only species classified in the genus Halichoerus. Its name is alternatively spelled Gray Seal and it is also known as Atlantic Grey Seal.

In Britain and Ireland, the Grey Seal breeds in several colonies on and around the coasts; notably large colonies are at the Farne Islands off the Northumberland coast (about 6,000 animals), and North Rona off the north coast of Scotland and Lambay Island off the coast of Dublin. It is the largest native mammal of the British Isles, with the bulls reaching 2.5–3.3 m long and weighing up to 300 kg; the cows are much smaller, typically 1.6–2.0 m long and 100–150 kg weight. It is the typical seal of the northern and western coasts, the Common Seal being more often seen off southeastern coasts.

In the Western North Atlantic, Grey Seals are typically found in large numbers all along the coast of North America up to about the coastal waters of New Jersey in the United States. In Canada, they are typically seen in areas like the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Newfoundland and the Maritimes, and Quebec. In the United States one finds them year round off the New England coasts (in particular Maine and Massachusetts) and slightly less frequently in the Middle Atlantic States, though their natural range extends to Virginia. During the winter months they can be seen hauled out on the rocks, islands, and shoals not far from shore, like great grey bananas in the sun, and occasionally coming ashore to rest. In the spring the recently weaned pups and yearlings occasionally strand on beaches after becoming "lost".

Physical Description: Gray seal coloration varies from blackish with white specks and splotches to whitish with black markings. Generally, males are darker and females lighter. Pups are born white with a yellowish tint. Male gray seals have wrinkled necks, thicker necks and shoulders, and longer, broader, more rounded snouts than females.
PaulH, ellis49, iris, ramthakur, sandpiper2, nglen, dew77, delic has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To PaulH: DistanceJamesp 1 06-13 09:00
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1137 W: 26 N: 3879] (13882)
  • [2007-06-13 8:58]
  • [+]

Hi James,

how can those rocks be comfortable to lounge on like that?? Great shot considering you were on a boat, the pose of this seal is great. Nice blurry BG and details in the seaweed.How far away from him were you?
tfs,
Paul

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2234 W: 188 N: 1912] (8073)
  • [2007-06-13 8:59]

Hi James,
very nice shot, specially from a rocking boat its quite difficult, I experienced that on my last vacation.
This fellow looks very relaxed, but risks a glance towards the camera. Very well captured, the eye contact is wonderful.
TFS..Sky

Hi James,
I just love this one. I lived on an island in the northern part of the netherlands where these seals were present practically year round. For the conditions in which you took this photo you did a pretty good job. It seems that I opened the workshop war on your images....nothing personal though :-)
I selected the seal and (again) reduced some highlights. In my humble opinion the seal is somewhat better incorporated in the picture. You can give me your honest opinion, even if you think it's rubbish...
Cheers Jacob

given the conditions a great shot. i'd try and sharpen the seal just a bit though.

Hi James,
A nice catch wiht very good composition and POV.
And I like the DOF,the seal is well seen agains the BG.
Jacob did a fine WS to reduce the some hightlight and add
some sharpen. I also ask the same question;how can those rocks be comfortable? ;-)
Well done.

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1772 W: 36 N: 5597] (18598)
  • [2007-06-13 9:51]

Hi James,
Splendid portrait of the grey seal. Nice eye contact and fine focus. Very impressive sharpness. Excellent POV and DOF. It has really presented you a fabulous pose. Very nicely composed. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

  • Great 
  • pvs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1127 W: 254 N: 3161] (14464)
  • [2007-06-13 10:04]

Hi James,

A nice capture of this relaxing grey seal,maybe a bit on the bright side but as it is shot from out a moving boat quite a good shot,well done and tfs

Paul

  • Great 
  • iris Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 479 W: 60 N: 970] (3088)
  • [2007-06-13 11:36]

Hello James,
Really good shot considering teh way you maanged to get the shot.A very good close up shot with good PoV.I really like the way you have got its attention and it;s really like posing or you.
Well Done.
TFS & Cheers

Hello James,
This little one looks so friendly, almost like it was smiling and posing for you :) What a cute fellow that you captured beautifully. This is a very nice picture :) Thanks,
Claudine

  • Great 
  • demeve Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 586 W: 12 N: 1682] (6165)
  • [2007-06-13 13:22]

Hello James, beautiful close-up, wonderful collors this seal have, great POV and composition..well done

This is a great capture despite the odds like the mist and a rocking boat, James.
The Grey(Gray) Seal seems to be in a relaxed mood and is looking at you with an expression of benevolent tolerance: What is this chap doing out here on a dull grey day?
Those moss covered rocks make a wonderful background.
Thanks and warm regards.

  • Great 
  • ridvan Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 498 W: 0 N: 1136] (5205)
  • [2007-06-13 14:06]

selam james ; excellent shot of this lovely animal, nice details presented , very nice BG and POV, well captured with splendid colours TFS
regards
ridvan

Nice shot of this seal
I like the casual pose of the seal and it contrasts well against teh darker OOF background.
Good eye contact and sharpness, well composed.

Chris

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2883 W: 30 N: 9683] (36145)
  • [2007-06-13 15:02]

Hi James. Looks like you had a good weekend . Great shot. he looks like he is waving at you.
very good eye contact. good detail and well done for taking from the boat. with good colours . great notes Thanks. very well done TFS.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4432 W: 248 N: 4028] (13270)
  • [2007-06-13 15:15]

Hello James,
Funny capture.POV,eye contact,details and framing are excellent.
TFS..:-)

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1515 W: 18 N: 3165] (11638)
  • [2007-06-13 16:15]

Hi James

Great shot especially in those conditions. I love seeing pictures of seals like this. I wish I could rest like that. Lovely pose, great POV and well composed

TFS

Karan

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-06-13 23:35]

Hello James

This is so Burt Reynolds Cosmo.Just needs a cowboy hat lol.Excellent focus and sharp details.Very good eye contact.The bed of seaweed is wonderful.Well done.TFS

Rob

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3089 W: 230 N: 6774] (23770)
  • [2007-06-15 3:24]

Not bad for a shot from a rocking boat, James. : )
Actually the details are quite sharp.
I love the pose... and the eye contact.
Well exposed and well composed.
TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • delic Gold Star Critiquer [C: 440 W: 6 N: 310] (898)
  • [2007-06-17 16:59]

Hi James,
Commendable job with sharpness and exposure. The seal appears to be glowing in the middle of the dark background. Regards,
Hakan

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