another one from the snake portraits. C+C much appreciated as always!

http://www.sushigaijin.com/images/photos/snake%20series/cerastes%20series%20small.jpg

I love the snake part of this-the head is in a great spot and that one eye is perfectly in focus.

Overall though I think the entire image is too dark and most of the black background above the snake could and should be cropped out. Lighten it, crop it and I think you will have a real winner here.

IMO you should not lighten it. I think some photo's should not be dark, but when it is the background that is dark, like here, and the subject has the light.. I think it just adds to the total affect of the image. I like it. :thumbsup: I do agree that it could use some cropping in to the snake. There seems just a bit too much background on the top.

Amber

It's an interesting shot, but it might be a little too hard to figure out. The photo might be a victim of the snake's camouflage. I think if the second eye was visible too or if the right one was more prominent then I could tell what was going on easier. It may be too dark, but I'm not sure that would solve the above mentioned problem. Perhaps if the tail was sticking up a bit more then one could make it out better. Just my take,

G

Thanks for the advice guys, it really helps with this shot in particular. here's a minor rework - crop changed, added brightness and contrast with curves, adjusted white point in levels, reduced saturation to correct for the previous adjustments, that's it. I know that this one will print better, since I always lose a bit of contrast and brightness to the nature of printing. Better?

http://www.sushigaijin.com/images/photos/snake%20series/cerastes%20series%20small%202.jpg

My 2 cents: To me the color balance is off. To me it looks like it was taken under a yellow light.

My 2 cents: To me the color balance is off. To me it looks like it was taken under a yellow light.

I was waiting for that. It was taken under a yellow light.

I can correct the white balance, but i wasn't really sure if it was necessary, or if the yellow cast added to the mood.

Corrected:

http://www.sushigaijin.com/images/photos/snake%20series/cerastes%20series%20small%203.jpg

Sorry for the multiple postings, I think it is tidy to do it all in one post - and it isn't often that I think the first version is the best, so they are usually a work in progress, so to speak.

i think the wb corrected is by far better. im on the fence on wheter or not i like the bottom of the pic, with the dirt against the glass, and id really like to have its right eye and horn (it is actually missing?) more prominent. But that may just be because i want more of a field guide image. the way the lighting is right now, gives it an effect of cammoflague to.

He Erik,

I 2nd Dylan's comments. I would try pushing the white balance just a tad cooler. I would also suggest cropping the sand against the grass. Doing this places the head closer to the image bottom.

Doing this may give a more realistic rodent's eye view!

Cheers,
Tim

I was waiting for that. It was taken under a yellow light.

I can correct the white balance, but i wasn't really sure if it was necessary, or if the yellow cast added to the mood.


Well if it was taken under yellow light there is not any white balance correcting that will make it look correct. It may look better in B&W but that is only my feeling.

I agree with the cropping suggestions . I would crop this into a horizontal frame by removing most of the black areas on top and bottom. Bring out a little more light in the darker areas of the snakes head and reduce some of the yellow cast.
It's a good point of view. Very effective.

Alright, here's another go. gave it some extra sand and cropped it a bit closer. The horn is indeed broken off. I love the .PSD format for progressions like this - nothing easier than to pick up where you left off!

http://www.sushigaijin.com/images/photos/snake%20series/cerastes%20series%20small%204.jpg

I like this version much better.