Just Hanging Around in the Alleyways

[GB1]

This fellow reminded me of a some guys I've seen in the inner city/downtown areas, especially Mexico.. bored, a little rough, and underemployed (not in his case though - fully employed). I just wonder what he's thinking right now..

The reflections and low light really hurt the shots. Did what I could - comments?

G

[Frog]

Well it sure isn't what I thought I might see.
I like the second one because of the eye contact and expression. Gives me anthropomorphic thoughts.
Wish the ape in the first stood out more but then the overall softness gives it a strange feel so maybe it works......can't decide right now.

[Didache]

Considering you did it through glass you did a pretty good job. About the only way to make through-glass shots really work is to get right up against the glass, preferably with a rubber lens hood. The second works for me best - it's the eye contact. Could use a boost of contrast I think, although that risks blocking out the fur.

Cheers
Mike

[Overbeyond]

Wharever about the reflections and low light but looking at it on my tin can at work it is the all round colour that may be the main problem. All looks a bit washed and blueish. But it is a nice shot of a wonderful creature.

[GB1]

Mike, Thanks for the tip. I will try that next time, which may be pretty soon - I was intrigued on the photo opportunities there, so plan on getting back. It was actually quite difficult to even find an angle - they have chain link fences all over and like a friend said, it seems like they couldn't arrange most of the cages and pens any worse to block photography angles. THe challenge here was all the people reflections in the glass. There's got to be a way though.

Frog, I know what you mean. This fellow's intelligence gives me the feeling that he shouldn't be in a cage. It was like looking in a mirror, or like a cabbie smoking a cigarette.

Both you and Mike like the eye contact. I agree - it works best.

Tom, I totally agree with you, it's color is just sucky. I have noticed that the Nikon D200 does quite well with shutter speeds of ~ 400 ISO and lower, but when you start getting up to 1000 or so things go downhill very fast. Lack of color, excessive grain, loss of sharpness (if any).. Seems worse than film. A friend is tryin to convince me to buy a vibration reduction lens.

Here's another shot of the big guy

G

[yairh20]

I woo lke the second one the best, and the compostion in the third is great, but it has to much noise, and if you're worried about blacking out the fur, just mask out the adjustment leval over there

[GB1]

We guys, I've played around with these images and they're not getting better. If anyone wants to take a shot at editing them to try to boost the contrast and still save the fur detail ... Go for it. I should shoot it to Nikon and ask them to fix it (they would probably tell me to buy a D300..)

[yairh20]

Here you go, I edited the second two. I hope you'll excuse me for not going into the details of everything i did.

[GB1]

Hey yairh, thanks for taking a shot. It looks a lot better IMO.

However, that fur is sure getting dark there. Imagine having to answer to this fellow why u made his fur so dark

[Addies Granddaddy]

Considering what you had to work with, I'd say you did pretty well.
John

[GB1]

Thanks AG. 500 lb Gorillas aren't even my specialty.