A squirrel

[Jesika]

[mn shutterbug]

Yes, it is. Seriously, cute little guy - crisp and nicely framed by the branch and trunk.

[rylan]

great shot jesika, its a little bright but the focus seems great! with the blurred background it stands out! awesome job

[Jesika]

Thanks I thought it was a little bright also, but Im still trying to learn the different settings, and I just realized that I accidentally left the ISO at 1600.. Pooey..

I dont know if that had anything to so with it.. Im so used to just a regular P & S that sometimes I forget to change the settings from when I go from inside to outside..

[Frog]

May I play with it?

[Jesika]

Sure, be my guest

[mn shutterbug]

It does take time getting used to. Practice, practice, practice. Also, learn how to use the EC dial. It's a very handy tool. Above all, don't get used to shooting things in automatic. BTW, what camera are you shooting?

[Jesika]

I have been using the Apeture mode..(Ive been trying to shoot with the different modes and trying things here and there)

and its a Nikon D40 with the 55-200 lens

[Frog]

Did a fairly serious crop getting rid of the bright lower right and quick, poor cloning of the branches sticking out of his paws. Don't know what editing program you use but I think the crop helps and if you can take some time with your clone stamp and do a good job, I think you get the idea.

[Jesika]

Thanks

I have a trial version of Photoshop Elements 6.0 right now

[Jesika]

Like this

[jgredline]

Frog nailed it...

[Frog]

And Jesica nailed it better....especially with the cloning.
Do you like it better, Jesica?

[GB1]

Jesika -- This is one of the better squirrel shots I've seen. Great blur behind him. The only thing I'd do is crop in so that he takes up more of the pic area.

G

[Edit] Oops. Looks like you or someone already did that. Sharpen him up a little too.

[jgredline]

I am in the ooops camp as well...I missed Jesikas edit as well...Sharpening would really bring out the colors.

[Jesika]

Thanks everyone and yes, I do like this better..

I attempted to sharpen him with PS Elements
and here is how he turned out

[jgredline]

Way better

[gahspidy]

The good advice you received in this thread turned a decent photo into a much better one. i like the crop and the removal of the branches behind the head. Your attempt at cloning them out is not bad but you still have some evidence of the removal left behind. should be a little cleaner. Also, the bright area on the top of the right branch could be reduced by burning the highlight down or cloning out once again.
good framing of the squirrel.
Nice.

[Jesika]

Thanks everyone for the advice and tips I really appreciate it a LOT

Ok, one more edit..

[Jesika]

Hows ^^ that for cloning out the bright spot

[Len J]

Love the edited versions with the tighter crop.

len

[Jesika]

Thanks I can really tell a HUGE difference from where I posted the original to where I made this final edit

Thanks again everyone