Jennifer Doerrie
October 2026 - Sea lion portrait
About the Image(s)
Sea Lion Portrait
ISO 6400
f/5.6
1/250 sec. exposure at -0.3 compensation
100-300 mm lens at 158 mm
The sea lions at the coast are fun to watch, but often difficult to photograph since they like to climb over each other, and their dark fur and bright water create contrast challenges. I'm not especially happy with this image since the dark shadow on the lower left side is quite blocked up, but I've not taken the time to work on adjusting it with Nik or PS tools. Is it worth doing so, or is a single animal portrait like this one unlikely to get much attention in PID? (I realize there's not enough story to be competitive in nature.)
4 comments posted
I think you are right that there is not enough story here and the portrait isn't strong enough on its own. There is also a huge difference between the dark coat at the bottom and the highlighted part of its head. Sorry, Jennifer, I think this is one to retire quietly! It's a pity because the sealions are great to watch. You are right, they climb all over each other. I got pictures of the pile! The other problem with this shot is the very bright, blank sky. You could add some heavy clouds behind it to make it more pictorial. Posted: 10/19/2026 13:49:26
Yes, all those comments are correct, but I am charmed by the **personality** of the portrait. Posted: 10/19/2026 14:18:45
This is a nice portrait of this sea lion, with the face very sharp. It looks like a reflection of the surrounding area in the eye. But, Diana said it all. Posted: 10/19/2026 15:32:37
Jennifer
. Would have liked to see him wet .
Posted: 10/19/2026 19:52:54
. Would have liked to see him wet .
Posted: 10/19/2026 19:52:54