Heather Ebey
July 2024 - Turtle Faceoff
Original
About the Image(s)
I go at least once a week to a local wildlife wetlands park, Juanita Bay Park, in Kirkland to record habitat throughout the seasons. The Western Painted turtles are out on logs for a few months around mating time. This was the usual overcast early morning. I have made quite a few images of them over a couple of months, but I like this one because I can see the neck stripes on two of them.
Taken with Fujifilm X-T5, Fujifilm 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR. 111mm, 1/60s, f5.6, ISO125. I used Lightroom mobile on my iPad to crop, remove a few things I considered distractions, lighten it, increase clarity and texture I slightly modified color temperature.
It is probably still too grey overall. I often have my camera set at slow shutter speeds and have a 3+ ND filter on for ICM shots. For shots like this I probably should have taken the ND off and stopped down the lens for greater depth. This is handheld.
This round’s discussion is now closed!
13 comments posted
Hi Heather,
You are very lucky to live so close to wildlife wetlands park that you can visited so often. This is a lovely capture of these turtles that are so focus in their matin time that allow you to get closer and take this shot. I like the diagonal line of the branch in the frame and the reflections in the water. I am not so sure about the third turtle on the top, I invite you to explore another crop that concentrate more in the foreground and the two turtles and reflections. Posted: 07/13/2024 11:13:13
You are very lucky to live so close to wildlife wetlands park that you can visited so often. This is a lovely capture of these turtles that are so focus in their matin time that allow you to get closer and take this shot. I like the diagonal line of the branch in the frame and the reflections in the water. I am not so sure about the third turtle on the top, I invite you to explore another crop that concentrate more in the foreground and the two turtles and reflections. Posted: 07/13/2024 11:13:13
(Group 79)
Thanks, Maria, for an alternative crop. As a turtle photo, it works better, particularly for aim of this group. I tend to lean toward attempting an artistic style. A lot of my work is ICM (handheld long exposures) and multiple exposure in camera, which I don't think is part of any group on PSA. Posted: 07/22/2024 02:43:34
Heather, I find this image full of triangles formed by the wood and the water, and the presence of an odd number of turtles also forming a triangle, all of which make the image very dynamic. I do not mind that the turtle in the background is not completely sharp and looking away from the frame. Posted: 07/17/2024 20:55:54
(Group 79)
Thank you so much, Issac. Now I see that the far turtle looking away from the frame makes it less of an issue because if the face is seen, it would bother the viewer if it was not sharp, thus pulling the interest away from the turtles in front. Posted: 07/22/2024 02:44:19
Hi Heather. I prefer the original composition because it provides more space for the third turtle. The triangular arrangement is visually appealing, and the third turtle's focus does not detract from the overall image. You've done a great job removing distractions and enhancing the details and colors of the foreground turtles. Although the colors appear slightly muted, they suit the scene well. Nice job. Posted: 07/21/2024 19:28:28
(Group 79)
Thank you, Barbara. In the PNW we often have muted color days. Posted: 07/22/2024 02:35:32
Hi Barbara!
Wonderful capture in a wonderful place. I think that both the original crop and Maria's crop offer successful images. In Maria's, I think she's also cooled it down which allows for the blues of the water and yellows of the sun on the turtle's back to work together without being distracted by muted greens - and I love that.
The original crop really holds my eyes. I think it's important to leave the top of the image as it completes the triangle formed by the log. I feel like this composition works better when the colors are left more muted, as contrast in the colors might distract from the shapes.
Very nice work, looking forward to seeing more!
Posted: 07/25/2024 21:35:41
Wonderful capture in a wonderful place. I think that both the original crop and Maria's crop offer successful images. In Maria's, I think she's also cooled it down which allows for the blues of the water and yellows of the sun on the turtle's back to work together without being distracted by muted greens - and I love that.
The original crop really holds my eyes. I think it's important to leave the top of the image as it completes the triangle formed by the log. I feel like this composition works better when the colors are left more muted, as contrast in the colors might distract from the shapes.
Very nice work, looking forward to seeing more!
Posted: 07/25/2024 21:35:41
(Group 79)
Thank you, Chris, for your analysis of colors and how they work for Maria's crop vs my crop. It gives me more to consider. Posted: 07/27/2024 02:18:26
I'm also going to favour the crop to have just 2 in Heather - I think this makes your story stronger. Your composition with the log coming from near the bottom left corner is good.
Looking at your original, I think the two turtles would benefit from localised (just them) lighting the shadows to enable the viewer to better see their colour. Nice image, it just needs a little more work. Posted: 07/27/2024 21:25:14
Looking at your original, I think the two turtles would benefit from localised (just them) lighting the shadows to enable the viewer to better see their colour. Nice image, it just needs a little more work. Posted: 07/27/2024 21:25:14
(Group 79)
Thanks, Adrian. I probably should have posted a 2 turtle image. I have a lot including ones of the triangle with 7+ painted turtles on each log, some part way on top of the turtle in front. I tried to lighten shadows and did a 16x9 crop of this 3x2 image. Maybe it is more acceptable. I am still learning how to mask in LR and am way behind in learning PS techniques. Posted: 07/27/2024 23:41:25
I prefer your original image with the bottom 2 facing each other nicely.
I only use Lightroom - masking in it is now very good. Selection can often be via Subject or Object (I find the rectangle tool better) - then refining its auto selection via the + or - button and brush works v well to accurately masking what you want. Then right clicking the main mask icon and selecting duplicate and invert, gives you all outside your original mask, often useful to reduce brightness etc. Posted: 07/28/2024 15:34:10
I only use Lightroom - masking in it is now very good. Selection can often be via Subject or Object (I find the rectangle tool better) - then refining its auto selection via the + or - button and brush works v well to accurately masking what you want. Then right clicking the main mask icon and selecting duplicate and invert, gives you all outside your original mask, often useful to reduce brightness etc. Posted: 07/28/2024 15:34:10
(Group 79)
Thank you. I will try that on my August image. Posted: 07/28/2024 16:12:24
I prefer your original image with the bottom 2 facing each other nicely.
I only use Lightroom - masking in it is now very good. Selection can often be via Subject or Object (I find the rectangle tool better) - then refining its auto selection via the + or - button and brush works v well to accurately masking what you want. Then right clicking the main mask icon and selecting duplicate and invert, gives you all outside your original mask, often useful to reduce brightness etc. Posted: 07/29/2024 22:33:53
I only use Lightroom - masking in it is now very good. Selection can often be via Subject or Object (I find the rectangle tool better) - then refining its auto selection via the + or - button and brush works v well to accurately masking what you want. Then right clicking the main mask icon and selecting duplicate and invert, gives you all outside your original mask, often useful to reduce brightness etc. Posted: 07/29/2024 22:33:53