Mike Cowdrey, MPSA
December 2025 - Rat Portrait
About the Image(s)
At a local lake in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, UK, there are signs up advising not to feed the birds because it encourages rats. They have kindly provided a machine, which, for ?1, delivers a hand full of seeds, and this is where all the rats are congregating.
A close up of this handsome creature was taken with my long lens.
Nikon D750, Sigma 150 - 500 (at 500), F9, ISO 1250.
Elements adjustments were used for lighting, denoise, and auto sharpening
All my good wishes for a happy Christmas, and a trouble-free New Year, Mike
4 comments posted
Nice close-up. I could live without the worm! Not sure this is considered macro but nice shot. Posted: 12/12/2025 00:34:15
There's a feel of something greater than reality here, for me. The depth of field and perspective, plus the super face detail, make it jump out of the picture for me.
I think it's a great shot, except that I don't understand or like what I can only describe as mid-range blur under the whiskers on the left. The presence of sharp features further away on the extreme left confuses me. Posted: 12/13/2025 21:54:19
I think it's a great shot, except that I don't understand or like what I can only describe as mid-range blur under the whiskers on the left. The presence of sharp features further away on the extreme left confuses me. Posted: 12/13/2025 21:54:19
It is the body fur, some of which is a little closer than other parts. Posted: 12/16/2025 15:23:10
Mike, great close up - although not sure about the "handsome" part! I had never seen a rat so close. Posted: 12/18/2025 21:57:45