Common Seal...I think?

Critiques [Translate]

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• wishnugaruda (14155)
• [2006-11-13 14:04]

Hi Stephen,
this place is so unrealy with that white seal - it's like a lightspot on this animal.
And the mystic background with the old castle - a wonderuful shot, thanks
Sabine - wishnugaruda

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• fragman (11946)
• [2006-11-13 14:18]

very nice pic, TFS Ori

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• hester (11052)
• [2006-11-13 14:26]

Hi Stephen

It must have taken a lot of work to manhandle that seal into the perfect pose :) Seriously that is a stunning composition. The castle and the rocks would be enough but the seal is the icing on the cake.

TFS

Karan

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• sayat (1249)
• [2006-11-13 15:16]

Great shot Dear Stephen. Though the sky is much better in the workshop photo called "the return", this photo is amazing in the way that we see the bright tones of the animal contrasting with the dark, rocky background dominated by the castle. Great shot.
Sayat

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• Evelynn (13347)
• [2006-11-13 17:27]

You were lucky to get that close. He might not have felt well because usually they don't stick around even long enough for a quick photo when anyone approaches. You did manage to get a lot into one image. Looking up at the castle is a great POV. Great foreground with rocks and seal; great midground with more rocks and green and great background with the dreary castle intersecting the sky. Having an animal in the scene always gives a lot of immediacy to an image. You know its one of a kind.

TFS

Evelynn : )

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• scottevers7 (12259)
• [2006-11-13 19:45]

Hi Stephen,
An excellent composition! The seal just stands out so well against the very dark rocks. HAving the castle in the backround is really cool. Great detail and depth. Looks great!
Scott

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• TAZ (10922)
• [2006-11-14 1:39]

Hi Steve,
Wow ! Great and original composition. i like your little fellow but also the dark rocks. The ruins are a good bonus too and give a strange atmosphere. The other shots in WS are intersting too...
Bravo my friend and TFS.

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• manyee (19892)
• [2006-11-14 2:13]

I love this, Stephen.
I love the whole atmosphere and many textures in this shot.
The contrast between the white seal and the dark rocks is quite striking. Besides the juxtaposition of the seal and the castle is very unique.
Great composition and TFS. : )

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• SelenE (12710)
• [2006-11-14 2:42]

Hello Stephen,
This is such a beautiful photo... First of all the seal is very cute,he is an outstanding model. You formed a great composition here, with a great POV and DOF. Great use of exposure. I also liked the WS photos a lot, especially the close up of the head. Great job Stephen, bravo! TFS
Selen

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• claudine (10183)
• [2006-11-14 5:18]

Hello Stephen,
This is a wonderful picture; so precious. The seal, the castle, POV, DOF, colors, exposure; details, everything seems to be taken from a fairy tale :-) Those pictures in WS are just stunning too. Very nice work and thanks for this beautiful moment.
Claudine
:-)...

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• horia (12979)
• [2006-11-14 5:41]

WOW! Indeed a fantastic shot! Both a terrific landscape and a picture of a manal at the same time...not many people could say they pulled that off many times :)
This little young seal looks a bit sad to be...probably because of your presence :)))
The POV is definately a great one! You did find what you were looking for (unlike U2) :)
The composition is defiantely excellent with this interesting inclusion.
BTW, both of the WS pictures are great, too.

Bravo and TFS
Horia

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• jossim (11890)
• [2006-11-14 8:50]

Bravo Stephen!

Quelle belle compositionavec ce phoque à l'avant plan.

Merci!
joseph

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• ramthakur (25871)
• [2006-11-14 12:40]

To capture both the castle and the seal atop the dark grey rocks in the foreground with so much clarity and depth of view is a feat only an artist of your calibre can manage, Stephen.
Despite restrictive light conditions, you have produced another masterpiece of an image.
Thanks and bye.

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• SunToucher (9078)
• [2006-11-14 13:06]

Hi Steve,
What a stunning moment captured. Somehow you seem to be at the right location at the right moment. The seal is really the icing on the cake. But the old castle has its beauty as well. Did you do some dodge or burn just below the seal? Or is it a waterdrop? It looks a little hazy. The black rock really helps to bring out the different colors.
TFS<
Niek

P.S. Love the bonus photos as well.

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• dew77 (13069)
• [2006-11-14 13:24]

Hello Stephen,
Very nice image.Well caught,framed and composed.POV,lighting,large DOF and visual impact are wonderful.Excellent work!
TFS...:-)

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• mbasil (3108)
• [2006-11-14 18:42]

Kind of surreal again, what with the castle perched above and the seal seemingly stuck on the rocks. Or should I call it "surseal?" Great textures and limited color pallette work for me, as does the diagonal compo.
Mike

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• Janice (17728)
• [2006-11-15 2:59]

Oh how cute Stephen. He's looking at you with those doleful eyes. Super catch, and it makes me realise how rough the rocks are and how awkward it is for them to move over them.
And thank you for showing the castle in teh BG, well done,
Janice

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• Naturewalk (1125)
• [2006-11-16 12:32]

Hi Stephen,

Congratulations for this unique picture. The right place at the right moment. It is a unique composition to have this seal in a magnificent place. You have well captured this moment. Nice DOF with the castle up in the BG. The sky is a bit over-exposed but in a moment like this, no time for grads.

PC :)

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• cedryk (5072)
• [2006-11-20 6:14]

Hello Stephen,
I'm impressed! It's very unusual, wide-angle POV. Very nice lightand somehow mysterious, gloomy climate on this picture.

PS. Looking at the fur colour and the head, I would rather say it's a young grey seal. But I'm not a seal expert after all :-)
Best greetings,
Michal

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• coasties (27526)
• [2006-11-27 0:14]

Hi Stephen

Ha.. ha... what a lovely shot! He is so relaxed. Love his pose. Awesome camera work. TFS.