Octopus [critique]

Okay... here we go...

Two shots:

and...

Which one is your favorite? Why? Any bad (or really bad) critique on the shot(s)? I want it all--the good, the bad and the ugly

I haven't seen many artistic looking shots of an octopus so it's hard to figure out the best way to photograph these guys. Do you know of any such photograph? If so, details please.

Thanks!

I really like the bottom, landscape, one. I think it's a wonderful composition with the orange sponge and black background. The lines of the bottom shot is much better. The top one has everything in a square in the lower right corner. Maybe the bottom one can be further improved with a closer crop to the octopus both at the top and right. Try it.

As thirds go the second shot is the easiest on the eyes, the first seems to tip your head to the left. I think also you went too big on brushes whilst removing scatter from the top - It's left splodges.

The second shot is much better. It has better eye contact to pull you in to the image.

Laz,

Love the bottom pic. The composition is superb.

You are rapidly obtaining a serious reputation here & one of the first ones I look at now for pics.

Keep em coming.

Mark

What, and I thought I was your favourite Mark.

I too like the second shot for composition.

The profile shot (#2) really helps isolate the octo from the distracting background (#1). Color in the second shot is also awesome.

When cloning out backscatter, I have noticed that shots that look great on my monitor show the clone stamps on another monitor. Something to watch out for.

Cheers

James

#2 wOOt! now this is a great octopus shot. Very well done, great composition, lighting and color.

I would have this one hanging on my wall.

I definitely prefer the second shot. If a non-diver looked at the first with no caption, they might not recognize it as an octo.

You might consider darkening the background a bit as it has just enough texture on my laptop to be distracting.

Great stuff though, as usual.

A nip here and a tuck there...

The second shot suggests movement while the first looks draggy, droopy and old (not that there's anything wrong with that!). I agree with the composition comments, too. I think the second shot shows more flattering behavior (and behaviour, too).

I love the 2nd shot. It gives the Octopus a more cuddly likeable appearance. The 1st one looks old and narly. Great composition on the 2nd shot. Love the orange sponge and the dark background. They never seem to pose like that for me. Great job!

Sandy

Wow! The response has been great. Thanks everyone for offering your insight as to which image you liked best and why. With regards to the cloning done to the backscatter, although some cloning of a few distracting grains of sand were cloned out what you're faintly seeing as blurred is actually the background. This shot was taken under an overhang and I'm lucky to have gotten such a dark background especially since my shutter speed was set at only 1/200th of a second. I guess an adjustment of the curves could definitely help with the background.

I guess it's pretty unanimous as to which image of the two is best but I don't know.. I still think that first image has potential... What do you think?

Wishful thinking!

So... Do you guys & gals have any favorite octopus shots taken by you or any other photographer? I've seen a lot of Octopus shots but not something that has really caught my eye. I'm sure there are plenty out there, though.

Disclaimer to (hopefully) avoid any possible lawsuits: The above cover shot of a future National Geographic image is a fake. All stories are false although the possibility of some of them occuring is possible. The use of National Geographic's front cover template is being used only for demonstration purposes. Please don't sue this poor underwater photographer who can not even get his images published on toilet paper.

I bet James Wood has a few...:-) I've got some I really like from Coz, but no show stoppers Laz.

Cheers

James

Both are great! I was about to say that the first shot is in a format that editors would find useful for a cover photo. . . What editors like and what wins at club contests are often very different beasts.

Ok, JamesW, I'll take the bait, here are some of mine. They aren't meant to be artistic, for that high brow stuff I usually kick the tripod and spit on the lens.

mmmm'm

Hitec Hermet!

Just came across a beautiful octopus shot by Deb Fugitt. It's on page 35 of the current issue of UwP

http://www.uwpmag.co.uk/UwP11.pdf

Only recommended for those with a high speed line; the file size is 4 MB.

these are beautiful!! having never seen anything that cool makes it hard for me to critique this photo. maybe after I improve for a few more years...

Bob you are going to love the Giant Pacific Octopus. Great shots.

I forgot to mention the Puget Sound King Crabs. I especially like the shots I have seen of the juvenile ones.