Five in a row- StephenHampshire

Alfpics asked me to pick up the ball this week, and I will be posting my first pic later today, but please bear with me as I have a rather strange shift pattern this week.....

So here is the first one.....


An unusual subject for me, but I wanted to start with something other than steam locomotives, which make up much of my images! (See my FlickR account for more details)

I want to pick some different subjects for my 5.

PS as I have not been particularly active on this forum compared to PentaxForums, but the new look here is tempting me to change that. I do buy and sell on the Classified Ads here though.

Impressive animal and well photographed. The DOF works very well.

Best regards

Good shot. The full head-on format works well here.

Regards
Nigel

I'm very glad you've stepped up to the challenge Stephen, and I do hope you will be able to join in more here ... It's an impressive subject for a portrait, and the full-on facing angle is powerful. You seem to have got it's attention somehow, and I like the warm colour tones giving that creamy white.

I have to be a bit harsh though and say it is spoilt really by the persons face behind under the right ear, which just keeps tugging constantly for attention, pulling the eye away from the subject. If you don't have another without this distraction I wonder if some toning down in brightness and colour behind the subject would help?

Nice facial frontal! I do and don't agree with Nigel's comment. The person to the left of frame adds to the story of the image from me. If the blouse/ shirt were not white, then that would have helped.

But the important part of the image looks really nice and sharp

I think you could be right, I considered a bit of extra pp last night when I posted, or even using a bit of artificial bokeh....

You are off to a good start. I like the symmetry of nostrils, eyes, ears and yellow tags. Somehow I don't see the errant rope and hand. I would go with Nigel and tone down the background, as I think it will make the animal stand out to a greater degree.

I think the hand and rope are essential, a little reminder that this magnificent beast is not free!
I deliberately cropped to get as good a symmetry as I could.

A very interesting start - I don't recall seeing that many bulls on the gallery!

It's beautifully sharp where it needs to be and I think that the square crop works really well for the image. I'm not to bothered by the woman in the background, but I probably would succumb to the temptation to darken and blur her a little more.

Phil

I do like this. The way he's staring at you...

i like the old bull nice and quiet but still alert and ready to pose
(mind you would be good on a plate)

regards stu

Great first choice, love the detail in this one and the inquisitive look in the bulls face. Looking forward to the next four.

You'r right, I was not saying they should not be there, only that somehow they don't interfere with the symmetry.

Here is number two...taken two years ago in beautiful light on a cold, still morning