Shark "smile"?!, a photo from Lisboa, South

Photographer's Note

I decided to repost this one with some PaintShopPro and NeatImage work, in order to get some feedback from my try to improuve it :)

As i really don´t work much on changing features of my photos with software, sometimes i loose oportunity to improuve its quality i guess...my basic changes are always things like contrast, sharpening and a few more...

So i would like to know if this one worthed the changes ;))
I changed curves in PSP, increased midtones a bit. Then runed Neatimage to avoid some noise. Then runed again PSP in order to improuve sharpening since i got a kind o very soft image in NE...

Well, i would like to know if there´s anything different you would have tried to improuve this one...and if i did right with those changes. I´m trying to get some tips to start doing a more serious work with image software, cause sometimes i think its a good solution :)

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Following the series "Sea Dreams" here is the 5th photo...only not sure if call it a dream or..a nightmare!!!! :))
I´m sure that the picture is blured and with lots of noise but the "smile" of the shark is everything to me...what a sinister look too!!!

Belonging to our imaginarium since early ages these animals may be called the kings of the sea..they are simply the perfect predators! Their all body is a letal combination of stetic and efficacy. In spite of admiring these majestic animals i´m sure is not the kind of guy that i´m ansious to meet behind the corner..:)

I toke this with 1\30 shuter speed (at 400iso) in order to freeze the shark´s movement. At higher speed the image would turn more dark and undetailed...this is a difficult place to photographing mouving objects since there is low light and we can´t use the flash in order to not disturb the living forms in the aquarium.

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Critiques | Translate

bullybeef53 (3356) 2004-01-26 14:49

Marco-I am learning software as well , in my case , Photoshop . I found your image very intriguing . Did you have an underwater camera ? Maybe the shark sees you as lunch hence the big smile !
I found your picture had a blue tint and I did a workshop but I don't know if it's any improvement ? Remember I am a relative beginner as well . Great shot !

[workshop] [compare]

nwoehnl (122) 2004-01-26 14:50

I do like this one better, Marco. Your original image already was scary (but quite dark), but in this version the shark - and some of the surroundings in the aquarium - appears to be luminous! The eye is glowing, and the jaws in his "I'm on camera" smile are much more pronounced. So, in short, your post-processing works quite well here.

I usually don't do a lot of post-processing either, but I have fun experimenting with the different parameters and options. I have found the "José Elias workflow" (see the link in his profile) to be a valuable field guide. Also, different kinds of post-pro will provide different value-adds depending on the kind of shot you're working with (landscapes, portraits, indoor shots, ...).

Georges (11185) 2004-01-26 16:21

Mieux vaut ne pas s'approcher trop près de lui;-))).
L'image prise a travers le vitre d'un aquarium ce qui la rend comme ça.
La présentation vas dans le sens d'e vision de l'animal sa c'est joli par contre et les couleurs sont superbes elle montre bien l'ambiance marine.
Bravo Marco

zto (292) 2004-01-26 16:26

Defenatly an improvment of teh origional Marco. The colours and shape is much more clearer in this version. The shark still looks like something i want to avoid when swiming in teh ocean :). If i were to work on this photo i think i would work with difrent layers. The background in one layer and the shark in one layer. In that way you can apply difrent changes to the difrent objects in teh photo.

Rockyboy (20596) 2004-01-26 16:49

It is the big blue here. I didn't saw the orginal the first time but this one seem to be wonderful. It is very well framed and of course this luminosity is much better. Nice work!

jmcrosa (711) 2004-01-26 17:34

Bom trabalho este. A foto ficou bastante interessante.
Um abraço!

Luko (13976) 2004-01-26 18:23

I've read people reactions but I would just like to tell the truth about this lovely fellow. The thing I regret here is that this is artificially dramatized, which point doesn't help the sharks in some ways...

This a Sand Tiger shark (as south africans call it) or Ragged Tooth shark for aussies.
Have no fear, he's HARMLESS though he carries a proeminent teeth system.
No Sand Tiger attack has been known, unless provoked (there have been some stupid divers who tried to pull his tail, then they got bitten by the big dog, went weeping and complaining on their mum's shoulder...).

Some other stupid divers go regularly harpooning sandtigers to show their jaws as trophies : if only people had in mind that this bravery is as courageous as hunting cows in a prairie...

on the contrary of humans, their teeth can fall and grow again indefinitely...in aquariums, the guys in charge of the maintenance usually collects dozens of teeth in the sand.

I've been given a large one that I carry in my backpack with a lion fang, they're my amulets.

Jeppe (18654) 2004-01-27 5:30

You did an excellent job - not only did you get a brighter image; but you also made it even more scary - very well done and bravo Marco.

charmante (1090) 2004-01-28 6:31

this picture is surely great !
I can't stop laughing when I look at the eyes of him.
really a mysterious person ;-D

dsidwell (9765) 2004-01-28 23:34

I think your light touch with software is always a good choice. I do wish the animal were more in focus, but I'm not sure how focused you can get through the aquarium glass. The composition is quite strong, though, and I love the expression on the shark's face!

Intruder (3093) 2004-05-02 0:44

great shot Marco, the shark has a really nasty expression! i'll soon buy a waterproof case and a canon ixus for some underwater photography, even though this is from an aquarium, hope i won't shot a picture like this cause it will be my last :D