Chillin' Pandas (like father, like son!)

[mdonahoe1]

Gao Gao, the father of the latest panda baby at the San Diego Zoo, was on display last week while I was visiting. Apparently this is rare for him, but he seemed to be enjoying the warm and sunny day under a bamboo tree. Also, baby Yun Zi enjoys his bamboo snack.
#1 (Dad)
Nikon D90
f 5.6
1/60
105mm
#2 (baby, Yun Zi)
f5.3
1/60
exp bias -2.3

[Kaye]

Hi Marianne,
What beautiful shots of Dad and baby Panda. It has been a while since I went to a zoo, but your shots are inspiring me to do so soon.
I really like your composition in No. 1. Perhaps you should have asked him to move into either full sun or full shade which would have made settings easier !!
Love baby Panda. Composition wise, I would possible try cropping him just a little for better composition by taking some off the right side and perhaps a touch off bottom and top, although not much room to move here. Just a thought.
BTW, did you shoot these through glass?

I think you have PS? I am not sure if you did any edit to these, but if you were to run them through Shadows/Highlights, you will bring out much more detail in the Pandas. I use this often.

PS I couldn't resist trying a quick edit of baby if you would like to see it. I really hope you don't mind... but you may prefer to try an edit yourself.

[mdonahoe1]

Kaye
Tanks for your review of my pandas. I would love to see your edit. I did shoot them through glass, and it really shows in the baby shot. I did as you said and used PSE for shadows and highlights, plus cropping. It brought out the details for sure but it also enhanced the scratch on the glass going across his eye and ear. I tried to use the healing brush, but it could not get it right. I also used the shadows and highlights on dad which brought out the details, too, but maybe is a little too light now. Please let me see your edit! I have attached mine! Thanks again,

Marianne

[Kaye]

Marianne, I think your edits are great. I did not try one of Dad. Yours looks good.
Here is my fairly quick edit on baby earlier.
I also added a touch of "smart sharpen" which I should not have done as it makes the marks on his arm a bit "pixelled out"!

The scratch on the glass could be cloned out with a little bit more work.

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