Wikipedia:Featured picture candidates/File:CA Ground Squirrel on rock.jpg

California Ground Squirrel

Original - California Ground Squirrel, one of the most common species of the Spermophilus genus.

Reason: This got some positive comments at peer review, so am hereby submitting it for FP consideration. Good clarity, no discernible noise, and above all, a cute pose.
Articles this image appears in: Spermophilus
Creator: Howcheng

Support as nominator --howcheng {chat} 22:12, 11 January 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Support. Yeah, nice shot. I'm assuming that's a fairly common environment for them. I wouldn't say no discernible noise though. It isn't bad, but it is there and fairly obvious. I don't think an edit to remove it is necessary though. Diliff | (Talk) (Contribs) 22:23, 11 January 2009 (UTC)[reply]
- They live in underground burrows wherever possible, whether that's in rocky areas or forest. Rocks are good because they provide additional protection. There's another shot in the California Ground Squirrel article that shows one with a burrow in a more open area. howcheng {chat} 00:15, 12 January 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Support. I thought they were more common in forested areas than among rocks, but good shot. Durova^Charge! 23:10, 11 January 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Support Definitely a good image of the squirrel. It's too bad more of the tail isn't visible, though. Sophus Bie ^(talk) 02:40, 12 January 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Support Even though the tail's not in full view, you do see a little more of its front with this angle. Good quality, very nice lighting and composition. Fletcher (talk) 00:00, 13 January 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Weak Support Not a huge fan of the back lighting (main source of light is on axis flash). There is also some noise and it isn't hugely sharp at full size. Noodle snacks (talk) 11:31, 15 January 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose. With the combination of slight problems (noise, back lighting, limited sharpness, obscured tail) and the commonness of the subject, I expect a little more from a California Ground Squirrel FP.--ragesoss (talk) 03:51, 17 January 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose per ragesoss. Reshooting this should be relatively easy. Makeemlighter (talk) 04:32, 19 January 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Comment - the rock to the left is really distracting - maybe a crop would look a bit better. --B (talk) 21:17, 19 January 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Support Don't see any deal-breaking issues with noise or sharpness, and lighting is ideal. mikaul^talk 01:59, 20 January 2009 (UTC)[reply]
- Are you sure it isn't a contrived and stale composition? Shouldn't the squirrel's head be tilted more to the left? ;-) Diliff | (Talk) (Contribs) 10:36, 20 January 2009 (UTC)[reply]
  - Au contraire, the subject is a model of poise and déportement, his placement in the frame crafting a potent dynamic between presence and negative space :-p mikaul^talk 11:24, 20 January 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Promoted Image:CA Ground Squirrel on rock.jpg --Noodle snacks (talk) 06:54, 21 January 2009 (UTC)[reply]