Cryptic Hopper

[Mike Fuhr]

Took this on a shortgrass prairie in western Oklahoma - their color was quite amazing, making them blend in with the vegetation.

Nikon D50
Nikon 55-200mm at 55mm
F7.1
1/800

[Ed Vatza]

The subject (hopper and plant perch) look very good but too small in the frame. The background could also use some work as it looks a little busy to me and the white stuff is distracting to me.

You could have worked your way closer to your subject but I see you were using 55-200 at 55mm. You could have zoomed in more. I think that would have made a stronger image. I also think that zooming in would have given you a "better", more diffuse, less distracting background. I also would have tried to get a little lower so the hopper was more clearly separated from the whitish stuff in the background. Just some things to consider. Or not. :)

[Kaushik Balakumar]

The angle is good. U've got some good light as well. The BG is a bit distracting. A tighter crop could help eliminating them. Agree with Ed on usage of 200mm focal length to isolate BG better.

[Robert O'Toole]

I like the subject and the overall comp but I agree with the above with the image size.

Also lowering the camera would eliminate some of the bright OOF elements.

Robert

[Mike Fuhr]

Here it is, cropped a bit more as suggested. I like it a lot more this way. Thanks for all the suggestions and comments...:)

[Anita Rakestraw]

I like your cropped version best, Mike. Nice job!