Showoff Great Egret

[Wheeler McDougal Jr.]

I took this image a couple of weeks ago while still in Florida. It breaks some of the basic rules and I was wondering if It came out alright. Rule 1 - the image is centered in the frame, this image was full frame and I couldn't move it right or left. Rule 2 - The feet were cut off and if you are going to cut them off you should do it above the knees. Again if I had cropped it at above rthe knees it would have ruined the plumage at the bottom. Is this a throw away image. Let me know what you think please.
Nikon D700
2009:03:22 15:57:30
850mm
850mm (in 35mm film)
1/400 sec, f/5.6
Mode: Manual
Metering: Center-weighted average
ISO: 400
AF mode: AF-C
White balance: AUTO
Flash: Off
File size: 14.4MB
Image size: 3036 x 2010
Color space: AdobeRGB
Saturation: Normal
Sharpness: Normal
Contrast: Normal

[Axel Hildebrandt]

The plumage looks great, the bird looks a bit soft on my monitor. To prevent the problems you mentioned, removing the TC would have helped, assuming you used one.

[Fabs Forns]

MAc, I don't ind the centered here because of the bird's display. The feet are cut in a good place, not in the joint and the vegetations frames it nicely. I would sharpen more, as suggested by Axel and keep it.

[Randy Stout]

Axel:

My guess is he was using a 1.7 on a 500mm, since the D700 is full frame. A 1.4 TC would have been perfect I think, good image quality, more room to crop. Just 500mm, too small in the frame.

Can you clarify your set up Wheeler?

Randy

[Wheeler McDougal Jr.]

I wish I could. I was using a Nikon D700 with a a 600mm Nikkor f/4.0 VR and a Nikon 1.4 Tele-extender. II know that calculates out to be 840mm. I can't explain the difference.

Mac

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

I like how it is centered as it accentuates the breeding plumes. Not so keen that the feet have been chopped though. Was there any way you could have removed the TC from the tele? In that instance even a portrait orientation could have worked wonderfully perhaps?

The jpeg needs some sharpening.

I do love the plumage and display. Privileged to have witnessed it Wheeler. Thanks for sharing. :)

[Wheeler McDougal Jr.]

Here is the image with a good deal more sharpening.