Cattle Egret posing in the rain

[Graeme Sheppard]

http://gjsheppard.wordpress.com/files/2009/10/cattle-egret-posing.jpg
I posted a photo (http://www.birdphotographers.net/forums/showthread.php?t=49200) of this particular bird a couple of days ago, but my wife prefers this pose so I thought I'd put this up too.
It had been raining for a while, but this chap seemed oblivious to it and struck an elegant pose on a branch of a fallen tree.

Canon 450D + 400mm fixed lens, f4.0 from the car.

I wonder if it's worth removing the BG branch, but I'd appreciate all comments.

[Marc Mol]

Thanks for posting Graeme.
A few things need/ed to be done to improve this image, the BG branch is distracting, but more importantly it appears that you have missed AF on the Egret's head and have got the tail and perch instead. Also you have cut off the feet and I find the white border and ID detracts from the image. No complaints on the exposure, which is not always easy to nail.
Cheers
Marc

[Graeme Sheppard]

Great comment, thank you - I'll have to practice my shooting technique further and change how I present pictures here, because I think you're spot on (although the composition was the best possible with a fixed zoom lens in pouring rain!).

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Graeme, Marc pretty much covered everything, and I agree, you certainly nailed the exposure. When shooting any subject, always be aware of the BG. The branch in this is a perfect example of it intersecting the subject. Not always possible, but moving around left or right eliminates most of it. Either that, or you become very good at cloning skills.