Marsh Cub 2

[Tom Graham]

This from Tanzania, Ndutu area, Feb 2011. One of three of the Marsh (?) pride cubs in a thorny Acacia tree. Small tree on hillside that allowed us to be eye level with the cub. Very lucky that no branches/leaves obstructing view. Some cloning and burning in BG to take down "hot" spots. This a huge crop from original image taken at max zoom lens length 300mm (70-300mm zoom). Original was "horizontal" and I wanted to make it the classic 8x10 portrait ratio. Perhaps would like to crop a bit more all around but image quality has suffered enough from this crop. Nikon D200, f8, 1/500, ISO 640.
Tom
105819

[Marc Mol]

Granted that this is a large crop Tom, on my cal monitor IQ doesn't look to bad, however puzzled as to why you selected f/8 and a (relatively ) high ISO640 for the D200 approaching it's limit (IMHO) of 800?
FS

[Tom Graham]

Thanks Marc. I fussed with sharpening and noise reduction quite awhile. I also toyed with the idea of blurring the BG some but just left it as is.
Agree would like to keep the D200 at/below ISO400. But I fear more camera/subject movement so push shutter fast(er). Even if lens has VR/IS. (See my ele post of 11/27, http://www.birdphotographers.net/forums/showthread.php/92065-fair-size-tusks , where 1/500 sec did not stop the big bulls ear movement). As for f8, the (zoom) lens at 300mm is 5.6 and "assuming" sharpness will be better at f8. Maybe Santa will bring me a D3s and a 300mm f2.8 ???
Tom
ps - looking at it now I think I would crop a little off top, bringing the eyes up some.

[Harshad Barve]

very nice indeed
TFS

[Ken Watkins]

Tom,

Sorry to be so late, I have been asleep as it was nightime in Africa, now a fine sunny day,

I am not at all familiar with your camera or lens so will not comment on their use other than say that if you had shot more open the potential for getting the BG OOF would have been greater, I would definitely try to lighten the eyes a little.

[Tom Graham]

Thanks Ken.
Agree at f2.8 the BG would have been (more) OOF. But my lens at 300mm is 5.6. So, that is fundamental problem. I could go in and Photoshop some blur, well, maybe next year :S3:. If you could see the crop I had to do, you'd probably agree a 500mm would still need significant crop. But I'd not "fly" with a 500mm - even if I could afford it. As they say, you pays your money and you takes your choices :S3: .
The eyes I did lighten some, perhaps could use more?

Tom