Flight Practice - another Nazca Booby

[Bill Dix]

Found this one from Galapagos (May 2010) that I had never processed. This is a juvenile just learning to fly. I watched as he practiced getting lift, and after some encouragement and a flight demonstration from the parent (seen in BG), he finally took off, made a short circle, and then a clumsy landing on a nearby rock. I'm not often a fan of OOF background birds, and not sure whether the adult on the left adds or detracts. What do you think?

D90, 18-200 VR @ 65mm, ISO 400, 1/4000s @ f/6.3, -1.0 EV, HH. 76% of FF.

[gail bisson]

Hi Bill,
I really like this image. Without the story of the OOF bird being the parent I would have felt that it was distracting. The comp is excellent and the IQ is very good. Love the dynamic pose of the baby. So, if you can always present this shot with the story I would keep the OOF bird. If not, I would clone him out,
Gail

[Karl Egressy]

It all depends. If you like the OOF adult it is fine. I would clone it out if it were my picture.
Otherwise it is a fantastic picture and I really like it, Bill. (Brings back some fond memories from 2004)

[EzhilSuresh]

Bill, I like the wing angle and the details. Nice story to go with the young one and its (distracting) parent.

[Bill Dix]

Thanks Gail, Karl and Ezhil. Here's the juvi without the oof adult.

[Josh Clark]

Nice one Bill, I am fine with either image. Think if the OOF bird was more out of focus it may be more distracting. Lovely wing capture you got. Great job on exposing.

[dankearl]

Bill, The repost is great, cool looking unusual bird.

[Bill Dix]

Thank you Josh and Dan.