A New Generation

A new generation of African Jacana feed along a Water Lilly bank on the Chobe River, Botswana

• Camera NIKON D3X
• Focal Length 600mm
• Shutter Speed 1/640 sec
• Aperture f/9
• ISO/Film 400

I like the concept depicting the young chick within a new big world. I do think he is too centered though and their is too much habitat which he gets lost in. If you recrop it something like this which was quickly done without tweaking you place him off center and position elements within the frame (flowers) which lead your eye around. It also serves to provide a more sense of depth with the forward,middle and then background flower. I really think you can make this a well designed image and I like it.

Looking at them individually I think both comps work, but I am really intrigued (in a good way) by the OP. The young cute subject really looks at once comfortable with foraging and also quite vulnerable surrounded by the habitat and by being so small in the frame. The grouping of flowers at left make that part of the image "heavier" and thus balances out the central placement of the little guy pointing to the right.

I like the setting, sharpness and composition in the OP. I would blend the two circles near the OOF white flower at the top right. Very well done Brendon!

Adorable chick and lovely habitat. I am going to have to go with the OP. The fact that it's centered here works b/c the image is balanced as Daniel suggests. Mike's RP works also, but I find the OP more powerful b/c the chick is smaller in a larger frame.

Wonderful image and love the first crop bevause of the flowers framing the small subject so well.

Greetings,

Jeroen Stel

i like both versions but the original from my point of view better illustrates the diminutive size of the chick who is so very well detailed. The out of focus background would I think benefit from some noise reduction or small surface blur to smooth it slightly.

preferring the original image making the chick look smaller, love the natural surrounds

I like both crops although I really like the taller flowers in the UL in the original. I love the many colors and the small chick with the big feet.

Agree most with Daniel's comments - op for me. sense of vulnerability as well a just getting on with surviving.

Thanks very much everyone, it is nice to know most of you share my thought regarding the space and crop. Mike thanks very much for your RP it certainly is another option and may give it a bash with some of the other images in the series.