1000th Post!!

[Blake Shadle]

Well it took some of us a little longer to get here, but here we are! I'm extremely happy to be a part of BPN, and I'm hoping for many exciting years to come!

This image was made at Ft. Desoto about a month or so ago. I want your opinion on this: Crop from the back to remove the bird from center, OR keep the foliage in the frame without cutting it... let me know!

Shooting Solution
Camera: Nikon D200
Lens: Sigma 500 f/4.5
Manual Exposure, 1/640 @ f/8, ISO 400
Mongoose M2.3 head on Gitzo 1410 legs

Thanks for looking!

Comments welcome and appreciated :)

[Alfred Forns]

Big Congrats Overlord !!!!!

Tough choice on this one but would go vertical? The only thing that bothers me about the crop is the shortened leaves. My eye keeps wanting to see more of them. Will be checking these guys out in a couple of weeks !!!!

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Congratulations on the milestone. Great calling pose and exposure control. Maybe a slightly wider crop would make it even better.

[Philip Pietri]

BAHLF! CONGRATULATIONS! I remember this picture. I remember it because I like it. It actually comes off as quite intense. I am actually scared of that bird...
As for the crop - I have no problem with it as is. The foliage on the left is nice. Keep 'em coming.

[Gus Cobos]

Very nice capture and exposure.. Like the details in the blacks. For my personal taste, I would also go vertical on this one...:eek:

[Freddy Franzella]

Fantastic detail Blake! I like the image just as is!

[Juan Aragonés]

Big congratulatios Blake and I subscribe what you said about BPN! Regarding the comp... difficult decission. I am not sure but I suggest to clone out the green leaves at the right to add free room in the same direction that the bird is facing, but not sure....
The exposure is excelent, a lot of details on the blacks and that open bill add a nice touch to the scene.

[Harold Davis]

i like al's idea of possibly doing a vertical here and maybe "evicting" a couple of the leaves on the left instead of chopping them. big congrats on 1000th post and cheers to many more!!!!

[Blake Shadle]

I like the repost, Juan! Thanks!

[Krijn Trimbos]

congrats on the 1000th post Blake, certainly one to back that post up. The perch, pose and comp are very fine. Lovely shot

[Doug Brown]

A very nice photo to commemorate 1000 posts. Here's my version of your pic:

[Rod Wiley]

Congrats on the 1000th. Maybe making a copy and draging the top image to the right to better fill the frame would work.

[Dave Phillips]

congrats Blake....fine work going on here

[Blake Shadle]

Nice repost, Doug! That doesn't look easy! :D

[Grady Weed]

Love the look captured here as to the beak wide open, full of air in the lungs, like he is going to burst. Nice image of the subject displaying.

[Maxis Gamez]

Hey Blake,

Congrats in your first K!

I think Juan nailed this one. Keep up the good work!

[DanWalters]

Great shot! Really like the colors and the details in the backs.