Canon EOS-1D Mark II N, Shooting Date/Time 7/9/2008 17:007, Shutter Speed 1/50Sec. Av(Aperture Value) F8.0, Evaluative metering, Exposure Compensation -2/3, ISO 400, Lens: EF300mm f/2.8L IS USM, Focal Length 300.0 mm. Hand held from the kayak, about 10 feet away as I floated by. 50% of frame here, cropped for a 5x7.
We had temps of 100 today, extremely high humidity, dangerous levels of ozone and hot! This loon is cooling off, note the open beak. No babies yet. Do you think this is too close of a frame?
The crop is a little snug, but it doesn't bother me. I find the BG and FG elements to be a little distracting. Great detail in the eye and open beak. I might apply some additional sharpening to the bird. Thanks for posting!
Love the eye detail and the texture in the head. As long as you are cropping so tight, why not try a bit tighter, maybe from the bottom and the left....I think it might be interesting.
I agree with the comments thus far. I also wish that red thing wasn't sticking up out of your birds head.
I love the sharpness of the eye and the head though. The crop isn't a bad thing. I probably would have cropped about the same.
Good job for handheld in a moving boat.
After a few days to think this one over, I am going to dump this image. The background and the head angle are just to much of a distraction for me to consider otherwise. Thanks for looking and commenting.