Composition Question and Snail Kite

[Linwood Ferguson]

This is primarily a composition question. This guy was pretty far away and this is a fairly tight crop, hence the lack of some detail. So partly not to get more tight, but mostly because I like it...

I tend to leave in some foreground material, such as the blurred reeds, to provide depth. Most photographers critiquing them complain it is a distraction, crop it out.

This is a good example. To me it provides a foreground balance against the background (top) reeds, framing the bird to some extent.

Or am I rationalizing?

Opinions?

And/or on the shot itself (with the caveat I needed more reach or something).

Shot with D300, ISO200, 200-400VR @ 300mm @ F4, 1/2000th. Yes, I had more reach I didn't use, but it was the only snail kite I saw and I was shooting in a different direction --- well, just didn't.

[Alfred Forns]

If it was bigger in frame I would have more room up top and do away with the foreground. My reasoning is I don't like oof elements in front of main subject !! Having said that its personal preference and a fine image either way.

I like the pose and straight at you view !!!!

[Lance Peters]

Hi - I agree with Al on the OOF foreground elements 99% of the time in normal circumstances unless you are using the OOF foreground objects as part of the composition, hard to explain if you look at my avatar OOF foreground objects are what is masking part of the bird out (along with some lens flare) so yep personal preference.

You can add a 1.4 converter to that lens and not loose to much in terms of speed or quality.
Like the pose and the action - just need to be able to see a little bit more detail wise - if the eyes were just that bit more prominent.

Looking forward to seeing more:)

[Harold Davis]

agree with the others above and might also add that rather than cropping heavily, make a birdscape image. looks like the elements around it may be conducive to doing something like that? having the bird smaller in the frame.

[Linwood Ferguson]

agree with the others above and might also add that rather than cropping heavily, make a birdscape image. looks like the elements around it may be conducive to doing something like that? having the bird smaller in the frame.

This is the full frame. I rather like the perspective, but almost every contest I've heard critique from (whether I was in or not) is always 'crop tighter'.

Maybe they have poor eyesight. :D

Is this what you mean by a "bridscape"?

[Alfred Forns]

I wouldn't corp this much tighter You got the bird in a great position Would take a little from the bottom .. great feel !!! I would call this just a great environmental image.

Not sure about the crop ... it all depends on how much. Don't think its realistic turning this one into a tight bird image. Lots will be lost in the process. If you need more focal length use a converter on your lens, works great and use it at max focal length. You normally want the bird to take up about 80% percent of the frame ... not much more than that !!

[Jackie Schuknecht]

Like the original too and might take the water off the bottom. Bird looks pretty sharp. Great action shot.

[Harold Davis]

i agree with al, linwood. crop a little off the bottom and call it a day. it is what it is!! if you want an image of the bird bigger in the frame, try to position yourself in a place where you know it is going to be flying by you and just wait.

thanks for posting the original. some really nice light and the bird looks sharp!!

[Gus Cobos]

Hi Ferguson,
I agree with the techs. mentioned above...to tell you the truth, I like your full frame original the best, because it shows the habitat, and tells the story...good show...:cool:

[Katie Rupp]

Another vote for the original with a crop off the bottom. Nice environmental shot.

[Linwood Ferguson]

some really nice light

Thanks, by the way this was at Harns Marsh. Any of you that are around SW Florida and have not heard of it (I had not in almost 4 years), it east of Ft. Myers a bit, and not very well advertised. But it has a very large wetland, with a berm that runs maybe 1/2 mile N/S so at sunrise you have great light over the water. No good angles at sunset, but wonderful for sunrise.