Head on Heron

[Michael Pancier]

From the Farm

50d + 500 4.0L
f/9
1/100
ISO 400
natural light
- 2/3 Ev.

full frame

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Mike I like the straight on look and stare into the camera Also the raised head feather adds to the feel There is a cast on the image

btw tech wise would have gone wide open for extra shutter speed !!!

[Lance Peters]

Hi Mike - agree with AL and would add looks like maybe the critical point of focus was on the breast area, I would have been aiming for a shutter speed around 1/400 - 1/500th either via increasing the ISO or opening up some more.
Like the stare and the ruffled feathers :)

[Gus Cobos]

Hi Michael,
All of the techs. and good advise have been covered...:) I like the up front capture, love the bulging eyes...:cool:

[Dave Phillips]

Hi Mike - agree with AL and .........I would have been aiming for a shutter speed around 1/400 - 1/500th either via increasing the ISO or opening up some more.
........ :)

Why at this close range and extremely shallow DOF do you "both" recommend opening up more....just to gain SS?
Really interested.

Point of focus is off IMO, but in focus area looks plenty sharp at this ss......IMO

[Arthur Morris]

As Alfred mentioned, there is a big color cast: magenta. As for the focus/d-o-f discussion, I would have gone to ISO 800, 1/30 sec. and focused halfway down the bill. The eye color was also way off--I did my best....

[Arthur Morris]

Forgot to mention; there are more than a few hot pixels on the bill and the breeding plume..... Best to see the various threads on savig the highlights in Educational Resources.

[Michael Pancier]

As Alfred mentioned, there is a big color cast: magenta. As for the focus/d-o-f discussion, I would have gone to ISO 800, 1/30 sec. and focused halfway down the bill. The eye color was also way off--I did my best....

Artie so I'm clear, should I have stopped down to f/16 at ISO 800 and 1/30 or stayed at f/9?

[Arthur Morris]

Not at f/9--that would have been a huge over-exposure. You would have used the corresponding small aperture. With long lenses, d-o-f is 50/50 in front and behind, so you focus about 1/2 way up the bill to get the bill and the eyes sharp (or at least try).