Skimmer Portrait

[denise ippolito]

Canon 40D
500+1.4 ex.
ISO 200
1/2500 sec. at f/5.6
Tripod mounted

In hind site I should have stopped down more-I clearly had the room to do so.:)
Since I didn't stop down the beak is soft. Should this image be scrapped? Opinions please.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I like the angle, crop and BG and don't mind the shallow DOF. Some of the blacks are blocked and there seems to be a slight S/H halo above the head.

[Joe Senzatimore]

I think that the fact that the eye is sharp has earned it space on your hard drive. Maybe crop some off the left to get rid of part of the OOF body, or perhaps a square format might work. It's one that pays to play with.

[Tony Whitehead]

Focus on the eye and exposure look good, Denise. I find myself wanting the bill in focus which would have needed the bird more parallel to the sensor plane. The colours and patterns on it draw my eye and I then find the OOF disturbing.

[denise ippolito]

Thanks guys for the feedback, it is much appreciated.

[Douglas Bolt]

Thanks guys for the feedback, it is much appreciated.

Try a crop on the left just behind the neck and on the bottom so you just see the beginnings of the black on the bill. Looks like a keeper to me. With the crop above, it takes on an unusual and alluring appeal to me.

[Doug Brown]

You did a great job with the exposure, and got the eye nice and sharp. However there's just too much OOF bird for me. I'd probably delete this one.

[Thomas Finnie]

Hi Denise,

Super angle for the skimmer portrait. He appears to be in deep thought. Nice background and crop. I too want the beak to be in focus and find it somewhat distracting.

Have a Great Day, :)
Tom

[denise ippolito]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the feedback!

[Arthur Morris]

When you are photographing a bird over-the-shoulder, your first thought should be to go for lots of d-o-f. I would hit the delete key on this one. It is certainly sharp on the eye. It might had worked better as a concept image had the bird been facing away a bit more....

[denise ippolito]

Thanks Artie, I will keep that in mind for next time.Thankyou for your time.

[Brian Barcelos]

I too wish the beak were in focus as this would have been an excellent wall hanger. Great attempt and creative thinking.

Brian

[denise ippolito]

Brian, Thanks-so close :)

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Denise, Im sure you know this 100 times over, but when Im shooting close up, I always try and stop down to get as much DOF as possible. You got the focussing spot on wth the eye, and overall, I know how you feel with a shot like this. Cheers.

[denise ippolito]

Stuart, I was shooting some of the Terns coming in to feed their chicks when this skimmer got close-I should have stopped down but when I got the lock on the eye-I just took the shot-I will work hard next time to THINK:) before I shoot!I just got caught up. Thanks.

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks Artie, I will keep that in mind for next time.Thankyou for your time.

Mon pleasir.