Am Oystercatcher - a different look

[allanrube]

I caught the oystercatcher this morning as it swung its cape in a Zorro imitation.

I thought about cropping a bit more of the bottom but I left it there as it gives more of the "cape" effect. Does that work?

D3X - 600VR with 1.4 (auto) iso 360. I wanted as much dof as I could get so I shot at f/13. The osytercatcher was not moving so I tightened the knobs on my Wimberley and shot at 1/200.

[Randy Stout]

Alan:

Excellent detail in head/eye, falling off gracefully with DOF. Soft background, well exposed overall.

I appreciate your striving for the "cape" effect, but overall think that a slightly tighter crop up would make for a stronger image.

How have you found the D3X to work with in the field?

Randy

[Ofer Levy]

Great exposure control, light and colours. I agree regarding cropping tighter as the oof body weakens this image IMO.

[allanrube]

Randy, I always had a DX camera before. I used the D3X in Bosque and now here in Florida.
1. It doesn't have enough reach back home 90% of the time.
2. I shoot in the field period, so when I got the D3X I knew that I would use it there. The fps is a bit slower than the D300s, but it focuses faster. I like the pro body (my first Niknon was a D2X) much better than the 2 piece prosumer cameras.

[Stephen Stephen]

Allan great eye detail and exposure. I like the windblown feathers at the back of the head too. I would remove some off the bottom of the frame moving to a standard 2x3 format crop.

[Randy Stout]

Allan:

Thanks for the D3X info. I have a D700, so am used to the limitations of the full frame cameras, as far as reach.

Have you found the crop mode of any value for your needs?

Randy

[allanrube]

How's this. I like it better and I like this image.

[allanrube]

I don't like using crop mode - did not use it much on the D2X either. I find it easier to crop the full file. I know it slows things down a bit but I have clipped wings when using crop mode and gotten mad at myself for using crop mode.