Green Heron

[Joerg Rockenberger]

Photographed at a park in Los Gatos, CA, last summer. For some reason, this fellow let me get really close. Thanks for looking. JR

Canon 30D, 400F5.6, 1/640s, F8, ISO-400, EC -1/3, Eval Metering

[Alfred Forns]

Hi John Bird feels tight in frame Virtual tail has been clipped Would remove some of the oof leaves on the bg particularly the one just touching the body

I like the beautiful bg and the fact you were able to approach him without disturbing Bird is reasonably sharp could use an extra pass of usm One beak is a big plus If you are able to find him again would try an extreme close up if he allow Just head and shoulders for a clean look

btw birds like this one are perfect for long lenses since you can choose to place a 2X stay away and would flatten perspective

[Arthur Morris]

Also, this needs a crop from the bottom as there is less room over the bird than under. And the oof part of the tree on the lr is very distracting. Very sharp and yes, a long lens with a TC as Alfred suggested would have been great to help clean things up. Alfred: please explain what you meant about "One beak."

thanks and later and love, artie

[Bob Ettinger]

As mentioned a crop from the bottom and maybe a little from the right as that tree is a little distracting to me or just burn it in.

[Joerg Rockenberger]

Thank you all for the comments. You're of course right with the OOF tree in the lower right.

But what do you mean with use a long lens with a TC to clean things up? In order to have a narrower DOF to blur the leaves?

And yes, I have one of these down the throat shots with this guy. Hope you like it and don't mind the double post today.
Attempt at self-critique: background could use some NR and the beak's shadow is distracting. :(

JR

[Arthur Morris]

But what do you mean with use a long lens with a TC to clean things up? In order to have a narrower DOF to blur the leaves? JR

No. Using a long lens with a TC gives you a narrower field of view and thus "cleans things up."

For example, in the ORIG post, if you had had a longer effective focal length you could have worked much tighter and eliminated some of the distracting stuff around the bird by creating a head and shoulders portrait.

later and love, artie