Mama Closeup

[Roy Priest]

The loons at Lac le Jeune are very accommodating often coming very close to our floating dock. Decided to try a closeup. Again I struggled with the crop. Suggestions appreciated.
Nikon D300s
500mm F4
ISO 200
1/250 sec
- 1.3 EV

[Lance Peters]

Hi Roy - crop does not quite work for me - too much negative space at the top and probably the LHS - would consider cropping in tighter on the top and LHS.
Keep a eye on that SS - bit slow for the focal length - could have bumped the ISO up a little.
TFS

[Grant Atkinson]

Hi Roy, I agree with above on the crop. What does the frame look like. I liked the colours on the birds neck, the nicely captured details, and the DOF (not sure what your aperture was though). Also liked the BG
Thanks for sharing
cheers
grant

[David Stephens]

I'm thinking that a much tighter crop with the eye to the left of center would balance this much better. Maybe a square crop. The eye in dead center, as it is now, is a problem for me, as is all the negative space mentioned before.

[Bill Dix]

A lovely loon. Wish they were all that cooperative! Agree with Lance on the crop. Somehow it seems that there's too much bird showing for a tight head shot, and not enough for a full shot. Some off the top and left would do it. Otherwise, love the detail and the bg.

[Harold Davis]

that loon looks great! i agree on tightening the crop. the bg is just perfect for that bird!!! nice job!

[Roy Priest]

How's this crop?

[Bill Dix]

Sweet. A beautiful image improved by the crop. Wish it were mine. If it were I might add just a tad on the right, but love it as reposted.

[Roy Priest]

Sweet. A beautiful image improved by the crop. Wish it were mine. If it were I might add just a tad on the right, but love it as reposted.

Thanks Bill. I get the hang of this crop thingy soon I hope.:)

[Roy Priest]

Sweet. A beautiful image improved by the crop. Wish it were mine. If it were I might add just a tad on the right, but love it as reposted.

Thanks Bill. I get the hang of this crop thingy soon I hope.:)

[David Stephens]

Yes, much stronger image.

[Jackie Schuknecht]

Good job with the exposure Roy. Like your repost. Never having seen a loon, just BPN ones. are the eyes redder? Or maybe I am seeing different varieties with more saturated eye colour???

[Roy Priest]

Good job with the exposure Roy. Like your repost. Never having seen a loon, just BPN ones. are the eyes redder? Or maybe I am seeing different varieties with more saturated eye colour???

THanks Jackie. I think the eye colour depends on the light. This was taken early early morning and it was just beginning to get light. I photographed both in the morning and evening and preferred the morning.