In my face

[Randy Stout]

Went to the local bird sanctuary this AM. The trumpeter swans were getting in their early morning preening, and this one flapped right in front of me. I had been set up for floating feather pictures, so too much lens, but rather like the effect.

Needed a smaller f/stop, although nothing would have gotten this entire giant bird this close all in focus.

D300 500mm f/4 f/8 1/800 ISO250 Manual Gitzo/Wimberley

Post: Selective sharpening, slight lifting of shadows on face, 2% crop from left.

I intentionally left him off centered to the right a bit.

Advice always appreciated.

Randy

[Jim Fenton]

Interesting image.

Can I ask why you off centered the subject toward the right? To me, this one begs for perfect centering with each wing going directly into the corners evenly and the head dead nuts in the middle.

Exposure looks great and I think this came out really well at f4...DOF looks just right for this image.

[Randy Stout]

Jim:

I did try it cropped to dead center, but ended up going back to this. No science, just how it struck me. I do agree that cropping to put head dead center would be the "normal" choice here.
Thanks for your input, always appreciate it.

Cheers

Randy

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I like the idea, light and sharpness. I could see this also as a vertical crop.

[Fabs Forns]

I think he placed to the right because the swan is slightly looking left. Looking good. I like the comp and would be tempted to soften the shadow of the face. Nothing like soft light for whites :)

[Nick Palmieri]

I sort of get pulled to the head then the slightly hidden eyes. I like this one!

[Arthur Morris]

My take. The COMP bugs me as presented... Easier to crop than explain... The somewhat raggedy underwings I guess. Image quality excellent as it held up to the crop.

[Arthur Morris]

ps; Love the detail in the whites.

[Jim Fenton]

Interesting vertical crop...I like it a lot.

[Gary Esman]

Excellent whites Randy! Was there yesterday morning, might go tomorrow morning.