The Twist.

[Bhushan Dalvi]

After posting my first thread in ETL I am making an attempt to post an image here for critique. Mods please move it if it is in an inappropriate section.
I took a trip down to Port Aransas on the Labor Day weekend and was amazed to see the Brown pelicans flying so close to the jetty. Having these guys glide over my head with there huge wing span while you feel the sheer strength of there wing flap is blissful I will say :).
This fellow in this picture was sitting on the rocks pretty close to the jetty with all the foot traffic around him without a bother.

Device: Nikon D90
Lens: VR 70-300mm F/4.5-5.6G
Focal Length: 300mm
Focus Mode: AF-A
AF-Area Mode: Dynamic, 3D/Wide
VR: ON
Exposure
Aperture: F/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/800s
Exposure Mode: Manual
Exposure Comp.: 0EV
Metering: Matrix
ISO Sensitivity: ISO 200


I believe I could have used a little more DOF. Let me know what do you all think.
Thanks
Bhushan

[Craig Brelsford]

Hello! You could do a bit of sharpening around the eye.

[Sid Garige]

Bushan,

Like the composition. Very nice pose. Looks like your exposure is fine too. Agree with craig on another round of sharpening.
Also on a side not, not a big fan of AF-A. I rather choose AF-S or AF-C manually than let the camera pick up based on subject.

[Art Kornienko]

Hi Bhushan, I like the interesting pose of the Pelican and the crop. It seems like the Pelican is as interested in you as you are in it. A bit more room at the left side and a touch at the top would have been my preference. You are right about the dof. It seems the eyes are a bit soft. Maybe more sharpening as mentioned would help.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Interesting pose, I can see why you were interested in it. The head is just a bit tight in that corner IMO. Assuming this is already cropped I would add some canvas back just for some breathing room. Although you could have used more DOF the culprit is as much about the critical focus point, which was not on the eye (seems to be on the bill where the black "gap" between the mandibles is widest). I see your exif shows you were at a wide-open aperture and ISO 200. With the light you had you should raise the ISO and stop down the aperture a bit to ensure the eye gets in DOF range if your focus point is slightly off.

After posting my first thread in ETL I am making an attempt to post an image here for critique. Mods please move it if it is in an inappropriate section.

BTW, welcome to the Avian forum - you can post your avian images here no problem...wherever you feel most comfortable!;)

[Gary Esman]

Really like this shot, shows the personality well. Some sharpening, a little more room would make it even nicer. TFS.

Gary.

[Bhushan Dalvi]

Hello! You could do a bit of sharpening around the eye.

Agreed. I will try some more sharpening around the eye. Thanks.

[Bhushan Dalvi]

Bushan,

Like the composition. Very nice pose. Looks like your exposure is fine too. Agree with craig on another round of sharpening.
Also on a side not, not a big fan of AF-A. I rather choose AF-S or AF-C manually than let the camera pick up based on subject.

Thank you Sid for the input. This was a quick shot taken while I was shooting pif's so the culprit here was the dynamic AF mode which I was still in. I was able to change over from AF-C but had to push the shutter as this guy turned around pretty quick.

[Bhushan Dalvi]

Hi Bhushan, I like the interesting pose of the Pelican and the crop. It seems like the Pelican is as interested in you as you are in it. A bit more room at the left side and a touch at the top would have been my preference. You are right about the dof. It seems the eyes are a bit soft. Maybe more sharpening as mentioned would help.

Art, thanks for the input. I will try and add some canvas on the left and top.

[Bhushan Dalvi]

Interesting pose, I can see why you were interested in it. The head is just a bit tight in that corner IMO. Assuming this is already cropped I would add some canvas back just for some breathing room. Although you could have used more DOF the culprit is as much about the critical focus point, which was not on the eye (seems to be on the bill where the black "gap" between the mandibles is widest). I see your exif shows you were at a wide-open aperture and ISO 200. With the light you had you should raise the ISO and stop down the aperture a bit to ensure the eye gets in DOF range if your focus point is slightly off.



BTW, welcome to the Avian forum - you can post your avian images here no problem...wherever you feel most comfortable!;)

Daniel, thanks for all the great input. The picture was actually framed tight in camera. I am going to try and add some canvas. I agree with you about the critical focus. I will be more careful next time.

[Bhushan Dalvi]

Really like this shot, shows the personality well. Some sharpening, a little more room would make it even nicer. TFS.

Gary.

Thank you Gary. I will try and make all the recommendations.

[Bhushan Dalvi]

Okay guys this is the reworked image.
Let me know what you think.

[Daniel Cadieux]

I much prefer the new comp with the added space for the head. The eye still looks a bit soft though. I am certain that an additional round of sharpening (to it only) would do some good.

[Bhushan Dalvi]

I much prefer the new comp with the added space for the head. The eye still looks a bit soft though. I am certain that an additional round of sharpening (to it only) would do some good.

Thanks Daniel. I am new to selective sharpening in PS so I am scared of overdoing it. I will be more careful next time.