First post here - Northern Pintail

[Richard Dubiel]

My first post on the forum, A recent shot from a series of images I shot of a Northern Pintail. I've heard they can be quite elusive, but this one was mixed in with a couple of dozen of Mallards.
D300 + Sigma 500mm EX lens: ISO400, 1/2500sec, f/7.1, Spot Metered -0.3EV
Tripod & Gimbal
Appreciate your thoughts & comments
Richard

[Arthur Morris]

Welcome. And thanks a stack for your membership support. Your image is sharp with a good exposure. I am betting that you have no more room below.... Is that correct?

How big a crop?

[arash_hazeghi]

nice pose and details in soft light, but for the crop doesn't work given how the wing is clipped.

[Robert Amoruso]

I agree with Arash, the the clipped wing is distracting. I would go even more in cropping an eliminate it but also wishing for more room in front.

Welcome to the forum Richard.

[Randy Stout]

Richard:

A big welcome to BPN, a great place to learn and grow as a nature photographer.

The duck certainly is striking, but as mentioned, too tight in frame. The head and body are nice and sharp, with good angle in the frame.

Look forward to seeing more!

Cheers

Randy

[Richard Dubiel]

Welcome. And thanks a stack for your membership support. Your image is sharp with a good exposure. I am betting that you have no more room below.... Is that correct?

How big a crop?

Thanks Arthur, truly appreciate your comments. The D300 sensor is 4288 x 2828, checked my image, it was cropped down to 3342 x 1430. You guessed, no room at bottom. This was more of a fluke shot; it was quite close and trying to frame a BIF at close range with a tripod & gimbal, you can imagine how much you have to swing the camera and lens and move along with it with your eye to the viewfinder!

[Richard Dubiel]

Arash, Robert & Randy - thanks also for your comments and have to agree about the tight crop.

[Bob Pelkey]

Great anatomical detail.