Black-footed Albatross Soaring

[Paul Guris]

I photographed this Black-footed Albatross off SoCal on the 5-day Searcher trip this year. I'm a bit uneasy about the crop, but that wingspan makes it a bit more problematic than most other species in flight. C&C, especially about the crop, are welcome.

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 300mm f/4D IF-ED, TC14II
ISO 800, f/10, 1/2000, 420mm (630mm equivalent)

[arash_hazeghi]

nice banking pose, good light, Never seen any of these guys off NorCal coast. I am not seeing much details was this a large crop?

[Paul Guris]

No, it's not a very large crop (maybe 70% vertically) but to fit the wings like that top to bottom I had to take the photo from a fairly long distance. The entire body width takes up about 220 pixels on the original.

[RakeshDhareshwar]

Wonderful crop , and nice pose. Agree with Arash on the details .

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Paul, I am fine with the crop...if anything, might move the bird a tad up in the frame. liked your exposure...must be quite a thrill to see this majestic bird.

I think the lack of details could be a sharpening issue. try a round of USM ( 85, 0.3,0) on the bird...but exclude the specular highlights on the bill.