Sandhill in flight close up

[Joel Eade]

This crane flew so close I couldn't keep all of him in the frame, I wasn't sure how to best crop this one so I will be interested to see suggestions. I cropped in from the top and left, leaving space on the right. The original had most of the wing tips clipped off. I really like the detail in the head and body so I tried to make something interesting out of it

1D4
500mm f/4
Manual mode
Center AF point manually selected, rear focus
ISO 640
f/8
1/1600

[John Chardine]

Beautifully sharp where it counts Joel- actually, it's sharp pretty well everywhere! Nice light. Love the eye. Crop-wise, I'm thinking that tighter would be better if the original image allows.

[Jeff Cashdollar]

Joel,

Use a piece of paper on your screen and try alternative crops, tighter might be better. Give it a try and after receiving more feedback repost if you want. Really like the look and head detail.

Thanks for posting like what you are trying to do here.

[pat lillich]

beautifully sharp, wonderful light. Best of luck with the crops - i think it works really well as is too.

[Kerry Perkins]

Joel, for me the only crops that work on these birds is the full bird or the head only. Anything in between looks awkward IMO. I have tried with many of my own shots but the clipped wings and cutoff tail just don't work for me.

[Linwood Ferguson]

Joel, for me the only crops that work on these birds is the full bird or the head only. Anything in between looks awkward IMO. I have tried with many of my own shots but the clipped wings and cutoff tail just don't work for me.

I would normally agree, but maybe because it's such a large and unusual bird, and all three (i.e. including tail) is cropped, I like this one. There's a real sense of speed moving into the frame.