Mallard

While not particularly new to wildlife photography, I am still getting to grips with the avian side of things - especially in the UK. This, coupled with having only 280mm at my disposal at the moment, kind of limits me to those very approachable subjects (hence my recent obsession with some of the commoner waterfowl! )

In this spirit, I have a couple of questions about cropping etc. Does this kind of shot work, or would it be better to either get in closer for a portrait or back off and include the entire wing? I have managed plenty of shots with both these other options, and was just trying to get the hang of some of the "dos and don'ts"!

Any replies would be welcome, and please don't hold back on your critique!

techs: 189mm, 1/400s, f5.6, iso 500

Billy

There are no do's and don'ts. Whatever pleases you is what you should produce. However having said that there are a lot of people who would disagree with me in the search for the perfect shot.

For me, I would have liked to see the whole wing and in another shot the wings in focus(if possible).

This pic is just a little too close if what you are trying to show is the wing flapping rather than the ducks head, however as I said, what makes you happy.

Look forward to seeing more stuff.

Brian

I keep looking at this one , and am still not sure .Had the whole bird been in the frame it could have been very good .

Bob.

Billy

For me this doesn’t quite come off, its what I would call an in between shot, not a full portrait and not a close up. To give yourself the most long term options I think I would have opted for the duck to be “sitting” up, you would have had the ripples plus potentially the option for a tight head shot.

With this size lens you are rather limited. So I would think about setting up a feeder, if possible. Another option is the café in you local park, take some bread along and some sting/cable ties. Find a bench with a decent background, using the sting/cable ties tie a nice perch on the end of the perch, put down your bread, and have a cuppa till the local Robin etc. turns up. Just a few thoughts.

Email me if you think I can help further.

Keep at it, as I think you have a good eye for a shot, will keep a look out for some more.

I don't mind the comp, but it's too soft for me - at this closeness you might have needed more F-stop or to get the eye bang on focus. Still, all shots don't ahve to be the same - there are no rules!

Mark

I have to admit that if I was too close to get the whole bird in, I would probably choose to go for a real close-up head portrait. All you have to ask yourself is - 'was this the image I was trying to get or do I try something else?'
Eric

Thanks for the comments guys, always nice to know that theres such a range of opinion! Mark, I agree about the softness, although I think its more a case of slight motion blur than a dof issue.

Billy