Got any nuts?

Thanks for the comments on my last post. Here is a Red squirrel taken recently in Yorkshire.

Techs: Canon EOS 7D, EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM, tripod and gimbal. f/4, 1/500th sec, ISO 1600, aperture priority, -0.33 EV. Imported with Adobe camera raw and processed in CS5. NR with Nik Dfine. About 40% cropped from the top and left.

This is the first time I've used the 7D at 1600 ISO in anger and I'm impressed. The weather was overcast and foggy and with the woodland environment the light was very challenging. The squirrels can move very quickly, so pushing the ISO was my only option.

My own critique: I'd have liked to have used f/8 for more DOF, but it would have meant pushing the ISO even higher.

Thanks to Simon Phillpotts for making this possible.

All c&c's welcome as always.

Thanks,

Paul.

Paul see what you mean re dof but its spot on sharp where it needs to be,very nice indeed.

Keith.

Paul

Excellent image as is.

Compromise has always been the name of the game in photography Paul. Being at the mercy of the light, it is a rare occasion when we are able to have all the conditions just right and we just have to make the best job we can with the tools we have. In this instance your use of 1600 iso has resulted in a very nice capture of an endearing animal.
I see you used 1/500th. Perhaps going down to 1/250th could have still got you the result but with a little more DoF. I know these animals are very quick but there are usually one or two moments when they stop still. Recently I have been having to shoot wide open with speeds as low as 1/10th (at iso 1600 / 3200) and as long as I can catch the animal still and I am able to apply good long lens technique I can get decently sharp images. As I said at the start . . . it's all about compromise.

a nice looking image Paul, well composed and good eye contact. A bit more DOF would have been nice but not a major problem for me.

Matt

Works for me either way. Would love to know where to find them in Yorkshire.

The extra depth of field would have been nice, but as far as I am concerned the picture works very well as is.

David

Nicely done Paul. I like a shallow depth of field with the Squidgers and the important bits are in-focus. Have you thawed out yet?

Love the pose and great details and colours cracking shot well done

I wouldn't worry about lack of DoF Paul - looks pretty much perfect to me

You've got a very slight cyan/blue cast in the highlights - easy fix though

Thanks for the comments and suggestions everyone.

Thanks Simon, yes I've finally thawed out!

Works fine as it is for me. Well composed and a very nice pose.

Hello Paul.

Looks great to me and DOF is fine.

Hi Paul what a great image.

Phil.

Lovely image Paul, lack of DOF doesn't bother me

Oscar

No need for extra DOF as most of the back of the squirrel is missing so to concentrate on the face was the way to go andthis is nice and sharpand those ear tufts really make the image stand out for me. The clean BG helps the squirrel stand out and the colours are fantastic. No nits from me.

Nick.

Thanks for the comments!