Full crop

No, not that sort of crop.

However, with cropping a bit topic recently I will also post the full frame below, as I would be interested to know if you would have cropped it differently, and why. Feel free to copy and re-post if you wish, as last time I found some of the replies were good ideas I hadn't considered.

What I have done here is a simple crop from landscape to portrait, as I thought the twig hanging down gave vertical strength to the frame. Differing views very welcome.

David

Nikon D600, 600mm Nikon, 1.4x Nikon converter, 1600 ISO, 1/1600 @ f 6.3

And here is the original full frame.

David

A fine image, less distraction in the the cropped version and the larger version is the enhanced image for me. These are so photogenic.

Cracking image Waxwing image! I have tried it with a square crop as the bird provides a strong diagonal.......what think you?

Nick.

I've no hang-ups regarding square images so I think I prefer Nick's crop of the three. A beautifully captured image David.

As most people will already know, I don't like square crops, but this one somehow works for me. Thanks Nick, for something I would never have considered trying otherwise!

David

Square crop needs more LHS IMO. But looks OK.

My only issue with the portrait is the eye catching OOF twig running through the back of the bird. I find it less intrusive with the full version and the square crop.

Cracking shot though

Bob

Hi David, I don't mine your portrait format, but would have half the space above the head, just watch your pixels/IQ. Perhaps going along the lines of how it was shot and having the faint, OOF diagonal branch doing something and linking into the corner? Might need to do some subtle pruning.

Steve

Think the comp was fine but i feel it just needed a little space, if you had shot it portrait originally it would not have needed such a large crop and the result would have been similar. Like steve though i like the landscape either. just my take