Macaw - C&C Please To crop or not to crop

[DebT]

Hi,
took this Macaw in flight shot (Adelaide zoo) and am determined to keep practicing but would appreciate C&C on what I could do better (and how to achieve this)?
Also interested on C&C re cropping (at ths stage I'm just happy getting the whole bird inframe, mostly in focus and no people in background) but how best to present finished product ?

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12727308@N05/1338250790/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1014/1338250790_14adddb3f6.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="macaw2 IMG_5731" /></a>

It's also the first time I have posted a photo and tried to follow guidelines but PLEASE let me know if there is anything I should be doing different
Rgds Deb T
Shot with Cannon 400D & 70-300 IS USM

[Oneputt]

Deb that is a wonderful shot. To my mind a tighter crop would improve the image because the background adds nothing to the overall effect.

[Pa]

if it was mine i'ld crop some off the bottom and right hand side...... apart from that it looks like a very good first image post.

cheers pa

[big pix]

crop a little off the bottom and from behind the bird so it is flying into the picture will add more impack....... nice image

[MATT]

crop a little off the bottom and from behind the bird so it is flying into the picture will add more impack....... nice image

Agreed.. Lovely colours also..

well done

MATT

[Biggzie]

That is an excellent photo.
I agree with the others about the crop. Give the bird some space to fly into by cropping behind and below.

[Bindii]

Yep I'm with all those above me on the cropping issue... it would also serve to remove some of the more 'in focus' palm fronds that are dsitracting from the subject...

Its a gorgeous shot btw... just enough sharpeness to make it stand out... I really like it...

[DebT]

Thanks everyone for the encouraging comments and advice - I am cropping as suggested and like the result much better
Deb T

[DebT]

Cropped - hopefully as suggested


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12727308@N05/1343755452/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1276/1343755452_cbe19efc0d.jpg" width="500" height="400" alt="macaw2 IMG_5731 cropped" /></a>

Deb T

[Bindii]

Cropped - hopefully as suggested

Deb T

Nope I don't think thats what we meant... well its not what I meant anyways...

Only crop the bottom and the right hand side of the image...leaving the bird on the far right of the shot... that will leave some space for the bird to 'fly into'....

[Biggzie]

I think you've cropped the right hand side too close to the birds tail. and you shouldnt have touched the left side.
Try this, crop the bottom so the feather is the same distance from the edge as the top feather is to the top edge. You could prob crop the bottom slightly more, but this is a starting point.
Now crop the right hand side so the the centre of the birds right wing is about a 1/3 distance from the right hand edge. (still leave a bit of space behind the tail)

I hope thats clear, Im hopeless at explaining like this .

[DebT]

OK - attempt #3 did my best to follow crop advice re bottom & r/h side
(with attempt #2 I was fixated with maintaing 6X4 ratio - no idea why upon reflection, put it down to newbie mistake)

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12727308@N05/1352233944/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1099/1352233944_0e52b4f632.jpg" width="500" height="354" alt="macaw 3 IMG_5731" /></a>

#4 have burnt the highlights out of foliage R/H side to hopefully remove distraction
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12727308@N05/1351428415/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1019/1351428415_f947b4d18a.jpg" width="500" height="354" alt="macaw 4 IMG_5731" /></a>

What do you think - ready to print yet ?

NB The reason I kept all of the foliage in the origional was it provided an interesting 3D blurred effect when printed - sort of like the old piece of plastic over the photo on the cards that came in the cereal boxes.

But I am confidant that following the advice provided has produced a more technically correct photo and really has made a big difference Thanks all for your perseverence and assistance


DebT

[Pa]

you've done it deb. that's about how i would have cropped it.


cheers pa

[Biggzie]

Much better

[Bindii]

Yup thats it! Print it... big.. and frame it too while your at it...

[rflower]

About time you posted a pic Deb I agree with the consensus ... the last crops do the photo justice.