Virginia Rail

[Glenn Bartley]

It was nice to get this skulker out in the open for a few frames... What do you think? Do you like this wider view?

Glenn



Camera Model: Canon EOS 7D
Shutter speed: 1/1000 sec
Aperture: 5.6
ISO: 400
Lens: EF500mm f/4L IS USM

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

It's presumptuous of me to try to criticize one of your bird photos, but in this one I would be tempted to crop out about half of the out-of-focus greenery at the bottom, and then perhaps a bit off the left so the rectangle isn't too extreme.

But it is magnificent as usual.

[Colorado David]

I like it the way it is and would have likely framed it that way myself under the same conditions.  I am neutral on the foreground, but the positioning of the bird in the frame is just right.  The way I read it is the bird just took a step and the framing allows some looking and action room in front.

[Tony Jay]

Great image, as usual Glenn.
It is possible that Eric's suggestion may work nonetheless the current composition is excellent.

Regards

Tony Jay

[Praki]

Hi Glenn:
I am a huge fan of your images. I find the grass stalks on the left and the three near the tail a little distracting and pull my attention away from the main subject. Maybe slightly darkening the background (or slightly lightening the main subject) would emphasize and project the bird a bit.
Thanks,
Praki.

[james-greenland]

It's presumptuous of me to try to criticize one of your bird photos, but in this one I would be tempted to crop out about half of the out-of-focus greenery at the bottom, and then perhaps a bit off the left so the rectangle isn't too extreme.

But it is magnificent as usual.

I agree: whilst its good to have some of the OOF foreground, there is too much for me: Its just dead-space, where as if there were more at the top (only slightly mind you) then there would be more textural interest

[Seoonmie]

Hi Glen, although the issue of OOF foreground has been mentioned in all the previous posts, I'll go on about the same thing. I really like to see the surroundings in nature shots. I know a lot of people prefer clean, "school book" type of pictures, but for me the type of composition you chose really works well. I almost felt as if hiding in the reeds, that's just how close to the bird you take us. A great picture, in other words.