Crop Thoughts

[jmanpa]

I'm looking for input on the best crop for this photo. See my current crop on Flickr here:


My biggest gripe is the piling which is not very attractive.

Original is attached.

[RecurrentNerve]

Why not try cropping to a 16:9ish (ie panoramic) ratio with the subjects in the right third and the middle and left third showing the sea. It should lend movement to the shot, i.e. the bird has swooped in to the right.

It really depends on what you're doing with the shot. If it was appearing in a wildlife magazine your first crop would be fine. If you're wanting a print from the wall something more creative is called for.

[jmanpa]

Going to keep an 8x10 ratio for prints

[RecurrentNerve]

I'd stick with what you've got in that case.

[zona5101]

the posted pic has more impact than the thumbnail, compositionally better.

[PrimeTime]

Pain and simple, good subject and bad background = bad photo. Good background and bad subject = bad photo.

The birds are a good subject, find a good background and wait for the shot. No matter how many times you reshoot this shot, it's only going to be as good as the background.