Black-Crowned Night Heron

[dibsthecat]

Camera : Nikon D2x
f 2.8
1/40
ISO 100

Date taken: 10/9/2010
Location: Botanical Gardens - San Francisco.

My question are particularly focused of cropping and Bokeh.
This photo was taken in shade with very low ISO with wide open aperture, I wanted to have the focus on the heron and get as much detail of the feathers. Should I have upped the ISO?
My concern is the white bokeh in the position behind the beak distracts form the bird.
Should it be cropped closer on the left so in effect there is the bird on the left and the leaves on the right to make it more balance or when taken the photo should I have allowed more room on the right of the leaves?

[Sterling]

I think you've got a bit of camera shake/motion blur there. A better option may have been to bump up the ISO to 400 and shoot at 1/160 sec.

[TheCheesWizz]

I think you have an amazing picture. besides the slight blur from camera shake, there is nothing I dont like about this picture. Great pose and great depth of field.

[dibsthecat]

Im not sure what you mean about the blur http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4148/...85016e5d_b.jpg

[sk66]

Where is this? We have black crowned night herons, but not much bamboo...

Anyways, nothing wrong with the pic, but it is a bit of a "bird on a stick" shot. To go to "the next level" you need to capture some action...

[Barbara V]

Maybe it's my eyes, but I don't see the slight blur. I like the fact that this bird has just eaten something, and has a bit of it in his mouth. Nice bokeh effect in the background, too.

[windrider86]

Please be sure to read the guidelines/rules for posting int he critique section. Some info is missing that needs to be included in your posts. txs

[AmberLizz]

where is his other leg? hiding? xD
anyway, great picture - gorgeous bird.
i don't think you need to crop it.
i actually like the way the photo is - the leaves add a bit of beauty to the picture, i think. (: