One UGLY bird

[Stina3246]

So I was driving down the road and saw some HUGE tom turkeys in a pasture. I thought it would be a good shot but had NO idea they were all gonna come running over and pose for me! Anyway, I'd like to know if the composition and color look good and what you would do differently. Should I have gotten the WHOLE waddle or is it OK cropped the way it is. (Actually it's not cropped, I shot it this way. I liked his "expression"
Nikon D50
F5.6
ISO 200
1/250
White Balance Auto
No flash



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

[Photologyst]

Great pix. lol

You could enhance the colours a bit and work on the blown highlights. I wouldn’t cut off the top of his head.

Got any others?

I have always agreed with Benjamin Franklin that the Turkey is a “respectable” bird. Love the way they look too.

[Laurenbiz]

I don't like this crop. I think it's great that you got a close shot of the turkey, and the colors and focus are nice. But, the top and bottom of the frame cut off parts of his head/face

[Sterling]

^^ Agreed. The cut off points seem a little awkward.

[Stina3246]

OK....here are 2 more shots. Same camera settings.

[Sterling]

I like the second one where you can see the whole head.

[Photologyst]

What a magnificent bird. #2 is my choice.

[Stina3246]

Originally Posted by Photologyst

What a magnificent bird. #2 is my choice.

There were 5 of them. All Toms and HUGE. I just wanted to take a picture of the closest one and all of a sudden all 5 lined up and strutted over to me shoulder to shoulder. All fanning thier tails and fluttering thier wings. I don't know if they were courting me or telling me to leave!. Veery cool though. I took TONS of pictures but I liked the close ups best.

[Photologyst]

Originally Posted by Stina3246

There were 5 of them. All Toms and HUGE. I just wanted to take a picture of the closest one and all of a sudden all 5 lined up and strutted over to me shoulder to shoulder. All fanning thier tails and fluttering thier wings. I don't know if they were courting me or telling me to leave!. Veery cool though. I took TONS of pictures but I liked the close ups best.

Well, I don't know much about turkey behavior. However, I would guess if you are a female they "might" have been a courtin'—if you are a male, they might have been the bouncers.

I photographed a peacock recently who was displaying like mad. The hen just turned her back and was more interested in dinner.