Wilson's Storm Petrel

[RMcCluskey]

Took this photo on the boat while shark fishing off the coast of New Jersey. I'm very new to photography so was excited that it came out decent, however I'm sure there are 100 things my untrained eye does not see, and would appreciate both positive feedback as well as critique.

Nikon D70
70-300mm f/4.5-5.6
f/9.0
Exposure 1/1600s
ISO 500 (After reading, I know that this is high for this type of shot, as I had full sun)
Focal Length- 140mm

[Peggyjom]

I like the droplet water trail you captured, the detail of the bird and the smoothness of the water. If only and I know what it is like to shoot wildlife.There was room for the bird to fly into and a bit more of the side of the bird, it would have been awsome but it is a nice shot.
Such pretty water and subject!

[RMcCluskey]

Thank you Peg, I agree a little more of the flight out would have been great, but would have traded the water droplets and "footsteps" i imagine. Took quite a few shots just to get this one, these things are fidgety!

[sk66]

Technically, there's nothing wrong here.

Compositionally, I personally think the picture would work better with the bird running towards the viewer, but you take what you can get sometimes.

As is I think the picture works well enough and largely due to there being very little room left for the bird...it's leaving the scene. This makes the picture as much (or more) about the running footsteps/ water drops and there is still the bird there to give them "context". Maybe a little looser crop overall would be my suggestion.

[RMcCluskey]

Thank you for the critique. I am going to dig up the Raw file, I know that I cropped it and I may be able to look back on just how much I took off.