Jumping squirrel

[keebler]

Hello. I'm a new member ( and have learned so much from this site so far!) but have been playing around with my DSLR for about 3 years now mostly on auto mode. In the past 6 months I've ventured more to the semi-auto side. I've only taken one intro photography class and have tried to learn as I go.
I am wondering how I can improve on this image. I know the squirrel is a little out of focus...I was shooting TV mode and didn't have enough time to bump up the exposure time before this guy made his move. I'm a complete newbie at photographing wildlife but was wondering if I should have shot in a higher exposure time anticipating movement? Would the image have more of an impact if I was zoomed in and made the squirrel the main focus of the image? I also did a little sharpening and added a little warmth to the image in PSE 9. Could I have done something else to make this more of a dramatic shot? Thanks for taking a look

Canon Rebel XSi
f/ 5.6
Exposure time: 1/400 sec.
ISO-800
No flash
Focal length 300mm.

[windrider86]

I'd have given it a crop where there was more room in frnt of him than behind. Would give it the illusion that he is jumping into something rather than having dead space behind him.
Cute shot!

[keebler]

Thanks! I see what you mean and agree :-) Something to aim for next time! Thanks again for your advice.

[rotty022]

i think windrider meant, you could do it now. no need to wait until next time. just some post processing would fix it the way windrider suggested.