Zoo shots. suggestions?

[blinnea]

I'm new at this so please be nice ;p Any suggestions? Nikon D3100 55-300mm. manual setting 1/500 f5.6 ISO 200. 220mm. I'm just curious on how I can improve. Please give any suggestions. Should I have used different settings? I have forced myself to keep my camera in manual mode. So i can learn more about it. Thanks

[windrider86]

Please be sure to include enough info (as outlined in the critique section rules) so we may better help you!

[blinnea]

okay thanks. I hope that's better

[Hill Country Hack]

I like the shot. From what I can tell the eyes are sharp. Compositionally, the eyes are in the upper third, enough negative space on camera right. I can agree with your settings regarding shutter speed/focal length and the use of a more open apeture to get some bokeh. Did you try ISO 100 too? I think if no others birds were in the picture it may add to the shot.

[blinnea]

Thanks for your input. This was the last shot of the day and we were in a hurry to leave. This is actually the only shots of the water fowl that I took. I'm happy with it considering. I do agree, I wish it was the only bird in the shot.

[mikoyan]

I find the trunk on the right a little distracting. If it were just the two birds, I would like the shot a little more (not that it's a bad shot). I kind of like the constrast between the two geese of the one flapping its wings and the other not.

[blinnea]

I also have this one. I like that its the only bird in the shot