Robin in the snow

[calebk]

Hi Everyone.
Met a beautiful little Robin in the snow today and I'm pretty chuffed with how the photo came out! I had trouble getting the right exposure all day and when I saw this little guy, he just perched on the branch posing for a few minutes, like he was compensating for my bad photography skills. When I got the shot, it flew off.



Robin in the snow | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Just a few questions.

1. Does it matter that I haven't used the rule of thirds? I have left space in the direction he is looking so I don't see it as a massive problem myself.
2. It looks like I slightly cut off its left foot in the photo, does that matter?
3. Do you have any suggestions for post-processing the image or is it best to leave it as it is? I have already messed around with the lighting in Photoshop so maybe I have done enough.
4. What do you make of the settings I have used?
5. Any other feedback would be great

Camera: Nikon D3100
F-stop: f/5.6
Exposure time: 1/800 sec
Iso: 1600
Focal length: 200mm
Max Aperture: 5
Metering mode: pattern
Flash: No flash

I would appreciate your feedback
Thanks, Caleb

[KurtM]

In my opinion, the only thing that keeps it from being 100% perfect is cutting the bottom too closely, and losing a bit of foot and tail. Otherwise, I like everything about it -- great exposure, great pose, good BG, sharp crisp focus, etc.

If you're really that close to the bird, back off a little and give yourself leeway for cropping in PP. If you can't back off or anything else, then sometimes you just have to live with what you get since birds aren't always cooperative. If such were the case here, you're infinitely ahead with this pic than not having it at all.

In short, I think it's actually quite close to being utterly perfect, and losing a bit off the bottom doesn't wreck it altogether. Here's how I'd answer your specific questions:

1. In bird photography you might want to think about what you "want out of life". Some want beautiful photographic art, and others want graphic documentation. I'm in the latter camp. It's possible to get both, I suppose, but I am happy if I err on the side of the clinical rather than the artistic. Your mileage may vary.

2. Only you can answer that, see the above.

3. Leave as is. This one just plain worked. A large part of its charm is that it looks so natural.

4. They worked, didn't they? I think ISO is misunderstood, and think you prove that high ISO numbers are your friend when used properly.