Is this effective with the limited depth of field seen?

-- Carlyn Iverson (absolutsci@aol.com), September 15, 1999

Answers

The primary bird is so strong that the limited depth of field works fine for me. The bird on the left is distracting after my eye moves off the primary subject and starts to "look around" the shot. Nice job.

-- Micheal F. Kelly (radiant@gci.net), September 15, 1999.

Your DOF is perfect, but I have to agree that the other bird on the left is distracting. The smaller ducklings help make the shot interesting. Isolate the one loon next time. I like the blue and green reflections on the water.

-- Buster Ulmer (BusterFla@aol.com), September 15, 1999.

I agree with the other posters, next time try and isolate the main subject, invest some time and film and get the shot you want. Pat

-- pat j. krentz (krentz@cci-29palms.com), September 15, 1999.

Generally speaking, when you have a second subject out of focus in front of the main subject, it is very distracting. If the second subject is behind the main subject, it is more acceptable.

In this image, the main loon looks great and the young loons are OK as well, but as everybody else points out, the loon on the left side is very distracting. To shoot in this type of situation, you need to be patient and wait for the birds to separater from one another.

-- Shun Cheung (shun@worldnet.att.net), September 16, 1999.

What focal length are you using? I've never been able to get this close to a loon with my 300mm + 2X teleconvertor.

-- Anil Mungal (mungal@ca.ibm.com), September 16, 1999.

Anil, right after the ducklings hatch, they cannot dive like the parents, and therefore cannot escape your approach as well. During this time it is common to be able to get much closer than you could otherwise as the parent will stay around to protect her young. If you get too close (and you shouldn't) the parent will abandon the young (temporarily) to try to distract you from them if you get too close. In my canoe, I've had them come up about 30 yards away, on the other side as their chicks are. They splash and called to take my attention away from the young.

It is still not an easy shot, but this time of year is the best for getting close. A 300mm lens should be sufficient.

-- Pat Lehnherr (lehnherr@isd.net), September 20, 1999.

Not enough DOF for me. I'd like to see the chicks sharp too. The bird on the left is distracting and would be better left out. The main subject is nice through!

-- Bob Atkins (bobatkins@hotmail.com), September 21, 1999.