While Red Crowned cranes number around 1,500 making it one of the most endangered species of birds in the world. They never cease to amaze with their graceful flight, community, constant communication and play. In East Asia, it is known as a symbol of luck, longevity and fidelity. The Japanese do not allow flash and it makes the lighting sometimes difficult.
As soon as I push the send button I am starting the trek to Bosque to chase their Sandhill cousins. If you are there this week or next - say hello - white car, gray hair, NV plates.
Doug,
I'm with Mark. I think the centered bird is framed and offset nicely by the small birds at the bottom and that it would lose its power if you cropped it. Where were these shot, BTW?
I am not a fan of croping to a verticle which especially for people that would like to see the whole environment denies seeing what I think is the important parts of the image - the ones that tell the story inside the image. This image is about the shooing of the small birds away if it was about the wing and feather display then a tight verticle might have been nicer.
I have a friend that crops everything so tight that you get no feeling for the environment which I think is more important. He is a journalist and is schooled in fill the frame wall to wall. I like to see the whole story and please don't get me started on the rule of 3rds.
Hope this helps. By the way this is a most magnificent bird in flight, on the ground and especially in the cold when it is nattering away with the rest of the cranes with steam emiting from all their beaks..
Outstanding shots of an outstanding subject. Like the way you held the whites from blowout. What were your settings? Lens? Back?
Judging from the above comments, "crop" is a four-letter word. But I'd try just a little on 1. Losing a some of the trees is not going to rob viewers of the sense of place. What if you cropped a bit off the top and left? You'd lose 2-3 small birds, more of his shadow, and some of the trees while setting the subject back a little in the frame.
First shot plays tricks on my mind, appears the bird 'is' standing on the snow I like the moment and movement you captured and the crane is a looker all on its own.
The in-flight shot is elegant IMO, a wonderful exposure too Very pretty underside of the wings from tip to tip. Enjoy your trip.
I agree with Karl... very tricky photos.. The added little ones in the first shot are cool. Looks as though that may be a feeding place by all the tracks.
Just stopping in to say hi while cleaning up from the wildfires....
