Red squirrel

[StuartR]

My first ever pic of a wild red squirrel, taken in the Lake District. OK, so it was at a feeding station but it was nice to have the chance of capturing it. It was quite small (one of this year's juveniles I was told) and a bit too far away perhaps (this is a 50% crop) but it was the only chance I got - I fired off about 10 frames and it was gone.



Canon 40D + EF 100-400mm lens. ISO400 1/320 sec @ f/7.1, 400mm, hand-held

[StuartR]

Re: Red squirrel

Reckon I should have cropped it a bit tighter on the left and got rid of that hazelnut? It's distracting me now...

[Pol]

Re: Red squirrel

Reckon I should have cropped it a bit tighter on the left and got rid of that hazelnut? It's distracting me now...

I agree about getting rid of the hazelnut on the left either by a crop or a patch or clone of sunflower seeds It's a superb picci otherwise though. Lovely dof and such a cute little fella too!

Pol

[Stephen]

Re: Red squirrel

Charming photo Stuart. Having not seen the whole frame its difficult to say what the best crop is, but I wonder about the possibility of getting the eye on a third line, but that may compromise another aspect of the image. Anyway I reckon the picture shows the quality of that lens. I have found much the same and the IS works wonderfully in such situations.

[StuartR]

Re: Red squirrel

Charming photo Stuart. Having not seen the whole frame its difficult to say what the best crop is, but I wonder about the possibility of getting the eye on a third line, but that may compromise another aspect of the image. Anyway I reckon the picture shows the quality of that lens. I have found much the same and the IS works wonderfully in such situations.

Funnily enough I was looking at some of my recent work last night and I decided that I'd joined (or I'm a founder member of) the "rule of halves" school . I might have another look at the crop this evening.

I do like my 100-400mm but I'm still not finding it easy to get consistently good results when hand-holding at the long end. Although, to be fair, that's compared with my 70-300mm which was much lighter and that all-important 100mm shorter of course.

[strontian]

Re: Red squirrel

Still a great shot Stuart,Good detail at max 400. Like it.____JIM

[jojo]

Re: Red squirrel

I agree about the errant nut being distracting (but probably wouldn't have noticed it if you hadn't mentioned it!) Great detail and colouring in the squirrel though.

jo

[Mowgli]

Re: Red squirrel

Brilliant picture Stuart, I think I would have cropped out most of that food on the left, bringing out the squirrel more. The greenery on the right is far enough out of focus, this probably would have brought the eye almost on the point of thirds Stephen mentioned
Mowgli

[Blithe]

[Josh Bear]

Re: Red squirrel

Crop aside that is a lovely sharp picture. the 100-400 despite being an older design really holds its own.

Best Regards

Josh

[mib2]

Re: Red squirrel

I dont want to be piccy at all but a wonderful shot.

well done
Dave R

[Barr1e]

Re: Red squirrel

I have taken pix of many squirrels but that is the first red one I have seen in some while - so thanks for showing and I for one am quite jealous. Good colour and sharpness.

Regards. Barr1e

[fluffy penguin]

Re: Red squirrel

nope sorry I did not realy see the food and the nuts on the left side, My eyes went straight to the squirrell the way he is intently checking his nut
I am quite jealous you have caught him superbly the way the fur feathers out on his tail.
and oh just look at his gorgeous little paws.