Indian Nightjar

[Bibhav Behera]

Shot this in Similipal yesterday. It was in the shade and light was low.
Comments and Critiques welcome.
This is fullframe...

I couldn't avoid the twig. :(
Canon EOS 1000D, Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM
SS 1/50
f/4
ISO 400

[Sabyasachi Patra]

Nice sighting but tough lighting. The shutter speed was low. Some kind of support like monopod would help. Wish you could have moved to avoid the branch infront as well as at the back.

Is this a crop? Though the entire bird is not covered by the depth of field, the amount of area in focus infront of the bird gives such a feeling.

Thanks for sharing.

Cheers,
Sabyasachi

[Bibhav Behera]

This is Full frame. I agree about the DOF, but at this shutter speed i couldn't afford a narrower aperture. Also didn't want ISO 800, so fired a burst (3 shots @ 1.5 fps is max in 1000D :D)

[Mrudul Godbole]

Nice eye contact. I agree that the stick is distracting. Wish the light was better. I agree with Sabyasachi, out of curiosity I checked the EXIF, it says 7.6m as the focal length. So while photographing with 300mm lens at f4 the DOF infront of the bird would be hardly 2-3 inches. Thanks for sharing.

[Nikhilesh Mahakur]

I actually like the image with the stick. Gives a realistic perspective.

Envy you, I always have got to see them , never shot :)
Look forward to more!

[Bibhav Behera]

Thanks for all the comments. I agree about the DOF part. Thanks for sharing.

[Praveen Siddannavar]

Bibhav I like this image, the details are good. The image would have been even better without the twigs. I have see them couple of times at Tadoba and Doddamakli but was not lucky enough to photograph
tfs

[AB Apana]

Bibhav, if this is full frame why don't you consider a horizontal crop?

Apana