Wam Weather + Bird Feed = No Birds But I Did Capture This Guy

[rickabobaloey]

Cool Dude by cpt_gungho, on Flickr

EXIF Data
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/400
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 250mm
Manual Focus

 

[Jeanelle]

Cute "guy", but I think that the composition might be a little bit better if you cropped out the right side of the photo, right about the bar, so that he falls more into the rule of thirds. He is a little too much dead center, but I love how he has an orange stripe! Our squirrels aren't like that around here.

 

[rickabobaloey]

Thanks, Jeanelle! This is my first time trying to capture wild life and I was actually trying for birds. I went out and bought the bird feed for them. They were flying around all over the place but I didn't like any of the shots so I didn't upload any.

I did learn one thing though. These animals move so fast AF can't keep up. I had to use MF or I'd never had pressed the shutter button all day. With more practice at it I'm focus, set the exposure, and compose the scene nicely.

Here's the crop you suggested;

 

[Jeanelle]

I like that much better! I am a noob, so take my suggestions with a grain of salt, but I find it much more pleasing.