As spring approaches our local park becomes a haven for geese and ducks. I took my son out for a walk on Saturday, and he liked it so much he had to go out again today. His perseverance was rewarded with a large gaggle, and we could hardly tear him away when it was time to leave. Bird photography is not my specialty; the couple decent frames I got were acquired by pure dumb luck, not experience or skill.
Inverting depth cues (sharper = nearer) is not generally advised, but sometimes you can make an effective composition thereby. In this case, the bird must be sharp; blurring the foreground tuft of grass is not only inevitable but beneficial to the final image. Granted, it remains identifiable at f/8, but only enough to provide a sense of location.
Nicholas Haggin Photography 