Black-crowned Night Heron. Portrait I.

[Karl Egressy]

They are gone for the season by now. I had fun shooting them for about three weeks.
I'll post a few more, as I have already posted some.
Thanks for looking.

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
Manual Exposure
Tv 1/1000
Av 5.6
ISO800
EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x

[gareth thomson]

Hi Karl: Nice portrait. I like the framing. Questions: what's your view on cleaning up the bill? And I assume you made a judgement about how tightly to crop?? Do you have a "formula" for that or?? Sorry - beginner here and trying to jump start my composition process by asking basic questions. gt

[gail bisson]

hi Karl,
I really like this intimate shot.exposure and
IQ are very good.

I like your choice of composition and the eye level view.
I like the raised feather on the back and the feather on the beak.
I see a very slight magenta cast in the raised feathers of head crest but I am on my IPad so I could be wrong.
I am looking forward to more,
gail

[Karl Egressy]

Hi Karl: Nice portrait. I like the framing. Questions: what's your view on cleaning up the bill? And I assume you made a judgement about how tightly to crop?? Do you have a "formula" for that or?? Sorry - beginner here and trying to jump start my composition process by asking basic questions. gt

Thanks, Gareth.


About the beak; I was thinking about cleaning it but then I thought that a small
feather looks natural on the beak when he/she is in the process of preening.

[Karl Egressy]

hi Karl,
I really like this intimate shot.exposure and
IQ are very good.

I like your choice of composition and the eye level view.
I like the raised feather on the back and the feather on the beak.
I see a very slight magenta cast in the raised feathers of head crest but I am on my IPad so I could be wrong.
I am looking forward to more,
gail

Thanks, Gail.

there was actually substantial blue cast on the bird. I got rid of most of it
but not all, on purpose. It would have looked very unnatural, kind of flat.
I got rid of all the magenta I think, or at least I don't see it on my monitor.

[dankearl]

Wicked portrait, the eye is killer, very well done.

[Satish Ranadive]

Marvelous portrait.Love the raised feathers of back,beautiful eye,details and lights.Lovely composition too.

Regards,
Satish.

[Jack Breakfast]

A terrific pose, background, great stray feathers, beautiful detail...there is much to love!

[Robert Holguin]

Excellent close up shot. I really like the head angle, excellent details, great background, and teriffic comp.
Very well done.

[Nico Steenberg]

Well exposed and soft light makes the details pop. Nice shot !