Great Crested Grebe portrait

[Frank Schauf]

Canon EOS 1DMIV, Canon EF 600mm/4L IS II USM & 2x III, 1/640 sec., f/9, ISO 800, Gitzo GT5541LS with Sachtler FSB 8, 20 % cut

126720

[Gerald Kelberg]

Nice tight image, Frank, and very sharp. You are clearly enjoying your new lens.

If this was mine, and I wish it was, I would be tempted to crop the left side right up to, and maybe including a little of, the neck - removing the 'dead space' behind the head.

I will have to visit my Grebes again and see if I can get them to be this cooperative!

Gerald

[Frank Schauf]

Thanks Gerald, are of course right.

126721

[Paul Keeble]

Well that's a fair bit better than mine!

The second crop definitely works for me too.
I love the subtle pattern in the foreground.
Could the eye maybe use a little cleaning up?

[Grace Scalzo]

Frank, your grebe images are always so interesting. I like both compositions. Agree that the eye could use a bit of cleanup which would make it appear sharper. Super detail throughout.

[Marina Scarr]

While I prefer the RP to the OP, I feel the image quality is decreasing a bit. It's great to see the up close look, but I think I would have preferred a slightly looser crop of the OP with a little more of the wave.

[Mike Delgado]

Nice shot good details & colors. I would be nice if you gave it some more room.

[thijs broekkamp]

Nice portrait, great colours indeed.

[Satish Ranadive]

Magnificent portrait.Love the colors,details,lovely red eye and composition.

Regards,
Satish.

[Michael Eckstein]

Wonderful image agree with cropping suggested.

[Joe Senzatimore]

Great portrait with fine light and detail. I like the re-post better.

[Cheryl Arena Molennor]

Marina took my words. I too would have loved more of the wave and I too wish this were mine! Nice

[Ishmeet Sahni]

I too wish that this was taken by me...... The IQ of the first image seems better to me. But, its a brilliant image..

[Mike Landwehr]

One of the most striking images I've seen for some time, Frank. Ultra sharp, and such beautiful colors. I actually prefer the original crop, primarily because of the extra room on the left edge. The eye is gorgeous, and I agree that it might benefit from a little cleanup. A really lovely background.

[mohammad reza shahab]

Wonderful portrait .Great colors,details,lovely bird.

[Jim Crosswell]

Great image Frank! I like the IQ, details, red eye and composition of the OP.

[rajojomanik]

Agreed, the repost is better. Great portrait with wonderful details and image quality. Well done Frank.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Frank, lovely detail and colours, including all the droplets, and comp wise, I would liked to have seen more bow wave in front of the neck. Killer BG.

[Frank Schauf]

Thanks for the comments.

Here my last version that worked out some more eye.

126793

[Arno Ellmer]

This is very striking, Frank ! I love the detail and especially the ruby red eye .

[arash_hazeghi]

sweet headshot Frank!