Kestrel Looking Back

[Loi Nguyen]

My luck continued with the Kestrel last week. After giving me a shot with the Santa Monica Mountains in the BG, he landed on a perch that I had never seen him used before. By standing up on a chair, I was able to include the green of a distant tree as the BG.

1DX
500f4 II + 1.4X III
1/1600
F8
ISO-1000
Handheld while standing on chair

Cropped to about 50%, comp is a little difficult due to the perch.

Thank you for your comments.

Loi

[CM Prince]

It's the best photo I have seen of a Kestrel, very sharp.

[John Robinson]

That,s a cracker. My favourite pose of any bird- back view - head to camera.
Spot on !!
JR

[Satish Ranadive]

Excellent image. Very nice look back pose. Beautiful colors and tack sharp.

Regards,
Satish.

[shane shacaluga]

Excellent work Loi. Where did you find the chair?

[Mike Veltri]

Great pose captured.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Lovely pose and colours. I would be tempted to lower the highlights a little around the chin, bill and nostrils. What is that on the main branch bottom right - is it a vine or is it string, I think I would disguise it only because it begs the question (to me any way:S3:)

[Vivaldo Damilano]

Excellent image, love the feather detail and colours. Head turn works great and love how the bird pop against the BG, nicely done.

[Danny Laredo]

Sweet pose and light.

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Loi, good to see your luck is still continuing.

I would crop/loose the vertical 'support' as it adds nothing and the image would look better, likewise I might had a tad less space above and more below. The blacks still look thin and don't carry the depth, was the ISO for SS? If you are cropping and this subject continues, then I would look to the 2x, ok only the central FP and min f/8, but it is far better than the old version and may help in your quest. Likewise you might need to think about a more 'attractive' perch.

Good luck and I haven't forgotten the file. :w3

Cheers

TFS
Steve

[Tiago Caravana]

I like a lot this photo :)

I agree with Steve, I would put the bird more to the right, cropping the vertical support.

IMO I would preffer to have more space above it and less bellow, I allways like to give birds space to fly

[Doug Brown]

I like the look-back pose that highlights the nice plumage on the Kestrel's back. Impressive that you stood on a chair in order to get the green BG. The vertical portion of the perch detracts from the image. It's a shame the horizontal portion isn't longer; it would have given you more room to crop for composition. One other thing; I find the detail around the beak to be a little coarse.

[Bill Dix]

Great look-back pose, light and detail. I agree that the vertical element makes the comp difficult. I'd be inclined to take it out.

[Cheryl Arena Molennor]

Boy would I like to have this one in my collection. Great opportunity well taken. Love the head turn and green bg

[MohsenVahedipour]

Excellent look back pose, lovely light, BG & IQ.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Loi, good lookback pose, and the light has brought out the feather detail and colours so well. I would take a bit off the left. Well thought out to have stood on a chair to achieve a better BG.

[Dan Busby]

Love the image Loi. I agree that the vertical perch is a distraction, especially with the lower section that looks like it is two branches tied together with string. But the detail, background and pose are killer.

[David Salem]

Nice job getting this shot Loi. The look back pose looks great and is the best way to shoot a male Kestrel. Nice details and exposure. Yes to removing the branch on the right and going for a taller vert. Very nice.

[Loi Nguyen]

Hi Everyone, thank you SO very much for your kind comments. Here in the RP, I have cropped tighter, Increased the black to +5 using Levels, and sharpened selectively different areas by different amounts. Hope you like it better. Loi

[Tiago Caravana]

Perfect!!!