High Key Snail Kite...

[Dan O'Leary]

Still plowing through the keepers from my time with Jim on board the <insert catchy name like Hooptie here>. I know that high key images are love / hate. I'm honestly not sure about this one. I think it works better on white birds, as guys like Manos demonstrate so well (ex: http://www.birdphotographers.net/forums/showthread.php?t=8965).

2008:05:02 19:43:06
1dm3 with 100-400mm @ 400mm
Manually set at 1/400 sec, f/5.6, ISO 2500 (!)

[Doug Brown]

It does work well with egrets, but it can work well with darker birds too (the most viewed photo on this forum is a high key chickadee). That said, I'm not sure I like the high key look with this bird. Yes, it's well exposed and the sharpness is good, but overall, I'm not in love with it.

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Dan I'm having trouble with the tail feathers For these birds I think soft light is a necessity particularly top image !!! Do like the bird position and sharpness !!! Under the condition you were photographing there was not much choice !!!