Red-crowned Crane Incoming

[Arthur Morris]

This Red-crowned Crane flight image was created on the Japan in Winter IPT with the Gitzo 3532 LS carbon fiber tripod, the Mongoose M3.6 head, the Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens, the Canon 1.4x EF Extender III (Teleconverter), and the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 400. Evaluative metering at zero: 1/3200 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. Color temperature: AWB.

Central sensor/AI Servo/Surround Rear Focus AF fell squarely on the bird’s face and was active at the moment of exposure. Click here (http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2013/10/31/if-this-doesnt-get-the-point-across-nothing-will/) to see the latest version of the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version.

See more flight images from our first full day in the The 200-400 with Internal 1.4X Extender and Friend Do Tobu Tori (http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2014/02/14/the-200-400-with-internal-1-4x-extender-and-friend-do-tobu-tori/) blog post.

As for the image, don't be shy; all comments welcome.

[gail bisson]

Very nice Artie. I like the BG browns against the whites.
Exposure spot on and the bird is tack sharp.
I just wish we could see the face a bit more. It seems to be lost against all the white. Perhaps a tighter crop would address that issue,
Gail

[John Rowell]

The red crown stands out beautifully on this image. Exposure and focus both look great. A very nice image that stands out nicely from the oof background. My only thought is that the bird appears to have a bit of a blue cast. May be intentional and just a matter of taste.

[Holger Leyrer]

The wing pose is great. Love all the details i can see and the brown BG fits good to the white bird.
For my tastes the face works not so good in the image.

[Marina Scarr]

Lovely head on flight pose and that's a pretty clean BG for that area where many of the images usually have a distracting BG. I am with Gail on wishing to see more of the face, maybe more of an eye, etc.

[Jim Neiger]

Well done, Artie! Head on shots like this aren't easy.

[Karl Egressy]

Excellent incoming flight shot against pleasing background.

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks all. The blue cast was removed from the WHITEs for the re-post. A bit of a head turn would have been nice but the face is what the face is :)

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

I agree, head on shots are not easy. I, too, would've loved to see a slightly angled head, but you get what you get.
Are there particular months during wintertime considered better to go to Japan to photograph these? I also want to photograph Blakiston's Fish Owl, Stellar's Sea Eagles and the Snow Monkies. All on the same trip of course.
Thanks Artie

[David Salem]

Yes, head on shots arent easy and you got this one nice and sharp. The exposure looks perfect and I like the nice blurred BG. The first thing I thought was the small head is lost in the body a bit but not much you can do there. Well captured.

[Gabi Sandu]

I like more the repost. Everything is so sharp!!!
If you can tell me. How much sharpness you added in post processing?

[Tobie Schalkwyk]

Beautiful! Some of you guys don't fool around when it boils down to lenses, I envy you! :w3

A pity the head (or full body, for that matter) was not turned just a little sideways to expose more of the bird's facial expression.

[Arthur Morris]

I agree, head on shots are not easy. I, too, would've loved to see a slightly angled head, but you get what you get.
Are there particular months during wintertime considered better to go to Japan to photograph these? I also want to photograph Blakiston's Fish Owl, Stellar's Sea Eagles and the Snow Monkies. All on the same trip of course.
Thanks Artie

Thanks Akos. February. Two different locations.

[Arthur Morris]

I like more the repost. Everything is so sharp!!! If you can tell me. How much sharpness you added in post processing?

Hi Gabu, I usually sharpen the face and head with a contrast mask. Then I sharpen my JPEGs with Unsharp Mask at 140/.3/0. All as detailed in my Digital Basics File (https://store.birdsasart.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=252), a PDF that is sent via e-mail and includes my complete digital workflow.

ps: We would love to have your membership support :)

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Thanks Artie. Appreciate the reply.

[Gabi Sandu]

Hi Gabu, I usually sharpen the face and head with a contrast mask. Then I sharpen my JPEGs with Unsharp Mask at 140/.3/0. All as detailed in my Digital Basics File (https://store.birdsasart.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=252), a PDF that is sent via e-mail and includes my complete digital workflow.

ps: We would love to have your membership support :)

Thank you Arthur for your answer.:)

[arash_hazeghi]

great exposure and incoming pose