Maribou Stork

[Ken Watkins]

Taken in Katavi NP, Tanzania 23/09/2007

EOS 1D MkIIN

500m F4 hand held

F5.6, 1/2000, ISO 400

[Robert Amoruso]

Ken,

I would try some selective sharpening on the head. Critical focus looks like it occurred in the middle of the beak. It looks like he was in shade with some backlighting. The rim light looks well-exposed. I would like to see more room in front of the bird's beak and since you were handheld, perhaps moving around would have gotten you a more uniform background.

With BG's brighter then the bird, it can become distracting. Some fill-flash would have made the bird pop here and set it off from the BG more.

[Fabs Forns]

Besides agreeing on the softness issue, the tip of the bill is too close to the end of the frame, you need to add a little canvas or move the camera the next time. Interesting bird!!!

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I like the mood and eye contact and agree regarding softness and it being too tight in the frame.