Great Egret

[Norm Dulak]

D7000 w/80-400mm @ 400mm, hand held from a skiff
ISO 800; f/6.3, 1/1250 sec.; MM -0.33
Std CS6 adjustments

This Great Egret took flight from the bank of a branch of the Amazon River, in Peru. I like this view of the bird's departure, because it fully captures the beautiful plumage, while showing the face.

All C&C are welcome.

[Marina Scarr]

Don't mind the bird flying away here as the BG is lovely and the topside feathers add so much interest. However, your whites are looking muddy, and I think reprocessing with that in mind could correct this issue.

[Norm Dulak]

Thanks, Marina. Are you saying that the whites should be brighter? If so, how would you accomplish that?

[Jonathan Ashton]

Norm could I suggest using the white dropper in levels or curves on the white plumage, I think that will perhaps correct the problem.

[Norm Dulak]

Thanks, Jonathan! I appreciate your providing a solution to the problem. I've used the white dropper in levels for this repost, and I think the result is better. And I'll keep your good advice in mind in the future.

[William Dickson]

Hi Norm, the repost is much better, good tip from Jon :S3: Lovely image and you captured it well.

Will

[andresleon]

The pose and action is very well captured. I think the egret fits very nicely in the frame. I also like the background as it gives a wonderful contrast with the white bird. I think the feathers are a little overexposed and therefore have lost some of the fine feather detail they may show otherwise, specially towards the central back area. I may be wrong, but the first image seems to retain more of this detail than the second version.

[William Dickson]

Somewhere between the two :S3: I reckon would be fine Andresleon

[Norm Dulak]

Thanks everyone for your comments and suggestions!