Roseate Spoonbill

[Joseph Przybyla]

I was caught off guard for this image. I was photographing a perched stationary bird, coping with overcast conditions, when I saw this Spoonbill approaching to land. I had all the wrong settings in the camera with no time to adjust. I captured the images and tried to make the best of it in post processing. Comments and critique welcomed and appreciated. Thank you for viewing.

Nikon D7000
Nikon 70-300mm F/4.5-5.6 VR AF-S ED shot at 300mm (450mm FFE)
1/500 F/8 Matrix Metering 0 EV ISO 280 AWB
Post processed in Lightroom CC and Photoshop CC 2017
Cropped for composition and presentation

[Mike Hitchen]

Given your description of the events I think you have done quite well.
If it wasn't for the branch it works well as a high-key image. Thinking out of the box, have you thought of giving it a watercolour effect?

[Tim Foltz]

Very nice love the semi transparency of the feathers, would prefer a tighter crop.

-Tim

[Daniel Cadieux]

I'm really digging the image design, Joe. Good high-key. A bit less noise on the subject would be good, and a brighter eye too IMO. I suppose the far wing could have been raised higher, but I like the image overall with the neat perch and well thought out composition.

[Joseph Przybyla]

Thanks everyone for viewing and commenting, very much appreciated.

[Frank Schauf]

Great timing, great action.