Anhinga: sunset take-off, headed for 2018

[Arthur Morris]

This image was created down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL on the evening of Sunday, December 31, 2017. I used the Induro GIT304L Grand Series 3 Stealth Carbon Fiber Tripod (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1158041-REG/induro_git304l_3grnd_stealth_carbon.html/BI/6633/KBID/7226/kw/INL3GSSCFT4S/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xINL3GSSCFT4S)/Mongoose M3.6 (http://birdsasart-shop.com/mongoose-action-head/)-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/754508-REG/Canon_5125B002_EF_600mm_f_4L_IS.html/BI/6633/KBID/7226/kw/CA6004LIFEF2/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xCA6004LIFEF2), the Canon Extender EF 2X III (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/732111-USA/Canon_4410B002_Extender_EF_2X_III.html/BI/6633/KBID/7226/kw/CA2XEF3/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xCA2XEF3), and my favorite silhouette photography camera body, the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV. (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1274705-REG/canon_eos_5d_mark_iv.html/BI/6633/KBID/7226/kw/CAE5D4/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xCAE5D4) ISO 800. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop in Av mode: 1/2500 sec. at f/9 was a bit of an under-exposure. WB: K7500 at 5:40pm on a dead clear sunset. LensAlign/FocusTune micro-adjustment: -10. Center Large Zone/AI Servo/Shutter button AF was active at the moment of exposure. The system performed perfectly by activating one AF point on the bird's neck and two on the base of the far underwing.

You can learn more about the creation and post-processing of this image in the blog post here (http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2018/01/02/spectacular-sunset-take-off-image-too-garish-or-just-right-center-large-zone-rocks-and-a-great-new-ddp-4-noise-reduction-technique/).

Don't be shy; all comments and suggestions are welcome.

with love and best wishes for a great 2-18.

[Joseph Przybyla]

You make me want to stay late to capture silhouettes. Nicely executed image capture and post processing. Looking at the image I wondered why you left the yellow fringing in a few places? Thank you for sharing, Artie.

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks Joe, The yellow fringing is the rim light from the setting sun. I can eliminate most of that by converting in ACR (rather than my usual DPP 4) and moving the Highlight slider all the way to the left while holding down the ALT key. At some point they pretty much disappear. But I like them so I left them :)

with love, artie

[Joseph Przybyla]

Thanks Joe, The yellow fringing is the rim light from the setting sun. I can eliminate most of that by converting in ACR (rather than my usual DPP 4) and moving the Highlight slider all the way to the left while holding down the ALT key. At some point they pretty much disappear. But I like them so I left them :)

with love, artie

Thanks Artie, I just wondered... works for me.

[Jim Crosswell]

Excellent wing position, flight angle, composition and sweet BG. Top notch silhouette image Arthur.

[Bill Dix]

A real beauty of a flight silhouette, with great wing position and rich color. It's no deal-breaker but I think I might like it better without the yellow fringing, for a more pure graphic image. But as always, just a matter of personal preference.

[Mike Poole]

Really good silhouette frame, and I agree with leaving the yellow in. Even as a non US native I could see what the species was even before reading the title with the clarity of the outline. Great down stroke as well

Mike

[Raybel Robles]

Great image, lovely silhouette. Really like down stroke of the wings and the nice separation between them makes the silhoutte even better. On the yellow rims, I'm with the group of taking it out.

[Isaac Grant]

I think this is pretty abstract and cool, while being over the top at the same time. But maybe that is what is cool about it. Background certainly pushes the limit of what nature provides us but I like the refreshingly new take on the classic silhouette.

[arash_hazeghi]

this is a spookie shot, I want a print for Halloween

[Glenn Pure]

This almost looks like a graphic. Quite a remarkable shot with the black bird and stunning coloured background. I also like the rim light and composition fits well. Real stunner of a shot!