Yellow-headed blackbird

[Krishna Prasad kotti]

I made this image in Provo Bay spring last Year. This year water levels were too high and I could not get anywhere close to these birds.

I hope I can photograph these birds again in coming spring.

Camera Settings:-
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Nikon D500 500 f/4 + 1.4 x TCIII
1/3200 sec; f/5.6; ISO 1000
Manual; Matrix metering




Post Processing:-
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Raw Processing using C1P 20
Added canvas on the right side of the image
Cropped for Composition
Nik 25-25 Filter on Bird at reduced opacity
Selective color - Added few points to Blacks
Tonal Adjustments in Viveza
Neat Image NR
Sharpening for Presentation
Dodge selectively
No Cloning




Let me know your thoughts and comments


Thanks
Krishna

[arash_hazeghi]

nice soft light Krishna, I am not feeling this pose though, I like the open beak and signings but really wish the head was more parallel to the back of the camera. Placement is a bit high in the frame which accentuates a steep angle appearance, finally the green stuff doesn't add much here. I'd get rid of it
TFS

[Randy Stout]

Krishna:

Well exposed. It is really easy to blow out the yellows on these guys. I agree with Arash about the pose. It is dramatic, but a bit "awkward" from our angle. Because of the layout of the image, a vertical crop might work well.

Cheers

Randy

[Aditya Sridhar]

Excellent points already mentioned. I like the pose, but wish the bird was lower in the frame. Greens should be easy to clone should you choose to do so. Blue sky is rarely as nice as you've made it look in this picture. Nice work, Krishna!

[John Mack]

Now that is a calling pose. The background is great. Also like those grasses.