Dueling Prairie Chickens

[kevin Hice]

Shot at National Grasslands,Pierre Sd. processed with Dpp 4, Photoshop,Neat Image.Comments and critiques appreciated.
Canon 5D Mark 1V
500 f/4 L Is
500 mm
Av
6.3
1/2500
Iso 2500

[Jonathan Ashton]

What a beauty well caught and good techs, it is a most impressive image as it is, I think impact would be further improved if you lowered the luminosity just a little and then bang it really pops!

[gail bisson]

Fantastic action but still lacks contrast and pop.
I would take a bit off the top- a lot of empty space up there.
Gail

[kevin Hice]

Here is a repost hope it is better.

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Kevin, is this with old camera setting or new?

Steve

[kevin Hice]

Steve these shots were taken last spring with old settings,I do use Photoshop 2020.

[Steve Kaluski]

OK Kevin, that’s fine, you then know where you can improve. When I’m back this coming week I will be in touch to close off things.

[Dorian Anderson]

Excellent two-bird frame with great interaction. Agree the repost look much better, but it might have gone just a bit far with the contrast. I echo Gail's comment about the space above. However,
I would not have simply off the top as you did in the repost - to yield the funky long crop - but would have shifted both birds up in the frame. I think there needs to be a very good reason to
deviate from the tried-and-true 1.5x1 horizontal/landscape crop, and I don't see that reason here.

[William Dickson]

Very nice Kevin, I would say somewhere between both OP and repost. Lovely interaction. Detail looks good as does the BG. A wee bit too tight on the repost.

Will

[Alex Becker]

Awesome interaction frame. BG is nice and I love the hanging feet. The RP is a bit tight for me and a little heavy in terms of contrast. I would love to photograph these birds and hopefully will be able to do so next year at some point. TFS

[John Mack]

Nice frame. Good poses on both birds. The right one espcially. Repost takes it up a notch for sure. Hope to see some more battling chickens. You going out there again this spring?

[kevin Hice]

Yes and hope to do the big three Prairie Chickens ,Sharptails,Sage Grouse. Thanks for the comments John.

[gail bisson]

The repost is too contrasty and now you need more space above. Almost there on a really nice image!
What is that weird vertical line along LH edge?
Gail