Emu...

[Joseph Przybyla]

I captured this image of a Emu at Gatorland, Orlando, Florida. The boardwalk that leads to the rookery in the alligator breeding pond passes by a pen containing Emus. Most times I pass it by, this time I stopped to give one bird a couple clicks. I have previously posted this image but worked it up today for this month's theme. Comments and critique welcomed and appreciated. Thank you for viewing.

Nikon D500
Nikon 80-400mm F/4.5-5.6 VRII AF-S ED, camera and lens supported by a monopod
1/125 F/5.6 Matrix Metering EV 0 ISO 250 Auto WB, image captured at 400mm (600mm 35mm Equivalent)
Post processed in Lightroom Classic, Photoshop CC 2021 and Neat Image for noise reduction when needed
Cropped slightly for composition and presentation

P.S. Learn more about Gatorland in the BAA Middle Florida Photography Site Guide that Artie and I co-authored. It is available at this link The BAA Middle of Florida Site Guide (https://birdsasart-shop.com/the-baa-middle-of-florida-photographic-site-guide/)

[David Roach]

The BG, the hairdo, the details, all superb to my eye. TFS

ps
That eye...

[dankearl]

This is a pretty cool headshot..I would probably would have used a much faster SS, but it looks sharp enough.

[Brian Sump]

Joe, I love this. Would be a candidate for this month's theme IMO (oh I read at the end you wanted to submit it but doesn't say Theme in the title, FYI).

So yeah, very even light and even dof across the face and into the head (tad bit of fall off on left but fairly inconsequential for me).

Really hard to nit anything about it. Nicely done here IMO.

[Joseph Przybyla]

This is a pretty cool headshot..I would probably would have used a much faster SS, but it looks sharp enough.

Hi Dan, thank you for viewing and commenting. Not sure why I didn't use a higher shutter speed, now looking at the ISO it certainly appears I could have.

P.S. Thinking about the image... the area with the Emus is in the shade. I would have been checking the histogram, my guess is that the slow shutter speed gave me what I wanted in the histogram (slight exposure to the right). I had the camera on a monopod and braced against the fence surrounding the pen, so quite steady.

[Joseph Przybyla]

Joe, I love this. Would be a candidate for this month's theme IMO (oh I read at the end you wanted to submit it but doesn't say Theme in the title, FYI).

So yeah, very even light and even dof across the face and into the head (tad bit of fall off on left but fairly inconsequential for me).

Really hard to nit anything about it. Nicely done here IMO.

Hi Brian, thank you for viewing and commenting, much appreciated. Theme does show before the title in Avian but does not show when the image is opened.

P.S Packers or Tampa Bay?????

[Brian Sump]

Hi Brian, thank you for viewing and commenting, much appreciated. Theme does show before the title in Avian but does not show when the image is opened.

P.S Packers or Tampa Bay?????

Oh wow, how about that!! Ok cool.

Man, I don't think Tom-pa Bay can get past Rogers and the squad this year. It will be a good game but I think the Packers will be looking for revenge....!

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Joseph , nice portrait of this Emu .
Gorgeous eye .

TFS Andreas

[John Mack]

Certainly fits the theme well. I like the hair do. Detail looks nice as well.

[Joseph Przybyla]

Thanks everyone for viewing and commenting, much appreciated.