The Final Touches...

[David Roach]

EOS R6 RF 100-500 @500 f8 1/1600 ISO 800 HH, Manual Exp, cropped for better composition

About 20 minutes from sunset with a clear western horizon was trying for whistling ducks to the left on the light angle (too far away as it happened) when I spotted this guy, swung and hit the trigger. This was the first in a 6 image servo sequence. Bad light angle but finally went from hating the shadows to loving them.

Thanks to all for previous valued comments and help. Please keep them coming.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Perhaps off angle but the face, body, and legs are beautifully lit. The shadow on the neck looks like it may have been lifted? Having the near wing even more open would have been the bomb! I love the dark BG with a hint of trees, and the twig (with eye fully clear) is a good bonus element. Some of the hues on the wings tend to be on the purplish side to me. Overall pretty neat frame you got here.

[Brian Sump]

David, nice and sharp frame here. Dramatic on the 'blackground' and presents well.

Daniel had some great points; I too noticed the purple hues but the body position compared to the lens is really nice. Like the nesting in mouth and that the eye pokes through.

Wouldn't hurt my feelings having it a touch higher in the frame, or maybe a bit more below.

TFS.

[gail bisson]

I would like to see a repost with the purple cast eliminated,
Gail

[David Roach]

I would like to see a repost with the purple cast eliminated,
Gail

Started from scratch. Reframed higher with a little more canvas to fly into on left(Brian), no lightening on neck shadow(Daniel) and color correction (all three) as best as could. I think (because of my color problems?) the purple was in raw, so reduced purple in DPP and warmed a little more in PS Camera raw. Thanks to all for very valued and astute help.