Incoming Snow Goose (with repost)

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Photographed on Saturday in a field where thousands of snow geese fed. There were fences everywhere, which made the geese quite comfortable feeding near people and even dogs. When a bald eagle flew over they all took off at once. Fortunately there was a thin layer of clouds which helped with the sidelight.

http://www.pbase.com/axelhi/image/109986653/original.jpg

1D3, 500f4, 1.4x, 1/2000s, f/8, EC -0.33, ISO 400

[Doug Brown]

I think the sidelighting works well here Axel. Like the spread wings with the light shining through. I might apply some CW rotation.

[Randy Stout]

Axel:

I like the framing, with room in the direction of his gaze.
The transillumination is nice, esp. the tail. Nice wing position.

I might be tempted to brighten it up just a bit, trying to play up the transillumination without blowing it out. I think that could bring up the body a bit as well.

Perhaps you have already done that, and liked this balance the best.

Randy

[Fabs Forns]

Great landing pose and BG. Randy's idea sounds interesting, to take more advantage of translucency.

[Keith Carver]

Great landing approach capture, Axel. Agree with what's been suggested by Randy, also you might try a gentle uptweak on shadows to lighten the belly and underwings.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Here is a lighter version with slight CW rotation applied. Let me know which one you like better.

[Randy Stout]

Axel:

I do prefer the second one. I think it makes the most of the lighting you had to work with.

Cheers

Randy

[Keith Carver]

Axel, I also like the repost better. The dark tones (e.g. black primary feathers on left side) are expanded, also bird now seems to almost float against lighter BG.

[Tony Whitehead]

Repost is a nice improvement in my view. Well done.