Masked Lapwing

[Rob Drummond]

My second attempt to photograph Brolgas with a pre-dawn hide entry ended with a rapid retreat when 150 cows did not appreciate being woken. Got this later.
Should I remove the tussocks in front of the bird? My inclination is they balance the image.

1D2n with 500/f4 and 1.4X
ISO400 f8 1/3200 exp comp -2/3 from hide.

cheers Rob

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

I like it as is Rob. But that's just me. Though I would remove the oof tussock intersecting the tail. I feel the bird really pops out of the image. Gorgeous light!

[Arthur Morris]

Quite lovely. Perfect head turn back towards you with great control of the yellows as well as a perfect EXP. It is the height of the grasses and the o-o-f ones in the BKGR that bug me a bit. All in all an excellent image.

[Randy Stout]

Rob:
Beautiful bird. I took the liberty of a quick bit of gardening. This is very quick and crude, but I think it gives an idea of what you could do. Matter of personal preference really, but the bird is so nice, it would be worth a bit more work on the raw file.

Randy

[Fabs Forns]

Beautiful bird, in a nice habitat and good light. EXP right on and so is placing in the frame. I don't mind the grass.

[Alfred Forns]

Don't mind the grasses much but the darker areas of the bg catches my attention. I do like the bird pose and overall feel !!! Excellent !!!

[Trey Barron]

Love the repost and may even add the tall stuff back in front.

[Stu Bowie]

Lovely low angle, and very well exposed Rob. I would maybe cut the piece of grass just infront of the chest, otherwise a super image.

[Ramon M. Casares]

Althought the respot looks good, I don't really mind the grasses, I don't see them as a distracting element here, very nice head angel, pose, BG, ambient, light, detail, colors and exposure control. COngratulaitons! Oh.. how I love Lapwings!!

[Simon Bennett]

I like the pose with over the shoulder look and raised foot. The emergent stems don't worry me.

[Wayne Ellis]

Works well Rob

[Tony Kirkby]

Very nice. I vote leave the grass or perhaps just remove the furthest left!