African Fish Eagle

[Stu Bowie]

This is my first image of a fish eagle. I was lucky enough to capture quite a few of them, this past weekend in the Kruger National Park. They are magnificent birds and have a very distinctive call. My own critique is the shadow on the tail.

Canon 50D
100-400 L IS USM @ 400mm
1/2500
F/6.3
ISO 400

Hand held from a car.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Good call on your tail shadow critique. I think the whites can be tamed a bit too. The harsh light didn't make things easy for you. Good sharpness and comp. Always fun to add a new species in your photo files :-)

[Fabs Forns]

Beautiful animal in clean BG and perch. Whites look good now wish you had left the original for comparison.
HAve you tried a warm filter at a low opacity to see how it looks?

[Axel Hildebrandt]

It must have been great to see this species for the first time. I like the details and eye contact. The whites look good on my monitor but I would try to get more details in the shadows, either curves or S/H can help with that.

[Scott Frye]

Congratz on getting a first and its for sure a keeper of a very pretty species.

[Ramon M. Casares]

Light was a bit harsh IMO, still, great exposure control, lovely detail, colrs and species! Congratulations!

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

This is great if it's your first of the species. A little less harsh light and slightly lower angle is most likely what you'll be looking for from now. Very sharp and as much as the shadow is a potential pain, I really don't mind.

[Steve Maxson]

A nice pose with good sharpness and a clean background, Stuart. The shadow and rather harsh light have already been noted. Is that part of the perch sticking up toward the base of the bird's leg - or is it the second leg? If it's part of the perch, I'd be tempted to remove it.

[Lana Hays]

Stuart
You have a wealth of good advice. I think I like the idea of a warming filter to possibly soften the appearance of the harsh light. Congrats on getting this one......a wonderful thrill, I'm sure.

[Steve Canuel]

Congrats Stuart. Quite an impressive looking beak.

[John Ippolito]

Good detail, and exp control on the whites, Stuart. A magnificent bird.

[Chris Kotze]

Congrats on getting the first Stu Great detail, colours and exposure

[Stu Bowie]

Thank you all so much for the kind words.