Diamond Dove

[Colin Driscoll]

Another small dove (~20cm) taken at Boodjamulla NP QLD Aust.

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh296/MyPikkies/Other%20Birds/DiamondDove_LH170809.jpg

50D, Av, 100-400 @ 400, f10, 1/250, iso auto @ 100, ev -.33, 430EXII -1.33 HH. Cropped for composition. What do you think about the 2 catchlights, remove one? and which one?

[Leo Berzins]

A pretty dove captured in a nice pose here, Colin.
I'd remove the central catchlight (which presumably came from the flash) and tone down the brightness of the perch and the other foreground branches.
Perhaps you could have opened the aperture wider than f10 to help blur the background more.

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

I think you needed the small aperture as it appears you were very close. I had trouble approaching these with 600mm in my vehicle (forget on foot). You could always blur the BG, which for me is not necessarily the be all end all solution, as I would prefer to get it right in camera rather than fluff about in PS. :D

great image Colin. these guys are so small. Were you in a hide? I cannot see this as a huge crop as the IQ is darn fine. :)

[Colin Driscoll]

Thanks for the comments. Yes Akos, you picked it- I was about 3m away on foot so did need the small aperture, and it's about 75% of the original frame.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Beautiful bird, I particularly like the eye. I agree regarding toning down the highlights and I would also raise the color temperature since there is a blue cast on my monitor. Could you have backed up a little for a less steep angle? Keep them coming!

[Simon Bennett]

Excellent image Colin the focus on the eye is spot. Well done getting this close.

[Colin Driscoll]

Thanks for the comments, your advice is much appreciated.