Secretary Bird (close-up)

[Morkel Erasmus]

As promised, here is close-up view of the Secretary Bird of yesterday. Taken in the Kalahari. Ran a blue cooling filter of about 20% to tone down harsh desert light.

As you can imagine - an awkward bird to compose for...:confused:
This is very close to full frame...

Your thoughts much appreciated...

Techs:
Canon 1000D with 100-400mm L IS USM @ 330mm
f5.6 @ 1/2500 SS @ ISO-400
Exp +0.3

[Doug Brown]

Great looking bird Morkel; I assume this is hunting behavior? I would lighten the iris and darken the BG a bit.

[Stu Bowie]

Looks like he's fixed his eyes on something. I think you have comped this well, and I like the raised crest. Great close up mate.

[Arthur Morris]

Like the raised leg and the fact that the feet and legs are clearly visible--these guys are often in the tall grass. Like the raised crest too. Light on the harsh side. The head is angled away a bit and the nictitating membrane is covering part of the eye.

[Dave Leroy]

Interesting pose of an interesting looking bird. Nice and sharp. I also like the idea of a bit darker bg.
Dave

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I like the pose and eye contact, adding to the other comments, some of the whites are overexposed.

[Morkel Erasmus]

thanks a lot for viewing and critiquing Stu, Doug, Axel, Dave & Artie...
here's one with the surroundings darkened, whites toned down and eye lightened.

Artie - I also noticed the lactating membrane but quite liked that it was half-closed. :D

[Arthur Morris]

Mork-man, The repost is a bit overdone as some of the colors have muddied....

And I think that you need to check on your membrane technology; birds do not have breasts!!! <smile>

[Morkel Erasmus]

haha what a blunder - nictating is the term I believe?? :o
sorry about that ;)

[Morkel Erasmus]

Artie - is this one more of a mid-way between the 2 posts? I also ran another round of cooling filter (6%).

[Arthur Morris]

haha what a blunder - nictating is the term I believe?? :o
sorry about that ;)


Yes, you got it right now but it was good for a laugh.

The 2nd repost is much better.

[Morkel Erasmus]

thanks, and for making you laugh - YAW :)

[Marc Mol]

The 2nd repost has nailed it Morkel, great closeup.
Now......to find that very rare breast-fed Secretary bird chick!:D:D

[Harshad Barve]

fine image with nice pose and raised crest ,
2nd repost looks better
TFS

[Morkel Erasmus]

thanks Marc ;) and Harshad Bhai...

[Kiran Poonacha]

The third one looks superb, congrats.. hope to make a frame of this beauty, its been a childhood dream to see it.

[Morkel Erasmus]

thanks Kiran Bhai - they are great birds to observe, always up to something...:)