Typical BIRDS AS ART

[Arthur Morris]

I got busted last night for posting two images in the same pane so I will go with just one tonight. This spoonie image was created on Mr. Shadle's new boat on Thursday morning. A young Bald Eagle repeatedly flushed the spoonbills as it patrolled the skies above Tampa Bay.

Canon 600mm f/4L IS lens with the 1.4X II TC and the EOS-1D MIII on an old Wimberley head atop a Gitzo CF 3530 LSV tripod. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2/3 off the low blue sky set manually: 1/1250 sec. at f/8.

Don't be shy; all comments welcome. Later and love, artie

[Axel Hildebrandt]

The colors of this bird are amazing. I really like the light, pose and details. It could go a tad brighter for my taste and I would remove the longish bright spot on the bird's right leg just above the water line.

[Krijn Trimbos]

The colours, detail and headturn are all perfect, the angle isn't too shady either. It could also go a tad lighter IMO and if you have it I could go for a bit more space all around. Love the water droplets below the beak. Sweet shot!

[Jody Melanson]

Great pose and eye contact. I would also like to see the face selectively brightened and a tad more blacks to the face.

[Bill Foxworthy]

Love it!! What time did you freeze this bird?

[Maxis Gamez]

Love the pose, details and low angle. What I like the best is the water drops.

[Arthur Morris]

Bird frozen in time at 2008:02:19 08:02:57. I forgot to mention that this is about as large in the frame as I like when including the whole bird...

later and love, artie

[Todd Frost]

I want my post back from last night ! After shoulder surgery I am in an immobilizer and typing one handed sucks:(. To summarize I thought this image was fantastic!
Todd

[Fabs Forns]

Very nice, Maestro. Breathing feathers look a bit too pink to my old eyes :)

I want to go back so bad....

[Bonnie Block]

A beauty, Artie--I like the fine detail in the feathers.

[David Hemmings]

Beautiful light, details and pose. I know this is minor and it is another spoonies reflection in the top right, might be tempted to clone that, but that is really getting nitty......beautiful.

[Robert Sabin]

Classic Artie....The Drop of water on the Mandible makes the Shot...

[Ian McHenry]

Hi Artie
Another truly stunning image.
Here's my version with reduced contrast and brightness !!!
Cheers: Ian Mc

[Sabyasachi Patra]

Hi Artie,
The birght pink feathers are distracting and pulls away the attention from the eyes and beak of the bird. I would have liked a little toned down image.
I don't know what you could have done....an environmental portrait with more of reflections? However, water was also not still...Despite having said all these, the photograph is nice. We are just nitpicking.

[Ian Colley]

I agree with the comment above, the bright pink on the wing draws my attention, it seems to dominate the shot and takes my eyes away from the head of the bird. I like the water droplets and the angle of the light. Suggest cloning out the pinks in the top right and the black band behind the birds back.

[Gavin Spooner]

Beautiful bird with beautiful colors, but i think I have to agree with a couple of posters. The intense brightness of color takes away from the image and looks over saturated. I think it needs to be toned back quite a bit.

wembley

[c.w. moynihan]

Fabulous color, pose and eye contact Artie !!! I wouldn't change a thing ;)

[Jim Neiger]

Artie,

This image is just dripping with color. I love it as is. The water drips and ruffled pink feathers on the bottom of the neck are extras that really add to the image.

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks to all who posted. I disagree as far as the brightness; it looks perfect from here. In the original post I effectively de-SATed the reds of the scapulars about 8 points. I de-SATed them another 8 points in this version and got rid of the leg highlights as per Axel's request.

Later and love, artie

ps: In this version the carmine scaps look too subdued to me...

pps to Ian: Thanks for the repost. It looks a bit flat to me.

[Arthur Morris]

In this version I added 15 points of Cyan to the reds in Selective Color.

later and love, artie

ps: Not much of a difference.

pps: Final comment: dealing with really rich and highly SATed reds is somewhat of a problem...

[Harold Davis]

the leg highlights didnt bother me. they are wet. he's in water. that's to be expected. i still like the first version better. nice image, btw.

[Ian McHenry]

Thanks Artie for acknowledging my attempt !!! LOL.
I agree having lined up all 4 images in my viewer must admit all your images have more "Pop"
My vote now goes to your 2nd ( Desat) image.
Cheers: Ian Mc

[Gyorgy Szimuly]

For my taste definitely the original image works. It has done in the first lights so nothing is wrong with it.
I just wonder how you placed everything in the boat. :D
Szimi

[Arthur Morris]

For my taste definitely the original image works. It has done in the first lights so nothing is wrong with it. I just wonder how you placed everything in the boat. :D Szimi

I agree Gyorgy; the first one does it best for me... There is tons of room in the new pontoon boat. We almost always get out of the boat to photograph the birds. Below is an image of me with the spoonies and the White Ibises. The image is courtesy of James Shadle.

later and love, artie