Boat-tailed Grackle

[Wheeler McDougal Jr.]

I was out today on the east coast of Florida and I saw this Grackle in the bright afternoon sun, couldn't pass up the beautiful blue. What do the experts think? Nikon D3, 200-400 w/1.4 extender. 1/500 @ f/5.6, ISO 200, Exposure comp- -1/3 AF-C, Aperture priority. Thanks ahead of time for your opinions.

[Fabs Forns]

Hey Mac, you did good here capturing the iridescence. I may take dsome off the right and add canvas to the left, in front of the bird and go back on the saturation a tiny bit.
Check your e-mail, please :)

[Dave Phillips]

super shimmer and I bet you'll get more, as they do hang out in the same areas day after day.
Yes, a bit oversaturated IMO

nice eye detail/color, but a strange flair in top half

[Alfred Forns]

Agree with Fabs suggestion !!!! Love the bg and well lit bird You did catch the iridescent color Would back down the saturation Great head angle !!!!

[Wheeler McDougal Jr.]

Hi Fabs and Alfred- Thanks for your suggestions on the image, here are some the changes I think you suggested. ON the saturation I didn't increase it for the original capture, so on this one I backed it off about a -20, Hope you like it.
Mac

[Grady Weed]

The revised is better. The grackle, crow and black birds hate me. I can't get to within 1 mile of them. Keep posting.

[Glenn Bartley]

I like the crop of the second........but the processing of the first better. In either case I dont think the composition is ideal for a portrait of this species. There is just too much dead space above and to the right. Something like this would work better for me. And I think the image really needs a better head angle to work.

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/4518/boattailedgrackle2ary6.jpg

[Wheeler McDougal Jr.]

Glenn- Thanks for your thoughts on the matter. I like your crop better than mine but I disagree about the head angle. Anyway that's what makes a horse race. Thanks again.
Mac