Bateleur Juvi Portrait.

[Stu Bowie]

I posted this bateleur juvi a little while ago having a meal of a rabbit. As I managed to spend some time at the kill, I managed to capture all sorts of images. In this, I especially zoomed in for a portrait shot. Taken in the Kruger National park a few weeks ago, early morning in overcast conditions.

Canon 50D
100-400 @ 400mm
1/400
F.7.1
ISO 800

Exp Comp 0
Hand held from the car.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Stu, great details and exposure...loved the head turn. Shooting angle seems quite nice for a car shot. you drive one those ultra low sports cars in the bush ? :D just kidding!

The Bg blur looks like what you typically get with high noise reduction. It would be interesting to see if a little less NR helds up some texture there and will that look better?

[Stu Bowie]

Thanks Kaus. The BG is actually quite far away, as he was in the middle of the road. All I did was run a slight NR to remove noise, as it was already blurred in camera. I left my low sports car at home. Ferrari's dont do too well for game viewing. ;) Just kidding too - no sports car at home.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

thx for clarifying Stu. Looking at f/7.1 and iso800, I thought the blur was due to NR.

I usually take my old car as that is a bit lower than wife's( and i dont mind making it dirty with my mud-filled shoes :-) But sometimes, when I need to get on top of the car, I wish I had brought the other one...but that wont go too well at home, will it? :D

[Bhushan Dalvi]

Stuart, this is a nice capture. Love the details and the BG in this one.

[Johan Kruger]

great portrait shot, very nice detail

[Marc Mol]

Loving the detail, colour and BG here Stuart, well done. It's amazing the different stages of colour in the beak until full maturity.
TFS

[Pieter de Waal]

Stuart killer profile of my favourite raptor. Love everything about this shot, light, exposure, detail, background, eye contact and the blood on the beak makes for a dramatic profile. Well captured .

[Stu Bowie]

Thanks a stack for your feedback and comments. Always appreciated.

[Doug Brown]

Terrific detail and great eye contact. What do you think about a crop off the left and a warming filter?

82860

[Stu Bowie]

Hey Doug, great idea and works for me. I do like the crop, and great idea with the warming filter (although very subtle ;) ) Thanks.

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Excellent portrait bro! Love the blood on the bill and the tones. Nice soft lighting, which helped ya 'ere. Doug's repost takes it up a notch. well done mate! :)

[Stu Bowie]

Thanks a stack Bro. Always appreciated.