Juvenille Bateleur

[Ken Watkins]

Taken in Kwara concession, Northern Botswana, 31st December 2010

EOS 1D MkIV

500mm F4 IS hand held from open game viewing vehicle

F7.1, ISO 800, 1/3200, EV + 0.67

[Robert Amoruso]

Very cool Ken. I like the curled primaries and good head position.

I would suggest a curves adjustment to lighten up the bird. just pulling up and left on the 3/4 tone location of the curve will make a big difference. I gave it a try and like the results.

[Todd Frost]

Nice wing position on this Ken. I like a little darker image myself so it looks good to me as posted. Well done.
TFS
Todd

[Dan Busby]

Ken - great capture. This really shows off the intricate wing feathering. I tried the curves adjustment suggested by Robert and can see why it was suggested but think it is a matter of preference. But this image gives enough latitude to use either way - which is a compliment!

[Terry Olmsted]

Great in-flight capture with nice head angle, Ken. I also like the exposure as posted. Great detail!

[Bhushan Dalvi]

Ken, what a great capture. Love the details in the wings with the curled up primaries. TFS.

[Pieter de Waal]

Hi Ken, love the image as posted, great eye contact and the green facial skin of the juvenile shows up well. I also like the way the feather pattern curves in line with the shape of the wings.

[Robert Amoruso]

Here is the adjusted image I suggested. To me you get better details in the wings and especially the face. Selectively applying the correction can be done as well. I would mask out the sky as I like that darker then I have here in the repost.

[Ken Watkins]

Thanks for the comments and suggestions, it is not very often I get a reasonable BIF image.

With regard to lightening the Bateleur, I think the OP more accurately reflects the coliur of this juvenile as it is quite dark.

[Ken Watkins]

Thanks for all of the comments and suggestions, it is not very often I get a reasonable BIF image:)

With regard to lightening the bird I think the OP more accurately reflects the colour of this juvenile as it is quite dark, later in life it does of course become magnificent!

[James Salywoda]

Awesome Shot! Excellent detail great pose and beautiful bg.