Inbound 747 [Archive] - BirdPhotographers.net

Arthur Morris

03-06-2012, 04:22 PM

This Japanese Red-crowned Crane was photographed at the Akan Crane Center, Hokkaido, Japan with the handheld Canon 300mm f/2.8L IS II lens, the 1.4X III TC, and the EOS-1D MIV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 stop off the snow: 1/3200 sec. at f/7.1.

Our trip has been so amazing so far that I am actually planning on returning in 2014.... You can check out the Snow Monkeys, sea-eagles, and lots more here (http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/)and here (http://www.birdsasart.com/2012/03/06/birds-as-art-bulletin-400/). In addition to the images you will find lots of great info and our of course, our legendary educational captions accompany each image. Cropped to level. The cranes are fed at all the crane parks.

Don't be shy: all honest comments welcome.

Jonathan Ashton

03-06-2012, 05:24 PM

A fantastic shot Artie, just love the exposure pose, especially as the bird is a little less than straight, I think this wonky pose is really attention grabbing..... and the detail - couldn't as for much more than this!!

Randy Stout

03-06-2012, 05:28 PM

Artie:

Appropriate title.

Great wing spread, I like the slight tilt, uneven feet, exposure and feather detail. Bird pops well from BG.

The soft light helped here as it looks like the light angle was well off to the right.

The only perfect world wish would be that the birds right foot didn't flare right at the transition line between snow and background, truly minor.

Oh, one more thought. I might try a very slight increase in the center of curves(lift the curve just a bit) as it brings up the reds and some of the darker feathers nicely without blowing out the whites.

I thought it gave the image just a bit more bite.

Looking forward to more.

Cheers

Randy

gail bisson

03-06-2012, 06:41 PM

This is one of my favorite shot of yours. I really like the vertical lines in the BG. Wing spread is great and you nailed the exposure on the whites. I like the slightly awkward landing pose as well. A "family jewel" for sure!
Gail

Kaustubh Deshpande

03-06-2012, 06:48 PM

Artie, big WOW factor. loved the incoming pose, the spread primaries, dangling feet. DOF coverage is perfect and so are the whites. an image to be proud of.

Robert Amoruso

03-06-2012, 08:26 PM

Randy caught the thing I was going to mention Artie, the foot/line interaction. Other then that, excellent all around.

I like the vertical trees in the BG. They add a nice graphic element to the scene w/o overpowering it. Also help the bird to stand out from it.

Arthur Morris

03-06-2012, 09:03 PM

For those concerned with the foot-flare/transition line merge; gimme a break :). Randy, would love to see a repost; not sure that we we see much difference in a JPEG. Still have fun and not as cold as it was with the sea eagles and the sea ice....

Ofer Levy

03-06-2012, 09:35 PM

Nice shot. I don't mind the foot/BG at all. A bit big and tight in the frame for my taste though.

Randy Stout

03-06-2012, 09:35 PM

Artie:

I included a repost. Small upward curves adjustment, with center of upward adjustment slightly to the left of center, and an anchor point on far right to keep the whites from moving up as much.

To my eye it opens up the birds face and darker feathers, feet and legs. I might do a modification and apply it only to the bird, and let the background stay darker, but this at least should give you the idea I am after.

You could probably use detail extractor on the face and dark feathers to get a similar effect in a more localized manner.

Cheers

Randy

re: foot merge. Well, when the images starts out so good, you are left to look at small tweaks!

Raul Padilla

03-06-2012, 10:37 PM

a photograh with great force, intense and dynamic, i will review the travel info will be very enjoyable

dankearl

03-07-2012, 12:29 AM

I would love to see one let alone photograph one.
No critiques from me, I am just envious.

arash_hazeghi

03-07-2012, 02:07 AM

very nice landing Artie, good exposure on the whites.

Frank Schauf

03-07-2012, 02:31 AM

Really great landing pose.

Marina Scarr

03-07-2012, 09:31 AM

Lovely capture with the full wing spread. I see a tad bit of difference in the facial details on the RP but both look good to me. I didn't even notice the foot merge until it was mentioned. Would like to see this image with a tad more room all around if you have it.

Dan Brown

03-07-2012, 09:32 AM

For those concerned with the foot-flare/transition line merge; gimme a break :). Randy, would love to see a repost; not sure that we we see much difference in a JPEG. Still have fun and not as cold as it was with the sea eagles and the sea ice....No breaks Artie, you created us:S3:. I love these cranes and would kill for an image like this! Great work! The repost seems to actually reduce the foot/bg line merger issue for me. Maybe in 2014, you can get the snow piled up a little more artistically along the tree line there:bg3:

Charles Glatzer

03-07-2012, 10:08 AM

Sweet image. It is no easy task to isolate the cranes against the background with our relatively fixed position.

Best,

Chas

Stu Bowie

03-07-2012, 11:47 AM

Hi Artie, what I see right away in this image is the excellent exposure of the whites. A great show of the outspread wings, sharp, and nicely separated from the BG. Just love that dab of red on the head.

Arthur Morris

03-07-2012, 03:29 PM

Artie:

I included a repost. Small upward curves adjustment, with center of upward adjustment slightly to the left of center, and an anchor point on far right to keep the whites from moving up as much.

To my eye it opens up the birds face and darker feathers, feet and legs. I might do a modification and apply it only to the bird, and let the background stay darker, but this at least should give you the idea I am after.

You could probably use detail extractor on the face and dark feathers to get a similar effect in a more localized manner.

Cheers

Randy

re: foot merge. Well, when the images starts out so good, you are left to look at small tweaks!

Thanks Randy, I do see the crown and face brighter. I had already lightened that area and ran Detail Extractor on it but did not want to overdo it. As for the foot merge, what would the options be (as if I had a choice)? If the bird were lower you would have an ankle merge or a near tail merge. I was thrilled to get the whole thing in the frame and sharp and capture an amazingly beautiful pose, better than any Sandhill Crane image after 17 years of trying at Bosque....

Arthur Morris

03-07-2012, 03:31 PM

Sweet image. It is no easy task to isolate the cranes against the background with our relatively fixed position.

Best,

Chas

Thanks Chas. I forgot to mention that we create hundreds of spectacular images with all manner of cranes, crows, swans, and even buildings in the BKGR. Are you home yet?

Charles Glatzer

03-07-2012, 11:16 PM

Thanks Chas. I forgot to mention that we create hundreds of spectacular images with all manner of cranes, crows, swans, and even buildings in the BKGR. Are you home yet?

Artie,

Yes, back at home. It can be tough at times to avoid the building and/or overlapping birds. Glad you had a good time, I knew you would.

Best,

Chas

Arthur Morris

03-08-2012, 06:39 AM

Thanks Chas. I bet it feels good to be home. The group flies home tomorrow. Robert and I are staying on a few days to try and do some songbirds..... I will be home Tuesday.

Karl Egressy

03-08-2012, 12:42 PM

Great pose of the bird and great IQ. It gives you a bow as per japanese custom, Artie.

Charles Glatzer

03-08-2012, 01:55 PM

Artie,

After almost 9 weeks on location, yes, it is good to be home.
The jet lag returning from Japan is always a killer, taking a week to re-acclimate is typical.

Rest well!

Chas