Pals?

Taken on Machias Seal Island in June. The different bg look to this is because I took this out of one of the interior island facing blind openings and there is vegetation on the interior.

Canon 7D
70-200 II @ 200mm
1/1000
f9
ISO 400
EC -.33
HH from blind, luminosity mask, levels, curves, selective dodging and burning, cropped for content, minor bg cleanup, NR on bg and sharpened in CS5.

C&C welcome and appreciated. Thanks,

Rachel

Hi Rachel, you got both birds sharp and nice HA on both but shadows and strong BG does not work very well in this Image for me.

Agree with Sachin. Birds are lovely, obviously, but the light is harsh and the background and perch are unphotogenic. If I'd spent time with those particular birds I'd have lost my mind and would now be dead. It must have been a wondrous experience!

I agree about the light (nothing you could really do though), but it is
nice you got both together.

Two great bird in one frame. Very well done, Rachel.

Hi Rachel, black and white images birds are tough to expose, and even more so in harsh light.
You've handled that masterfully in this entire series.
I agree that the light has cast strong shadows here and the bg isn't the best, but this is a cool record shot of two great species in one frame.
If possible, I'd have pointed the lens up a bit - it feels slightly tight on the top.