Great Crested Grebe portrait

Canon EOS 1DMIV, Canon EF 600mm/4L IS II USM & 2x III, 1/640 sec., f/9, ISO 800, Gitzo GT5541LS with Sachtler FSB 8, 20 % cut

Attachment 126720

Nice tight image, Frank, and very sharp. You are clearly enjoying your new lens.

If this was mine, and I wish it was, I would be tempted to crop the left side right up to, and maybe including a little of, the neck - removing the 'dead space' behind the head.

I will have to visit my Grebes again and see if I can get them to be this cooperative!

Gerald

Thanks Gerald, are of course right.

Attachment 126721

Well that's a fair bit better than mine!

The second crop definitely works for me too.
I love the subtle pattern in the foreground.
Could the eye maybe use a little cleaning up?

Frank, your grebe images are always so interesting. I like both compositions. Agree that the eye could use a bit of cleanup which would make it appear sharper. Super detail throughout.

While I prefer the RP to the OP, I feel the image quality is decreasing a bit. It's great to see the up close look, but I think I would have preferred a slightly looser crop of the OP with a little more of the wave.

Nice shot good details & colors. I would be nice if you gave it some more room.

Nice portrait, great colours indeed.

Magnificent portrait.Love the colors,details,lovely red eye and composition.

Regards,
Satish.

Wonderful image agree with cropping suggested.

Great portrait with fine light and detail. I like the re-post better.

Marina took my words. I too would have loved more of the wave and I too wish this were mine! Nice

I too wish that this was taken by me...... The IQ of the first image seems better to me. But, its a brilliant image..

One of the most striking images I've seen for some time, Frank. Ultra sharp, and such beautiful colors. I actually prefer the original crop, primarily because of the extra room on the left edge. The eye is gorgeous, and I agree that it might benefit from a little cleanup. A really lovely background.

Wonderful portrait .Great colors,details,lovely bird.

Great image Frank! I like the IQ, details, red eye and composition of the OP.

Agreed, the repost is better. Great portrait with wonderful details and image quality. Well done Frank.

Hi Frank, lovely detail and colours, including all the droplets, and comp wise, I would liked to have seen more bow wave in front of the neck. Killer BG.

Thanks for the comments.

Here my last version that worked out some more eye.

Attachment 126793

This is very striking, Frank ! I love the detail and especially the ruby red eye .

sweet headshot Frank!