Yellow Billed Kite

This was taken last year in September. I was staying with a friend in Kloof, Durban. Yellow Billed Kites are fairly common around Durban in the summer as they are a Intra-African migrants that come here to breed. They arrive at the beginning of the rainy season which coincides with large termite emergences that are very high in protein content. This bird was baited with bits of raw meat which I put out on a small elevated platform. Fairly pleased with this shot as it was my first raptor BIF shot.

Canon 7D
400mm 5.6
AV
SS 2000
F8
Clipped the tip of the far wing and cloned tips back in, extended frame. Sharpened, NR and cropped.
Hope this one looks a bit sharper! thanks for viewing Attachment 129659

Lovely details on the back, great capture
i love the exposure, just on the right wing tip is the exposure recovered in post it just looks different to the eye. I have not seen this bird hence i am no good to comment on the colour
The head angle is fantastic i like it a lot
it may be a good idea to add a silver on the top and bottom as its too close to the border to my eye, in case you have more room there to add
Overall a nice image

Lovely detail and nice quality to the light, the eye clarity is extra good, wonderful wing and tail spread. needs a bit more room on top and c bottom....maybe do so and consider a vertical crop.

What ISO ?

Sorry Phil. 400 ISO , this is full frame top and bottom. As I mentioned in my specs I clipped the far wing, cloned wingtips and extended frame.
Cheers, Brian

Superb topside view with beautiful light. Amazing to catch him at full-frame, which explains the great detail. Too bad about clipping the wing. The detail on the far wing just doesn't look quite right. I wonder if you have other frames from which you could borrow a few appropriate primary tips? And I would add a bit of canvas all around.

Pretty nice job on the wing fix. Love the topside view of this raptor in this nice light quality. Regarding composition, I think extending the canvas further
all the way around, at least on top and bottom, is only going to improve this very fine image.

Gorgeous patterns and colours on the back!! Perfect head turn too and the eye looks great. Tail spread completes the awesome pose. Good wing repair, I would not have noticed had it not been mentioned but now that I do know I can see that just a bit more TLC there would really make a difference. I agree the subject is tight in the frame and some canvas extension would be worthwhile (and easy with the uniform sky).

Hi Brian, great banking angle showing the dorsal view nicely, and in lovely warm light too. Good job on the wing repair, and yes, going vertical will put this up a few notches.

Couldnt resist - hope you dont mind :w3

Thanks Dan & Stuart!. Yes totally agree on your version Stuart.......Bit of drag I cannot find the raw file!

I also like Stuarts re post to be vertical...although my preference would be a little more space on the left now.....but this is where the fine line between personal preference and general acceptance can sometimes cross

You have gotten some great advice from everyone.
I really like the light and the top banking view as well.
I think you did a pretty good job on the wing tips and the average Joe Public wouldn't spot the repair work but you have a tough audience in this forum!!
Gail

Wow! Thats a killer shot Brian. Unreal detail on the dorsal and the HA is great. I can see the reconstruction but not bad at all. I like Stuarts comp or just add some to the top and bottom. Well captured.

excellent dorsal view with superb eye contact. superb IQ & gorgeous light. prefer the OP with some space all around if possible.

Brian:
Congrats on your first image of BIF. Magnificent image. Love the banking pose,nice colors,details and HA .
Vertical crop by Stuart looks superb.Keep posting.

Regards,
Satish.

Another great flight pose with amazing detail

Excellent repost! the light and pose is superb! Great image indeed.