Avian Image of the Week for the week ending June 21st, 2013: Gail Bisson - Smoking red necked grebes #1

Congratulations Gail!

I am just back from THE most amazing workshop in Nome, Alaska with Matthew Studebaker. Feel free to PM me if you want all the amazing details.
I am exhausted ( 18 hour days and a red eye home) but knew that I wanted to process this one shot immediately. The other 5000 pics can wait! Exposure was tricky and I opted for a bit of blow out on the side of right hand grebe to get a half decent exposure on the shaded side of grebes. A call was used.
canon 1DX
600mm II and 1.4x
ISO 800
SS 1/1250
f 5.6
I cloned out some grasses in the water ( I know...I said I was trying not to clone anything in my shots but this one is special!) and added 3% canvas on the left. Cropped top and bottom.
PP- NR on BG. S & H, levels, DE at 10% on side of left bird's body and 3% on the rest of the grebes. USM at 40% and 0.3 pixels.
Comments and critiques always learned from and appreciated with thanks,
Gail

Well done Gail this is a beautiful image.

Now this is an IOTW! I love the "smoking", the good use of exposure, nice balance so we get "cracking" details. A pleasing image, nice POV and a different look. Well done Gail. Sorry to be late to the party.

I knew this was a contender the first time I saw it. Excellent and congratulations.

Jack

Obvious choice.
Just excellent in every way.
Congratulation.

Heartiest Congratulation, Gail.

Regards,
Satish.

congrats Gail

A winner for sure. Congrats Gail

Spectular Gail, definite winner

This is really a killer image, Gail and so well deserved IOTW.

Smoking hot photo is what this is. It deserves image of the week for sure, Gail. Just a fabulous, very memorable image.

Fantastic shot. Thank you for sharing the PP details.

Brilliant image Gail, one of the very best I've seen so far....big pat on the back from me

A beuatiful image Gail congrats