Eye Contact Part Deux!

This is another Cliff Swallow from a couple of days ago. Got lucky with the eye contact to be sure!

http://birdwhisperer.smugmug.com/pho...0_iuB8b-X2.jpg

Canon 1D Mark III, 700mm, f/5.6, 1/2000, ISO 800, +2 2/3 EC, no flash, hand held

Great to see both eyes and well-exposed. Maybe a bit more sharpening.

Lots of character on this little fella's face!! I agree a bit of extra sharpening would be good, but still impressive.

The whole thing looked to light to me so I muliplied a layer of the whole thing and reduced the opacity to 45% to increase the density. Then I selectively sharpened the head with a 15/65/0 contrast mask, lightened that layer a bit, and then lightened the irises a tad.

Any better? BTW, cool capture; how much of a crop?

Great image and I love the head on flight pose you captured in this image Doug. Wonderful eye contact and a great repost Artie.

Hey Doug this guy is looking at you with a not very friendly expression:D Fantastic capture, the bird looking right between the eyes of the observer is the most I like on this image. A very difficult capture, BTW

Great job achieved by both!
I have to accept that Artie's repost looks better for my taste. I just like more sat. colors.

That is one grumpy looking bird! Super timing.

I do like the slightly darker and brighter look of Artie's repost.

great shot Doug, and well done Artie.

Thanks for the re-edit Artie! I like it. This represents about 25% of the original frame.

Sweet shot, Doug! Artie's repost made it even sweeter.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Doug Brown

Thanks for the re-edit Artie! I like it. This represents about 25% of the original frame.

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Thanks Doug. I have been thinking about this image for a few days now... With the great eye contact and pose when you use only 25% of the frame image quality must suffer and that is the only problem here...

Wonderful face contact Doug - I think you were being targetted.