Ruff

:S3:

Taken back at the end of January this year; very cold
hope you like
NR Topaz, USM
1/250 f8 ISO 800
40d 100-400@310

Lower not possible hide window ledge in the way

A nice looking bird and an interesting pose, although composition wise I find it a little too centred. I find the legs a little too saturated and would tone them down a little.

Did you run NR on the bird? The feathers on the body look unnaturally smooth.

Great bird and an interesting pose. Yes, you could not have gotten lower :S3: but it sure would have helped. White tail and legs show clipping. Definitely needs lot more room right.

Hi

Reworked back to CR2

cropped as suggested

I increased sat in OP left it alone this time:t3

thanks Artie and Ben (very low NR was run on the bird in Topaz and now Artie knows and will give me a kicking :-))

Though you overdid the de-SAT a bit I like this version much better. The extra space helps a lot.

:S3:


Thank you for your input as usual

hope all is well on the other side of the pond -and thanks very much for the crap weather lol

My seven cents: Vibrance +100. SAT +2. Darkened the blacks and midtones a bit. Linear Burn on white at base of bill. Sharpened. Cropped but wish that I had even more room on our right. You gotta keep the bird back in the frame....

All in all there was a pretty good image in there. Do you have Digital Basics?

Lastly, even though your file was tiny IQ looked pretty good.

:S3:

Yes Arthur I do have DB

Nice work

I had a go following your lead with more space to right

No NR on bird this time

Great pose. Last repost is a vast improvement.

I think a low angle would have really helped, I like the last repost where you adjusted the saturation and added room....having said all that, I'd take any of these images of a Ruff, I been over the pond 3 times and I still haven't been able to see one....

Good work on the last repost. Shame about the angle, but I know well that the UK has many great birding places but they are frequently not perfect for the photographer. Was this at a RSPB reserve?

Last post is such a great improvement and all advice was very beneficial I see. I like your last post but with just a teeny bit more room on the left IMO. I like the image overall.

A great little lesson here folks. Richard, the last post looks terrific - looks like the NR work robbed you of needed detail.

:S3:

Ben

Not RSPB actually a place called Martin Mere WWT.

You are dead right I seldom get chance in the UK to get low on any shot and although there are stunning amounts/varieties of birs on the reserves, they are often very distant.
For examle I see Marsh Harriers , Buzzards, Kestrels very frequently but seldom closer than 100m