This doesn't look like a loon or wood duck. Are you sick? - Eastern Kingbird

Well, I suspect many people think I only take pictures of one or two species of birds. Loons in the summer, wood ducks in the fall, and trumpeter swans during the winter :bg3:
Once in a great while something else catches my attention.

Imaged in Northern Michigan ( while out in my boat for loons, if truth be told !)

D700 600VR f/4 1/400s ISO 800

Post: CS5 selective sharpening, slight background cleanup, toned down the perch luminosity, big crop (60%)

The lighting was very soft, just enough to give him a little pop

Advice and observations always appreciated.

Cheers

Randy

Nice pose and background, Randy. I find that the bird and the perch has a blue cast, at least on my monitor. I would try to reduce or eliminate the cast, if it were mine.

Randy - I love this species and this shot shows it well. Gorgeous BG and I like the comp, HA and sharp detail. I, too, see some blue cast and I find the image a bit on the bright side - I think the blacks should be deeper and the eye catch makes the bird look a bit bug-eyed.

Thanks for the input guys. Guess I should stick with loons and wood ducks :bg3:

It was a cool color temp kind of day when original was taken. Went back and warmed it up a few degrees. The blacks were already clipping on the beak and tips of primaries, so left that alone. Toned down the brightness a sliver.

Cheers

Randy

The re-post is perfect on my monitor, before seeing it, I was thinking the same thing as the others and you fixed it! Great perch, bg, and nice looking loon :t3 never seen one out of the water like that:eek3:

I like the re-post, Randy.

Certainly better Randy. I still see some blue cast but wonder if it might just be refraction in the feathers from the angle of light. I'll post a loon shot soon so you can get even :bg3:

Repost looks better to me also. Nice simple, clean portrait. Loving that uncluttered background. I would be tempted to crop some off the bottom and right.

nice pose and details, repost corrects the color cast, it can still benefit from an increase in contrast and sat.

Agree with Arash, it can take some contrast. A lovely bird and lovely setting

Excellent shot Randy.... Detail, soft pastel back-ground colours and a good composition... repost looks better :S3:

Like the repost Randy, lovely subtle light and great feather detail and HA.

Sweet light, bird, perch, BKGR, and pose. Each version has its pluses. Favorite part: the head angle.

Real nice shot. Great background and excellent pose. Nice detail as well. Well done.