Bald Eagle at ISO 1600

Canon 1D MK IV
f 4 500mm and 1.4X
Hand Held
Cropped top and left by 20%
ISO 1600:Whoa!:
SS 1/1600
f 6.3
I got a chance to try my new camera under conditions I would never have tried with my 7D, that is- dark subject, dark day, dark BG and high ISO
I like this image because it has a "film noir" feeling., but may not be to everyone's taste.
In PP I used the sliders in LR3 then to CS5 for NR of 10 on BG and then NR on bird of 2 with 20% detail.
What do you think? Yay or nay with this image.
Comments and critiques always learned from with thanks,
Gail

Gail this is really beautiful image you have got .. surely yay for me.

Sorry without asking i have tried something for you. As the bg is a same tone but that heavy patch on top is big distraction i have tried here to reduce the tonal values by using Selective Colors White's + Black's + Neutrals changed bit by separating the eagle and added bit of usm to the eagle.

Gail:

I do like the overall feel, pose,framing. Mital did a very nice drop downplaying the top area of BG and getting a bit more detail into the bird, without a significant noise penalty.

Sounds like you are having fun with your new toy. You obviously have some pull with Santa. Could you have him send a D4 along for me

Cheers

Randy

Hi Gail, Its a yah from me too. Going up to ISO 1600 has managed a relatively fast ss to get the eagle sharp enough. In the conditions described, you have also managed to bring out detail on the near wing and head nicely. I do like what Mital has done with the repost.

OH, can you put a word with Santa for me too. :w3

Hi Gail, very nice! Mitals work screws it up an additional few notches. This would work well in B/W.

A big thumbs up from me also, The noise is not that noticeable, It would look very nice printed.
One of your better photo's, IMO.

A good image to start with that now sings with Mital's processing. The limited color palette pulls me right in to his eye and beak. I suspect that you will be producing some great work with your Christmas present if this is an example.

Thanks Mital and all for your helpful comments. I really like what you have done to my picture Mital. I had not done any sharpening because I was afraid to increase the noise. I will do exactly what you have done for my final version,
Gail

My repost

I like it, a lovely images. Congratulations on your new toy, I'm not envious:w3

Gail I have already congratulated on new toy...now I am congratulating you for getting the results from it...I really liked this one and Mital did great job in getting the best out of it...

A definite "film noir" :-)

Congratulations on your new camera, Gail. Looks as though you got off to a good start. In the OP, I am a yay for the bird but a nay for the BG. I think Mital has managed to soften up the BG a bit more in his repost than you have in yours b/c yours is quite a bit darker which I find distracts more from your great sharp eagle than the lighter BG that Mital has created. Looking forward to seeing more images made with your new toy.

A definite Yay! Beautiful image, improved by Mital's repost. I had the same reaction as Marina, before I read her comment -- Mital's BG is just a bit softer and thus detracts less from the beautifully captured eagle.

Nice shot Gail. Don't know why but I do not see it in full : your name is cut on the right side. I prefer the MItal version too : the contrast is less strong and I prefer that. My personal taste.

Thank you all. I agree that I didn't quite hit the mark in trying to replicate what Mital did. I agree that my version is more "hard edged" because it is darker.
Is there a way for me to place my repost beside Mital's repost on the computer screen to make it easier to view side by side?
Gail

Usable ISO 1600 is one of the great things about the Mark IV. I like what Mital did with the repost, but I'm going to take it a step further. I did a curves adjustment on the bird to brighten it up a bit, and also dodged the iris. How do you like it?

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Wow!!! What a beauty. Excellent flight pose and the detail is just superb. I really like Doug's post.
Well done.

Hi Gail,
superb flight image taken to the next level with Doug's re-post :S3:
VPN

great details and top side view, one of your best to date. Glad you are enjoying the MK4, as you have figured in capable hands it is a huge step over the 7D.

I prefer Doug's repsot.

Definitely a yay for me. The reposts are an improvement.

I really like your repost Doug. You guys are killing me with all this PP. Mital kindly emailed me the workflow he used but I don't have a clue how to do what he did. I struggle with layers and masks! I will work on it this weekend!
Gail