Lesser Kestrel - Female

[Girish Prahalad]

A very rare migrant to India particularly in the South. Was lucky to get her in my hometown.
Made with Canon 450 + Sigma 150-500. Beanbag on car window.
Exif : F 6.3, ISO 400, SS 1/400 @ 500 mm. Shot vertical / Eval / Manual.
Levels / Crop / USM & NR on BG. On hindsight should have stopped down a bit to get the tail in focus

Comments & Critiques most welcome.

[Karl Egressy]

Nice pose, perch and background, excellent feather details. I wish to have had eather some natural light or a glint in the eye.
I just noticed that actually you do have light in the eye. Maybe give it an extra selective sharpening to see it better.

[Doug Brown]

Love the perch and eye contact. I agree with your self assessment about stopping down. More often than not, when the bird is pointed away from you and looking back at you, you need extra DOF.

[Loi Nguyen]

Love the pose and eye contact, sharpness. Good perch and BG. The tail is a little oft, but it is very minor. Well done.

[Marina Scarr]

Yes, you could have used more DOF but your head is sharp which is what's most important. Love your bird's look back pose, subtle green BG and the thorn-ridden perch.

[jack williamson]

The light is excellent, beautiful exposure, perch, and BG.

Jack

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Very cool-looking kestrel, the eye contact makes this one quite interesting. love the thorny perch and light. Agree about your own critique.

[Frank Schauf]

Sweet BG colors and look back pose.

[Robert Holguin]

Wonderful shot.
I really like the over the shoulder pose.
Excellent details, great perch, and comp.
Well done.