Yellowbilled Hornbill

[Gabriela Plesea]

Image taken a couple of years ago in the Kruger National Park. I was busy looking through older folders and deleting RAW files to make some space when I came across this image. I was unhappy with my previous processing and gave it another try-I really liked the bill and the eyelashes...

Comments and critique welcome and much appreciated.

Nikon D300S
Nikon 300 VR
1/2000s
F5.6
ISO 400

Image taken without support, was walking through the camp site looking for something to photograph when this Hornbill landed in front of me. I had no time to change settings, I would have liked an F-stop of 6.3 but when it comes to birds things happen fast...

Kind regards,

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Gaby, love these guys, and you have portrayed that large bill nicely. Colours look good, and against what I can guess is an OOF sand BG. Its always great that the light shows up their eyelashes. Maybe a touch off the top.

[Vivaldo Damilano]

A beautiful portrait Gabriela, love the good eye detail and smooth BG. Low POV also adds nicely, nice work.

[gail bisson]

This is excellent.
I really like the eyelash shadows and the IQ.
Wonderful color palette with great light.
I might take a bit off the top.DOF is fine but you are right :f 8.0 would have rocked this shot,
Gail

[Gabriela Plesea]

Hope the RP is better? Cropped a bit from the top, hope this meets your approval-thank you for your advice

Kind regards,

[gail bisson]

Works for me!!
Gail

[Robert Holguin]

Wow!!
Excellent portrait shot.
Love the shawdow of the eye lashes, excellent feather detail, very nice background, and great comp on the repost.
Very well done.

[Joe Senzatimore]

It's a keeper either way. In your face love it.

[Jeannean Ryman]

I liked the OP, but the repost is even better. Wonderful portrait shot with great detail and colors.

[shane shacaluga]

RP improves what is already a great portrait!

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Repost works for me! Very handsome bird, nice light and that beak is so stricking!

[dankearl]

DOF is fine for me and the repost comp is nice.
The eyelash shadow is really cool.

[Ritesh Nangare]

I love the second one......great details over all the bird.....
Great.

[christopher galeski]

Great portrait,nice BG,sharp,with loads of detail.nice one.

[Jim Crosswell]

I like the eye lash shadow, IQ, details and composition in the RP. Great image!

[Frank Schauf]

Beautiful portrait, great details, a great shot.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Nothing wrong with the dof, what needs to be sharp is. I liked the original comp but yes, the repost looks better in that regard. I really wish a catchlight could have infiltrated its way between the eyelash shadows onto the eye.

[Satish Ranadive]

Excellent portrait with great details and beautiful colors.Love the IQ,shadows of eyelids in the eyes and composition.

Regards,
Satish.

[Gabriela Plesea]

I see what you mean, Daniel-the eye of the Hornbill is a bit "flat" so to speak. I might find a better image if I look carefully through my folders...

Heartfelt thanks to everyone for comments and viewing-much appreciated!

Kind regards,

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Gabriela, a very fine shot indeed.

Stu B posted one a few years back, one of the finest I've seen and this is up there, very cool. Love the rich colours of the subject juxtapose to the soft BKG colour, doesn't get much better IMHO. If you have the time, just look at thr=e RAW in LR and have a play with the bill, dropping the exposure & highlights, adding a little contrast/clarity might bring out a little more depth/form to it?

Have a good weekend and say hi to Andre.

TFS
Steve

[Gabriela Plesea]

Thank you Steve!!! Also, for email with RP!