Kestrel at Dawn

[David Salem]

Found this first year female American Kestrel hunting from this patch of dried up reeds at the crack of dawn a few moths ago.

1DMkIV---700mm---f5.6---ss1/1250---ISO800---HH---35% crop

Thanks as always for looking and for your input. I appreciate it.

David

[Robert Kimbrell]

David, Nice pose on the bird and good head angle. Nicely blended background, and the reeds make a pleasing perch,

[Grace Scalzo]

Wonderful colors and light, great image design with her high up in the frame. My eyes are fresh, so I don't think it is me - I think her face could stand more sharpening.

[Carl Walker]

Super light here and the bird against the bg is really great. I like your composition and suits the HA. Don't know why but my eye is drawn to that little black spot on the reed below its feet. Not serious. TFS David

[Diane Miller]

Gorgeous! The reeds make it a work of art. (The bird isn't bad, either.)

[vishaljadhav]

The reeds coming from the side make it interesting composition, the look back pose is add on
i love the BG and the light is superb
love the composition

[David Salem]

Thanks everyone for the comments.

Grace, I will look at the frame when I get home tonight to look at the sharpening of the face. Thanks.

[Sidharth Kodikal]

What a beauty! Love the light, pose, bird placement and the reeds. All that against a superb bg. Very artistic. Another vote for just a touch more sharpening on the bird.
Excellent work David.

[Lyle Gruby]

Gorgeous, agree with all of above. Definitely need a little more sharpening on the bird.

[David Salem]

Here is a bit more sharpening.

Thanks again everyone

[MohsenVahedipour]

Very nice light & head turn. Nice BG. TFS

[gail bisson]

Absolutely lovely! The repost addresses the sharpening issue.
The colors and light are what make this picture.
I also really like the composition you chose.
Well done David,
Gail

[Rich Reich]

This is an outstanding composition. The background color compliments the color of the bird. The way the reeds lay also strengthens it. Great capture.

[Karl Egressy]

Beautiful light, nicely done David.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi David, you couldnt ask for better light, and you couldnt ask for better colours either. Great lookback pose, and at first I thought about taking some off the bottom, but it stays as is. Your repost has addressed the slight lack of sharpening of your OP. Well done on the rework.

[Tim King]

Love the room around the bird. Well presented.

[Loi Nguyen]

David, lovely bird and composition. I think the bird could use a little more contrast to bring out the details on the wing, perhaps by selectively darkening the wings a little. Loi

[Satish Ranadive]

Excellent image , David. Wonderful colors,lights, very nice placement of bird in the frame and composition.

Regards,
Satish.

[David Salem]

Thanks everyone for the comments. I appreciate it.