Kestrel Looking Back
My luck continued with the Kestrel last week. After giving me a shot with the Santa Monica Mountains in the BG, he landed on a perch that I had never seen him used before. By standing up on a chair, I was able to include the green of a distant tree as the BG.
1DX
500f4 II + 1.4X III
1/1600
F8
ISO-1000
Handheld while standing on chair
Cropped to about 50%, comp is a little difficult due to the perch.
Thank you for your comments.
Loi
It's the best photo I have seen of a Kestrel, very sharp.
That,s a cracker. My favourite pose of any bird- back view - head to camera.
Spot on !!
JR
Excellent image. Very nice look back pose. Beautiful colors and tack sharp.
Regards,
Satish.
Excellent work Loi. Where did you find the chair?
Great pose captured.
Lovely pose and colours. I would be tempted to lower the highlights a little around the chin, bill and nostrils. What is that on the main branch bottom right - is it a vine or is it string, I think I would disguise it only because it begs the question (to me any way)
Excellent image, love the feather detail and colours. Head turn works great and love how the bird pop against the BG, nicely done.
Hi Loi, good to see your luck is still continuing.
I would crop/loose the vertical 'support' as it adds nothing and the image would look better, likewise I might had a tad less space above and more below. The blacks still look thin and don't carry the depth, was the ISO for SS? If you are cropping and this subject continues, then I would look to the 2x, ok only the central FP and min f/8, but it is far better than the old version and may help in your quest. Likewise you might need to think about a more 'attractive' perch.
Good luck and I haven't forgotten the file.
Cheers
TFS
Steve
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I like a lot this photo :)
I agree with Steve, I would put the bird more to the right, cropping the vertical support.
IMO I would preffer to have more space above it and less bellow, I allways like to give birds space to fly
I like the look-back pose that highlights the nice plumage on the Kestrel's back. Impressive that you stood on a chair in order to get the green BG. The vertical portion of the perch detracts from the image. It's a shame the horizontal portion isn't longer; it would have given you more room to crop for composition. One other thing; I find the detail around the beak to be a little coarse.
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Great look-back pose, light and detail. I agree that the vertical element makes the comp difficult. I'd be inclined to take it out.
Boy would I like to have this one in my collection. Great opportunity well taken. Love the head turn and green bg
Excellent look back pose, lovely light, BG & IQ.
Hi Loi, good lookback pose, and the light has brought out the feather detail and colours so well. I would take a bit off the left. Well thought out to have stood on a chair to achieve a better BG.
Love the image Loi. I agree that the vertical perch is a distraction, especially with the lower section that looks like it is two branches tied together with string. But the detail, background and pose are killer.
Nice job getting this shot Loi. The look back pose looks great and is the best way to shoot a male Kestrel. Nice details and exposure. Yes to removing the branch on the right and going for a taller vert. Very nice.
Hi Everyone, thank you SO very much for your kind comments. Here in the RP, I have cropped tighter, Increased the black to +5 using Levels, and sharpened selectively different areas by different amounts. Hope you like it better. Loi
Perfect!!!
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