Snail Kite Takes Off
This image of a female Snail Kite was taken on an amazing private tour with Jim Neiger. She was perching on a branch in a middle of the lake and the background was a bit busy, but there was not much I can do about it.
1DX
500f4 II + 1.4X III
1/2500
f5.6
ISO-1000
Handheld from a boat
Original horizontal, cropped for vertical. No room at the top and the BG was busy, So I decided to go for a tight crop.
Appreciate your comments.
Thank you
Loi
Very appealing image. The habitat perfectly enhances this species' perch before a strike on a meal. The only thing I would suggest is reducing the contrast as the wings are especially and unnaturally dark.
Hi Bob, thank you for your comments. The minute I posted the image, I felt it a little too dark too. But this was not due to increased contrast, but I think because I applied a luminosity mask 30% and I also reduced the exposure by ~ 0.5 EV to reduce the highlights. So here is a RP without the luminosity mask and in-camera-exposure. In LR5, I reduced the highlights selectively. I also cut down the Yellow saturation from 10 to 7 on the chest of the bird. I think this looks better, Thanks Loi
I like the dynamic pose and the lift off, nice sharpness and exposure. the oof twigs in the BG are bit distracting but they also show the habitat, to balance things a bit I might clone the ones sticking out of the wings
TFS
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I'm OK with the tight crop you chose here, and I do prefer the repost...I also like that you reduced the reflection in the eye on it as I thought it was distracting in the OP. Removing a few of the upper sticks as per Arash should be easy if you wish to do so.
Spectacular take off pose in habitat. Beautiful colors.Love the frame.
Regards,
Satish.
Sharp and beautifully framed with a great pose. I'd go for something between the two as the repost is a bit light for me.
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Thank you everyone for your comments.
Artie, I like your suggestion to go a bit darker. Here is a final RP with -0.2EV less exposure than in version 2.
Happy new Year!
Loi
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