The head throw finally materialized...

[Diane Miller]

... after the previous image I posted of the poor thing looking like it was going to throw up instead. In my zeal to keep the AF point on the throat I cut off the feet just below the tip of the tail. Fortunately the feet from the previous frame, with the camera aimed lower, were a perfect fit, so this is a composite. A little bit of shadow and whitewash removed from the left and just below the belly, and a small part of an OOF gull removed from the LL corner.

Canon 5D Mk III, 600mm II. Big Gitzo with Wimberley II. ISO 800, f/9.5, 1/000 sec. Basic LR adjustments then to PS CS6 for compositing the feet.

C&C always appreciated!

[Tobie Schalkwyk]

I love the colours, focus and blurred background. Perfect composite result.

[eddyswan]

Hi Diane, stunning pose, great details and good job of repairing the feet. It could be my monitor but i think the colours are a bit too saturated.

[Diane Miller]

I agree -- good eye! The previous post was thought by several folks to be on the bright side and I think I overcompensated on this one. Halfway in between for both would be better, I think.

[arash_hazeghi]

sweet light is paying dividends, I like the pose. I might burn the droppings slightly

TFS

[Frank Schauf]

Beautiful and colorful image.

[Loi Nguyen]

Hi Diane, lovely pies, good details, sharpness, and the waves on the blue water makes a nice BG. Good job on repairing the feet. The only thing I would wish for is a little bit more of the eye. TFS. Loi

[Daniel Cadieux]

Good job on the composite Diane! I like the head throw, perch (despite the "decorations"), and beautiful blue BG. The colours are appealing as is IMO.

[Diane Miller]

Thanks, everyone!

[Iain Barker]

Great image Diane.
There is no way I would know this was a composite so good job with that. I love the pose and I too like the colours.

TFS
Iain