Red-crowned Crane Incoming

[Arthur Morris]

This Red-crowned Crane flight image was created on the Japan in Winter IPT with the Gitzo 3532 LS carbon fiber tripod, the Mongoose M3.6 head, the Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens, the Canon 1.4x EF Extender III (Teleconverter), and the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 400. Evaluative metering at zero: 1/3200 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. Color temperature: AWB.

Central sensor/AI Servo/Surround Rear Focus AF fell squarely on the bird’s face and was active at the moment of exposure. Click here to see the latest version of the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version.

See more flight images from our first full day in the The 200-400 with Internal 1.4X Extender and Friend Do Tobu Tori blog post.

As for the image, don't be shy; all comments welcome.

[gail bisson]

Very nice Artie. I like the BG browns against the whites.
Exposure spot on and the bird is tack sharp.
I just wish we could see the face a bit more. It seems to be lost against all the white. Perhaps a tighter crop would address that issue,
Gail

[John Rowell]

The red crown stands out beautifully on this image. Exposure and focus both look great. A very nice image that stands out nicely from the oof background. My only thought is that the bird appears to have a bit of a blue cast. May be intentional and just a matter of taste.

[Holger Leyrer]

The wing pose is great. Love all the details i can see and the brown BG fits good to the white bird.
For my tastes the face works not so good in the image.

[Marina Scarr]

Lovely head on flight pose and that's a pretty clean BG for that area where many of the images usually have a distracting BG. I am with Gail on wishing to see more of the face, maybe more of an eye, etc.

[Jim Neiger]

Well done, Artie! Head on shots like this aren't easy.

[Karl Egressy]

Excellent incoming flight shot against pleasing background.

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks all. The blue cast was removed from the WHITEs for the re-post. A bit of a head turn would have been nice but the face is what the face is :)

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

I agree, head on shots are not easy. I, too, would've loved to see a slightly angled head, but you get what you get.
Are there particular months during wintertime considered better to go to Japan to photograph these? I also want to photograph Blakiston's Fish Owl, Stellar's Sea Eagles and the Snow Monkies. All on the same trip of course.
Thanks Artie

[David Salem]

Yes, head on shots arent easy and you got this one nice and sharp. The exposure looks perfect and I like the nice blurred BG. The first thing I thought was the small head is lost in the body a bit but not much you can do there. Well captured.

[Gabi Sandu]

I like more the repost. Everything is so sharp!!!
If you can tell me. How much sharpness you added in post processing?

[Tobie Schalkwyk]

Beautiful! Some of you guys don't fool around when it boils down to lenses, I envy you!

A pity the head (or full body, for that matter) was not turned just a little sideways to expose more of the bird's facial expression.

[Arthur Morris]

I agree, head on shots are not easy. I, too, would've loved to see a slightly angled head, but you get what you get.
Are there particular months during wintertime considered better to go to Japan to photograph these? I also want to photograph Blakiston's Fish Owl, Stellar's Sea Eagles and the Snow Monkies. All on the same trip of course.
Thanks Artie

Thanks Akos. February. Two different locations.

[Arthur Morris]

I like more the repost. Everything is so sharp!!! If you can tell me. How much sharpness you added in post processing?

Hi Gabu, I usually sharpen the face and head with a contrast mask. Then I sharpen my JPEGs with Unsharp Mask at 140/.3/0. All as detailed in my Digital Basics File, a PDF that is sent via e-mail and includes my complete digital workflow.

ps: We would love to have your membership support :)

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Thanks Artie. Appreciate the reply.

[Gabi Sandu]

Hi Gabu, I usually sharpen the face and head with a contrast mask. Then I sharpen my JPEGs with Unsharp Mask at 140/.3/0. All as detailed in my Digital Basics File, a PDF that is sent via e-mail and includes my complete digital workflow.

ps: We would love to have your membership support :)

Thank you Arthur for your answer.:)

[arash_hazeghi]

great exposure and incoming pose