Killdeer

[joshua LaCelle]

7D, 400mm f/5.6 L
1/2500, f5.6, ISO 640

All comments are appreciated!

Thanks.

[andresleon]

Hi Joshua. Very nice capture. Background and foreground are interesting. The image seems a little overexposed overall causing the forehead to lose some detail and texture. Since the bird is facing to your right, I would recommend cropping a bit of the left to improve the composition. The head and body could use a little more sharpening but after you've corrected the exposure. Thanks.

[joshua LaCelle]

Hi Joshua. Very nice capture. Background and foreground are interesting. The image seems a little overexposed overall causing the forehead to lose some detail and texture. Since the bird is facing to your right, I would recommend cropping a bit of the left to improve the composition. The head and body could use a little more sharpening but after you've corrected the exposure. Thanks.

Thanks for the advice. I fixed the exposure and cropped a little of the left.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Low angle, calling pose, BG, and habitat elements all look good Josh. The image is over-exposed as posted though, which you've fixed for your files I guess, and if it is cropped I'd prefer adding back some top and right.

[joshua LaCelle]

Dan,

You think the bird is still over-exposed in post #3?

[Daniel Cadieux]

I do not see an image in post #3...just text.

[joshua LaCelle]

I do not see an image in post #3...just text.

That's strange... this should work:

[Daniel Cadieux]

Strange, from my main computer now I can see both. Anyhow, yes, I find the repost is still bright. Here's a tweak, but the brightest whites are still too bright in my version...the highlights slider in whichever raw software you use should be able to handle those quite nicely.

P.S. I lowered the midtones via "Levels" and reduced the contrast. Added a bit of saturation that was lost after those simple tweaks.

[joshua LaCelle]

Strange, from my main computer now I can see both. Anyhow, yes, I find the repost is still bright. Here's a tweak, but the brightest whites are still too bright in my version...the highlights slider in whichever raw software you use should be able to handle those quite nicely.

P.S. I lowered the midtones via "Levels" and reduced the contrast. Added a bit of saturation that was lost after those simple tweaks.

Yea, I see what you mean now.

Thanks for the input! I appreciate it! Helps a lot.

[andresleon]

David's adjustments really helped make the image more powerful. I'm sure if you apply these similar adjustments to the original RAW, the final image will be even better!