Clapper Rail #3

[Bill Dix]

I'll push my luck and post just one more of these guys. This was even more of a challenge. Besides the difficult lighting, this one appeared in an area where I wasn't expecting him. I swiveled around and grabbed several frames, but there was a foreground oof blade of grass that produced a whitish blur right through the image, including the bird's head. I wasn't sure it could be salvaged but since it was the only calling shot that I got, I figured I'd treat it as a PP exercise and see what I could do. It came out better than I expected, involving a whole arsenal of PS tools. I'm curious to know if you think it works.

D7000, 500f4, ISO 800, 1/1250s @ f/7.1 manual, fill @ -1.3 EV. Lowered Gitzo.

[gail bisson]

Your PP skills are excellent. I cannot tell you did anything to the image.
Harsh light aside, this is a terrific behavioral shot. Love the ruffled, raised neck feathers and the open bill.
You can even see a bit of the feet which is a bonus.
IQ is very good as well. I like the grasses framing the clapper rail on the left.
You must have been thrilled to have this opportunity and you certainly got some nice images.
Gail

[Geoffrey Montagu]

Wonderful calling image, Bill. Like the ruffled neck feathers also. Extremely good PP work. Just out of curiosity, is the small area on the dried reeds, that's a little soft directly down from beak, where the whitish blur grass blade started? It caught my eye because the debris on either side is relatively sharp. Not a deal breaker by any means. How lucky were are to have such a great location.




Geoffrey

[Karl Egressy]

Great calling pose captured, Bill. PP work obviously was done well as I don't see any sign of it.

[Sidharth Kodikal]

Excellent calling pose Bill. Light looks a bit harsh, but you've handled it as best as one could I suppose. Agree with others - nice PP work.

[Bill Dix]

Wonderful calling image, Bill. Like the ruffled neck feathers also. Extremely good PP work. Just out of curiosity, is the small area on the dried reeds, that's a little soft directly down from beak, where the whitish blur grass blade started? It caught my eye because the debris on either side is relatively sharp. Not a deal breaker by any means. How lucky were are to have such a great location.

Geoffrey

Yes, Geoffrey. That whitish blur began at that spot in the reeds and extended upwards, right through the Rail's head. I wasn't able to get rid of the blur in that area; or perhaps more accurately, I ran short on patience after spending a lot of time working on the rest of the image. It could be that a bit more attention to color balance, contrast, brightness and sharpening could improve that area.

BTW, you were sitting a bit to my left when I got this image, so I'm betting that you got a calling pose without the oof grass. I hope you'll post it.

[Bill Dix]

Thanks, everyone, for your comments.

[Satish Ranadive]

Spectacular calling pose. Excellent image. PP work is absolutely.Beautiful BG with green grass.
Love the frame.

Regards,
Satish.

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Looks pretty good to me and no trace of PS work!
Nice calling pose and with details.