Snail Kite BirdScape

[gail bisson]

Took an airboat ride while in the Everglades and was thrilled to see this beautiful male. A lifer for me.
I did a lot of PP on this shot and will post the before and after in the name of complete transparency! A lot of cloning and shadow lifting.
canon 1DX 600mm
ISO 800 AV 5.6 SS 1/3200 ( I was hoping for a flight shot but when he did take off he flew away from us so that shot went in the garbage)
Comments and critiques always appreciated and learned from with thanks,
Gail

[gail bisson]

Here is the original

[Karl Egressy]

Nice image, excellent PP. work, Gail.

[Dvir Barkay]

Really nice Gail, great job on the cloning as well!

All the best, Dvir

[Raybel Robles]

Great work on the PP and cloning. I would had never knew nothing was done on it. The BG color is really nice. I'm just not sure about the long crop above the bird. I would be tempted to crop a little less from the top.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Good job Gail, I like the composition and the pose - excellent cloning.

[keith mitchell]

Super job catching this bird in it's habitat, it's beak is certainly made for it's food intake. Would not have known you had done the alterations you describe, very well done Gail.

Keith.

[Jack Breakfast]

Dr. Bisson, your processing work is v. impressive indeed, and I appreciate your sharing it!

[arash_hazeghi]

Hi Gail, nice light but this one is a bit too small for me, if the OOF grass were a little smaller and you had more of habitat it would have been great

[Grace Scalzo]

I looked at this earlier today and wanted to come back for a second look. To be honest, it just isn't working for me. Great bird, of course the pp work is top notch, and the techs are on, but my eye keeps travelling right up those two vertical stems and out of the frame. Bird isn't big enough to hold my attention.

[gail bisson]

Thank you all for your helpful comments and critiques!
Gail

[David Salem]

Nice work on the cloning and the recovery of the blacks. I like the concept but I'm in the same boat as Grace. I think maybe it's because there's too much above. Your usual solid techs and details but not one of my favorites of yours:)