Early morning visitor - sandhill crane

[Randy Stout]

While waiting last weekend for the wood ducks to arrive, this fellow strode quietly up to the pond and browsed for a bit. The light had just starting filtering through the trees, and really made him pop. I was set up for wood ducks, so too much lens, but tried to squeeze him in the frame. Had to add a bit of canvas above.

D4 f/5.6 1/320s ISO 1600. Pedestal mounted in my sled blind.

Post: canvas added above. Trimmed a few twigs back. Selective sharpening.

Advice and comments appreciated as always.

Cheers

Randy

[Jim Crosswell]

I like the feeding pose, light and the image has a fall feel for me even though it was taken last week. Good job fitting him into the frame Randy!

[Marina Scarr]

Glad you could fit the crane in the frame and love the early morning light, but the bird is looking overexposed to me.

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Randy a real frame filler , think you made the most out of the situation .Lovely warm light and a nice setting .
I also think the bird is a bit bright , look at the red channel completely blown ....... no wonder with the colors and warm light .

TFS Andreas

[Randy Stout]

Thanks everyone. I went back and checked the RAW file this AM after Marina's comment. Not a single blown pixel, even in the red channel. I just pulled the posted file into LR and it showed the brightest spot to be at 96%, with no blown pixels showing. Will revisit it when I have a moment at home.

I certainly could see the bird a bit less bright, but the effect in the early morning sun was pretty striking. It seemed to glow.

Randy

[Daniel Cadieux]

Cool opportunity you had here Randy. I love the leafy floor, and the greens above are a neat touch. Great light for sure, but I too am thinking the exposure could be reduced.

[Randy Stout]

Just for comparison, her is a redo with -.25 less exposure. Let me know what you think.

Thanks

Randy

[Mike Poole]

The RP appeals to me a lot more - for me the OP was a bit of a missed opportunity, but i really like the way the light looks on the second version

[Robert Kimbrell]

A nice frame Randy. I much prefer the exposure on the second.

[Marina Scarr]

The RP works very nicely, and I really love the leafy floor here. That's something we never see here in Florida, at least not in SW FL

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Without being there it is difficult to comprehend the light intensity. I still feel like I should wear sunnies with the repost, albeit it is not as glowing bright.
Good work getting it all into the frame.