Bonaparte's Gull

[Jim Crosswell]

This was taken at a local lagoon a couple of weeks ago. This is a big crop about 60 percent of the original frame. The catchlight was added. All C&Cs are welcome and appreciated.

Canon 1D MK IV
500L f4
1.4 Extender
ISO 1000
f6.3
1/4000s
Handheld

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Jim, I'm unsure if the two colour banded BKG works or not, the white is away from the subject and the green provides pop, so perhaps it does?

I think you did well with both crop and IQ, not ideal but I think you did well. The green appears to have some banding which may have stemmed from within PP, or just a screen thing, I might try and address that just to help presentation.

TFS
Steve

[Jim Crosswell]

Hi Jim, I'm unsure if the two colour banded BKG works or not, the white is away from the subject and the green provides pop, so perhaps it does?

I think you did well with both crop and IQ, not ideal but I think you did well. The green appears to have some banding which may have stemmed from within PP, or just a screen thing, I might try and address that just to help presentation.

TFS
Steve

Thanks for your comment and suggestions Steve. Due to the large crop the white at the bottom had to stay in. I know I'm pushing the IQ of the image here but the gull only flew by at a distance. The BG on the Tiff file is ok so the BG may have been affected by the large crop and JPEG compression. I will give it another try.

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Jim, what actually is the white?

Perhaps it's because the two tone tier is not the 'norm' so to speak i.e. green & blue sky, therefore it throws the viewer a little, but I don't think it's that distracting, just different. If the BKG looks good at 100% and it has stemmed from the downsizing then I might look at addressing it at the smaller version, never ideal, but the 'posterisation' may be less prominent.

[Jim Crosswell]

Hi Jim, what actually is the white?

Perhaps it's because the two tone tier is not the 'norm' so to speak i.e. green & blue sky, therefore it throws the viewer a little, but I don't think it's that distracting, just different. If the BKG looks good at 100% and it has stemmed from the downsizing then I might look at addressing it at the smaller version, never ideal, but the 'posterisation' may be less prominent.

Steve the white is OOF water with the light being at the strongest part of the day but being filtered through thin clouds. The light was coming from above and a bit on the other side of the Gull. This was the only spot I could shoot from so conditions were far from ideal.

[MiroslavMaric]

Hi Jim,

Like the frame, light, wings position and details. If mine I would apply NR to the BG and try to decrease a bit the brightness of the bottom. TFS.

Cheers,
Miro

[Jim Crosswell]

Hi Jim,

Like the frame, light, wings position and details. If mine I would apply NR to the BG and try to decrease a bit the brightness of the bottom. TFS.

Cheers,
Miro

Here is a repost with some more NR and the white toned down.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Jim, good flying pose with the downstroke of the wings, and he certainly pops against the green BG. Great job with the catchlight too. I feel your whites are spot on in your OP, but good work on the RP with the NR.

[MiroslavMaric]

Hi Jim. The RP looks good, well done!

Cheers,
Miro

[William Dickson]

Love the repost Jim. I think it is 'easier' to look at. Lovely flight pose and comp.

Will

[Joseph Przybyla]

Hi Jim, lovely flying pose. I like the changes in the repost. Nice image, thank you for sharing.

[John Robinson]

Don't know much about the techie stuff but looks good to me. OP as well.
Cheers
John

[Jonathan Ashton]

I like both but definitely prefer the repost - well done.