Great Egret

[Joseph Przybyla]

I captured this image of a Great Egret with the red eye and greenish lore earlier this month at the rookery in Gatorland, Orlando, Florida. A wonderful place for bird photography this time of year, one can get within feet of courting and nesting birds. Comments and critique welcomed and appreciated. Thank you for viewing.

Nikon D7000
Nikon 80-400mm F/4.5-5.6 VRII AF-S Ed shot at 400mm (600mm FFE)
1/1250 F/5.6 Matrix Metering +1/3 EV ISO 800 AWB, camera supported by a monopod
Post processed in Lightroom 6 and Photoshop Elements 10
Cropped for composition and presentation

[Karl Egressy]

Nice super close up shot, Joe. I wonder if you can separate the top of the head from the similar color background a little more.

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Joe, good detail, perhaps a fraction less on the Exp, say -0.30, just for a bit more tonal depth? As you had the ISO & SS more DoF for the bill would have been better IMHO. Just watch the CA fringing on the fine feathers of the lower portion. Flipping the image I think seems to sit better???

TFS
Steve

[John Robinson]

Hi Joe
That eye is just something else!! Would make a picture on its own almost.
Love the gentle intricate detail in the head feathers and the well worn beak. Good stuff.
John

[Joseph Przybyla]

Thanks everyone for viewing, commenting, and suggesting improvements.

Steve, interesting you suggested lowering the exposure by -0.30. After processing looking at the thumbnail I raised the exposure by 0.30. In this repost I set the exposure back to zero (-0.30) and flipped the image as you suggested. I like the flipped image better, it fits the way we look at things scanning from left to right.

[Steve Kaluski]

I like the flipped image better, it fits the way we look at things scanning from left to right.

There you go Joe , however, I would still go back and resolve the fringing, albeit small, it will make a difference.

[Steve Kaluski]

Hey Joe, I think you can get some more depth out with some some adjustments with the Brush in LR and some Saturation brings a bit more richness I feel, but also upping the Whites in LR possible creates a cleaner look to the feathers/plumage. You also loose the fringing.

Edit is from the OP, WDYT?

Steve

[gail bisson]

I like the repost a lot.
Gail

[David Salem]

Me too

[Jim Crosswell]

Excellent image Joe! I like the tight composition, IQ, breeding color and exposure. Last post works for me.

[William Dickson]

Great detail Joe, nice and close, lovely colours throughout.

Well done

Will

[Bill Dix]

Terrific extreme close-up. Marvelous colors.

[Joseph Przybyla]

Thanks everyone for viewing and commenting, very much appreciated.

Steve, using your suggestions I went back to the original editing it with your changes and repost as an example. Thank you for helping and showing me.

[Steve Kaluski]

Steve, using your suggestions I went back to the original editing it with your changes and repost as an example. Thank you for helping and showing me.

Hi Joe, there is so much potential in this image, it is really cool IMHO, if I have helped in moving this on a notch then that is all I wanted to do. BTW I may still have the file in LR, so if you need any more pointers fire a PM over. Normally things are ditched within 12hrs or sooner.

May not respond start away as I'm pruning the garden in the lower field .

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Joe, excellent detail and colours on the lores, and overall, the whites look good to me. At this distance, Im not sure stopping down would have rendered more DOF. I actually prefer your OP.