Mot-Mot Portrait.

[keith mitchell]

Nikon D4
Nikon 300mm 2.8
1/160@f7.1
iso 640

One of these times when a bird just lands on a branch above your head, when you are trying for something else and you wish for a telephoto lens not that this bird gave me much time,at least I can make a portrait.

Thanks for looking and your comments on my last post.

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Keith, a very vibrant image. I might just soften/knock back those highlights in the BKG and add a hint more selective USM on the head/bill.

With hindsight more SS, 1/160 or less is courting disaster IMHO as the real RAW will I doubt be sharp, especially as you had the D4.

TFS
Steve

[Ihtisham Kabir]

What a nice bird! You caught it well, too. I like the rendition of the orange feathers - nice texture. The highlight behind the head fights for my attention so I agree that it could be toned down.

[keith mitchell]

Thanks Steve and Ihtisham.Steve I know SS was low but this shot was taken in Tobago some time ago and the D4 was a new toy,like I said a grab shot of a bird that I spent a lot of time trying to track down and would have loved to get the whole bird.Have toned down the BG and added a bit more usm to the bird.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Keith, what a pose, and this angle shows off the serrated edges of his beak. I do like the colours on this species, a bird I havent seen before, and your repost does look better with the additional sharpening.

[keith mitchell]

Thanks Stu this was one of the birds I wanted to see in Tobago,pity it took me by surprise swinging my camera with the tripod fixed made life difficult but the only way I could get the shot at close range so pleased with the quality even though could not get the whole bird.

Keith.

[Bill Dix]

Congrats on getting this iconic bird, even if it wasn't quite what you had imagined. The repost is an improvement. The only other thing I might try would be to darken the pupil of that very watery eye, to remove some of the glare.

[keith mitchell]

Thanks Bill have darkened the eye and removed a couple of catch lights ,think it as removed the watery look ,hope it's improved.

Keith,

[Bill Dix]

I didn't mind the liquid look in the eye generally, but removing some of the glare from the pupil makes the bird look a bit sharper.

[arash_hazeghi]

I like the colors, must be handsome bird! I agree the slow shutter speed caused the softness which unfortunately is difficult to correct. The bird is a bit too large in the frame for my taste.
for this shot I would have used 1/800sec at ISO 3200 to get him tack sharp.

TFS

[keith mitchell]

Thanks Bill for coming back to take a look,appreciated. Thanks Arash wished I had the time to do as you say( 1/800sec at ISO 3200 to get him tack sharp. )but the bird was on the branch in front of me for seconds taking me completely by surprise.

Keith.

[William Dickson]

Thanks for sharing this Keith, lovely colours on the bird and a very nice pose.

Will

[Glennie Passier]

Getting to the party late, as usual. I like re-repost. Love that beak! My only suggestion, which is quite minor, is to clone out the branch in the LHS corner.

TFS!

[Satish Ranadive]

Excellent portrait. Beautiful colors, great details and composition.

Regards,
Satish.

[keith mitchell]

Thanks Will,Glennie, and Satish much appreciated.

Keith.