Reed Cormorant - Don't look so miserable Buddy

[Bill Nuttall]

Reed Cormorant, (Microcarbo africanus)

Wilderness - ZA - March 2016 - Reed Beds

HH with the Nikon 300mm f4 PF, again - D7200, (so gave me a little illusionary "DX reach" which really means it cropped the image for me) - ISO 900, (most of the time anything over ISO 800 disappointed me with the D7200, unless the light was really good ....... so I sold it) - 1/1000mm - f7,1

Hardly any adjustments to the RAW ..... just setting the B & W points in LR

OK the 300mm PF does not have the sharpness of the 600mm, (but in the hands of an expert who knows) ...... but I like the lens as it is so handy and for travel it is almost perfect, (I used to take my 300mm f2.8VR)

Feather in it's mouth and it's been a long day waiting for "that" fish - so he never noticed me

a juvenile

the image is a little!! soft, but it appears not to quite as "black" (clarity) on here as my desktop


any difference "sharped for screen - high" on export from LR

[gail bisson]

I think the second image is better re: sharpness.But, I would not have sharpened the perch, just the bird.
I like the "reflective pose" and the color in the BG water.
I could see this as a vertical comp if you have a bit more room below.
The feather in the mouth is what makes this image appealing.A bit more of a head turn towards us would have strengthened the image but still nice as is.
The light is a bit bright but certainly not an image killer.
I would clone out the bright specular highlight in front of the perch. It keeps catching my eye.
I was looking at your avatar and it seems like you are living the dream!! Looking forward to seeing all the different species of birds you see,
Gail

[Bill Nuttall]

Thanks Gail for your comments - just what i need to help me along

Retirement, (sometimes living the dream) - but we have had a house in France since 1988, (they were really cheap then and it is only a 12 hour drive door to door from the UK) .... we are resident in France, i.e. French residents and have been for six years, but family are still in the UK so we get back quite a lot.

For the past few years we have spend 8 weeks, (mid Jan to mid Mar), in S Africa ...... cold winters in Europe, (with high heating costs) versus summer in S Africa, (no heating costs) and once you get there the cost of living is really inexpensive, so I reckon it is even-Stevens with staying in France/UK ........... S Africa is a wonderful country and there are amazing sights around every corner, the food is great as are the people ...... love the place, wish that we had discovered it 20 years ago

[keith mitchell]

Bill I like what you are doing with that lens,agree the repost just lifts it a bit but maybe not the perch.Left over feather from preening just adds more interest.

Keith.