Mating kestrels - from yet another series of shots

[Brutus Ostling]

I have removed a branch that I felt was disturbing, it was going into the females head - I am not so good at doing that in PS, but Artie encouraged me.:D It was easier than I thought, and it makes a better shot.

The cropping is for an eventual use as a spread in a book, where you can't have the middle between the left and right page at the place in the photo where you have the faces, you will alway loose a little bit of the photo there in between the pages, at least if you don't manage to get the spread at the exactly right place in the book as an authentic spread.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Great capture of this moment, soft light, details and BG. I might put them further to the left in the frame and run some NR on the BG. Thanks for sharing and good luck with your book project!

[Brutus Ostling]

I see it now, I will probably have to do the opposite, get them just a little bit more to the right, not to loose too much in between the left and the right page if it will be a spread. It's fun to learn that when you sell photos for magazines or if you are making a book, you must think a little bit different about the cropping. Otherwise I agree totally.:D -Or maybe it would be more dull to have it more to the left, which would mean centered?

Great capture of this moment, soft light, details and BG. I might put them further to the left in the frame and run some NR on the BG. Thanks for sharing and good luck with your book project!

[Doug Brown]

Thanks for sharing another excellent photo Brutus! The golden light is a perfect match for the plumage and the BG. I've never had to crop for a full-page spread, but I'd like to someday! :)

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

Stunning lighting Brutus and superb action. All the best to you on your new book. Keep us posted. and many thanks for sharing this beautiful image with us.

[Manos Papadomanolakis]

Magic light Brutus and fantastic action!!!
All the best for your new book!

[Daniel Cadieux]

That "Y" perched is very cool, and the light to die for!! Great pose on the couple...I like the grip with both talons by the male. I had a tough time figuring out who's tail is who's :-)

[Sabyasachi Patra]

The lighting and actoin is nice. I would have framed them more to the left. And if possible, I would have tried to explore shooting from a slightly lower angle to get more of the underside of the wings. Nice image. All the best for your book.

[Diane Chenault]

Brutus, what a nice & unique image. I can't find one still & close & you have them mating - awesome!

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Hello Brutus, this is a great image in all aspects, I find this very natural and just want to say that I find a little noise in the BG, I tried to take it out, I hope you don't mind. jc

[Brutus Ostling]

Thanks. I have also done that for an eventual book image, but this one was made from an earlier large file. But to be honest, when it comes to books and large printings (I have three different exhibitions going on right now, but this one is not in any of them) I am not sure if I always want to get rid of all the noise in the photos. I believe the noise can give you a special feeling when it comes to some photos, not this one perhaps though, but some.

Hello Brutus, this is a great image in all aspects, I find this very natural and just want to say that I find a little noise in the BG, I tried to take it out, I hope you don't mind. jc