Red Grouse in the snow

[Mike Poole]

A cancelled kids football match gave me the chance for a drive to the moors for some Grouse in the snow shots but unfortunately the weather won and I couldn't access the best spots and the weather closed in as I arrived so things were very rushed. Found it difficult to keep the big OOF snowflakes away from the bird, this was probably the cleanest

Canon 1dx
500mm + 1.4x
ISO 1600
1/800th f8

Mike

[Mike Poole]

1200 px version -

[Krishna Prasad kotti]

Beautiful. I like the way the subject pops against white background. I like the placement of the subject in the frame as well.

Thanks for sharing

[Isaac Grant]

Love the way the grouse looks against that background and the blowing snow. Really makes the image. I would try and add a touch of vibrance to the bird just to make it pop a touch more. Also I would crop out a bit of the left side of the frame which would also serve to get rid of those 3 dark little plants on the left side of the frame.

[William Dickson]

Well done mate. I'm glad you got the feet and legs in, it makes so much difference, especially in a snowy image. Very nice BG and FG and I like the look on the grouse. The heather popping through the snow adds. Good HA and 'worried/cold' look on the bird.

Well done Mike

Will

[John Mack]

Very nice love the snow. The bird really pops against all that white.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Near the feet we can really get a sense of the snow whipping around, pretty neat. Nothing you could do about the large snowflakes in front of the subject, but that is the reality of the conditions you had. I love the vegetation poking up through the snow.

[Glenn Pure]

Tough conditions and the bird looks like it is feeling it Mike. I like this one a lot and think the vegetation popping through the snow really adds. Feather detail looks wonderful but the eye and bill look a little odd (as though lifted from near black) - but I don't know what these look like in real life.

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

A little pupil burning may improve the look of the eye?
Love the stark, snowy look and contrast between the bird and its habitat.
Congrats!

[Mike Poole]

Love the way the grouse looks against that background and the blowing snow. Really makes the image. I would try and add a touch of vibrance to the bird just to make it pop a touch more. Also I would crop out a bit of the left side of the frame which would also serve to get rid of those 3 dark little plants on the left side of the frame.

Thanks Isaac,

I think cropping the plants would leave the edge of the frame too close to the next bit of heather, so cloning is probably the way forward! I did add some vibrance already as it was a heavily overcast afternoon, I think any more might start to look a bit un-natural.

Cheers for the suggestion

Mike

[Mike Poole]

Tough conditions and the bird looks like it is feeling it Mike. I like this one a lot and think the vegetation popping through the snow really adds. Feather detail looks wonderful but the eye and bill look a little odd (as though lifted from near black) - but I don't know what these look like in real life.

Thanks Glenn, the eye was lifted a little but the bill hasn't been touched

Mike